Frequently Asked Questions
We address all your doubts. Discover how you can benefit from our energy storage solutions and our intelligent software.
Commercial and Industrial
With an energy storage system, you gain independence from the grid, lower electricity costs, and protection against grid instability (e.g., blackouts, fluctuations). If you have a photovoltaic system, it will be complemented by storing the energy generated during the day for use at night or during peak demand periods when prices are higher.
Energy storage systems, up to the present day, do not require interconnection permits or procedures with the electricity provider. Since the systems are connected behind the meter or BTM (Behind The Meter), there is no interaction with the general distribution grid. This allows for quick connection and instant savings generation.
The supply and demand of electricity varies throughout the year, day, and hour. The higher the demand for energy from the grid, the greater the maximum power requirements the utility company must maintain to support primary and spinning reserve generation facilities. As you can imagine, this becomes costly, so generally, a property owner will pay more for energy used during Peak periods than during periods of lower activity. Most commercial and industrial consumers have a 24-hour demand charge (Distribution) and also a Peak-hour demand charge (Capacity) which is usually higher. Peak periods in the national electricity system vary depending on the region; for GDMTH customers in the National Interconnected System (SIN), Peak hours during the summer period are from Monday to Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. and from 6 to 10 p.m. in winter.
Public utility companies size their generation to meet average demand. A peaking plant is an excess capacity power generation plant that can be started and stopped to meet peak power requirements of the grid (during peak hours). As you can imagine (again), this becomes costly and polluting. Reducing the need for peaking plants is a significant first step toward reducing our collective carbon footprint.
During periods of high electricity demand, such as when air conditioners increase usage on hot days, the electricity generating company charges customers additional fees because they have to increase electricity production to meet demand, which is very costly. Electricity prices are broken down into hourly rates: Base, Intermediate, and Peak. This means that depending on when energy is consumed, the price changes. Similarly, there are specific charges (Capacity) that are linked only to WHEN a user consumes electricity. These charges occur during Peak hours for industrial and commercial customers on GDMTH, DIST, and DIT tariffs.
Since energy storage allows customers to decide when to buy and when to use energy, they can modify their consumption curve, consume less during Peak hours, and reduce the amount of their bill. Customers naturally buy electricity at off-Peak prices for use during peaks. For commercial and industrial customers, these savings can be significant (40% of the electricity bill).
When you work with Quartux, you choose cutting-edge technology, but more importantly, a company with local experience that adapts to any external change or internal need. Quartux energy storage systems not only feature cutting-edge technology but are also controlled by proprietary software developed specifically for the Mexican electrical sector. These systems are the most suitable for current and future energy needs, as they provide the capacity to manage energy peaks, reduce loads, provide backup and islanding capabilities while being able to connect to the grid both for energy and power. Quartux customers own their system, retain all discounts, incentives, and savings for life while still being part of a national network. We support licensed contractors and solar installers with reference installation diagrams and all necessary materials for incentive programs, permits, and interconnection. This ensures a quick and safe installation and commissioning of our systems so that customers can enjoy the benefits of lower electricity bills immediately.
Yes, the energy storage system can be charged during off-peak electricity rates and fed back into the main service panel of the facility during peak periods. In this scenario, the customer may not take advantage of accelerated depreciation, but they can save up to 40% on their electricity bill.
The systems can be installed indoors or outdoors. At Quartux, we offer a “turnkey” solution, so the design, installation, and commissioning process are taken care of by us.
Yes, there are multiple options to finance your Quartux energy storage system. Check out some of the approved financing programs for a Quartux storage system and ask your local advisor for the options that can be provided.
The controls impact how a battery is used. The battery’s useful application directly affects its lifespan within the system. In order to generate the highest profitability possible in battery systems, our control software imposes state of charge (SOC) limits that are at the edge of accelerated degradation.
The economics of an application have a direct impact on the controls, as they respond to prices and schedules. Spending time at high or low SOC limits, operating at high power, or running a system under warm conditions can accelerate its degradation.
Yes, by storing solar energy and using it at night, you are offsetting what is in most cases electricity generated by fossil fuels. You can consult this calculator from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Even if the storage system is not used with a solar generation system, it still supports the environment by ceasing to consume energy generated by peaker plants, which are polluting and costly.
The system is designed for a lifespan of 15 years, and a 10-year warranty is available. At the end of the battery cell’s lifespan, we can replace the battery modules at a fraction of the current lithium-ion costs without extracting the cabinet, inverter, and conduit. The system is designed to facilitate service or upgrade through a rack-mounted cabinet. The customer must maintain performance monitoring as guaranteed.
Energy Transition
Energy storage fundamentally improves how we generate, deliver, and consume electricity. Energy storage helps during emergencies such as power outages due to storms, equipment failures, or accidents. Today, the innovative nature of energy storage lies in its ability to balance energy supply and demand instantly, in milliseconds, making power grids more resilient, efficient, and cleaner than ever before.
The main benefits are:
- Risk of power outages: The current electrical grid is increasingly vulnerable to threats from nature, terrorists, and accidents. Millions of Mexican families and businesses fall victim to outages (both sustained and monetary) every year. Power outages cost up to USD $200 billion annually, while affecting commercial and industrial sectors that create jobs more severely.
- Integration of clean energy and energy independence: Energy storage supports the integration of renewable energy generation. Energy storage can also help reduce emissions as it offsets more load from fossil fuel generation. Peaker plant generation is one of the most expensive and polluting aspects of the grid, so enabling renewable generation to provide power during these periods will help reduce emissions and avoid costly new installations, significantly contributing to our environmental priorities.
Energy storage can lead to cost savings in two main ways. The first is by reducing the overall cost of providing electricity. The second is by allowing customers to avoid premium prices (or “peak demand”). Industry experts call this saving money on “both sides of the electric meter.”
Yes. Energy storage has no direct emissions. It does not require pipelines. Its systems generally have a minimal footprint. Similarly, energy storage will help reduce emissions by relieving more burden from traditional generation or allowing it to operate more efficiently.
Yes, energy storage systems are “fuel neutral.” Whether electricity is generated from oil, gas, coal, nuclear power, wind, solar, geothermal, or other sources, energy storage captures excess electricity at high efficiencies for optimal use during outages, peak hours, or when effective grid management is a challenge.
Grid-scale energy storage is necessary for three main reasons. The first is “load balancing,” to shift energy consumption into the future, often by several hours, so that the existing generation capacity is used more efficiently. The second reason is to “bridge” energy, meaning to ensure that there is no interruption in service during the seconds to minutes needed to switch from one energy generation source to another. Finally, managing energy quality, controlling voltage, and frequency to avoid damaging sensitive equipment is an increasingly significant concern that storage can alleviate when necessary, for seconds or less, many times a day.
Yes. Energy storage has been part of the US electrical grid since the 1930s. In fact, energy storage accounts for approximately 2% of US generation capacity and enjoys a safety record similar to or better than other methods of electricity generation, distribution, or management.
The energy storage systems represent approximately 2% of the generation capacity in the USA. That percentage is growing significantly, especially with the advent of more renewable energy. Pumped hydroelectricity has played a significant part in our power grid since the 1930s. However, today, electricity from wind, solar, and other “intermittent” sources has created urgent needs for additional energy storage.
According to Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, the US market deployed 310.5 MW in 2018, a 44% increase from 2017 as costs decreased and capabilities continued to improve. They project that annual deployments in 2024 will reach 4.4 GW, and a market worth $4.7 billion.
