Dashboard

What is this session about?

As organisations electrify heat and transport, electricity becomes a bigger share of the bill — and a bigger source of risk. Battery storage is one of the most powerful tools for managing that risk, but it's also one of the most misunderstood. Many people still think of batteries as just "a place to put your solar." In reality, modern behind-the-meter systems can shave peak demand, defer expensive grid upgrades, trade in wholesale energy markets, and earn income from grid services. This session walks through what batteries can realistically do for a commercial site, where the value comes from, and what to look out for when planning a project.

During this session we will cover:

•       The foundations: what a battery energy storage system (BESS) actually is, how behind-the-meter systems work, and how the technology and market have evolved

•       Why now: rising electrification of heat and transport, increasing network charges, grid constraints, and the growing case for storage as a strategic asset

•       From "dumb" to smart: starting with simple solar storage, then progressing to peak shaving, wholesale arbitrage, and grid services — and what each unlocks commercially

•       Feasibility in practice: typical sizes and costs, the role of the Energy Management System (EMS) and Optimisers, and what determines whether a battery pays back

•       Designing the right system: how batteries integrate with solar, heat pumps and EV charging, and why your grid connection and electricity contract matter as much as the battery itself

•       Costs, funding and commercial models: CAPEX ranges, energy-as-a-service and zero-CAPEX options, and emerging revenue routes including the new P415 market mechanism — explained in plain English

•       A practical process for moving from initial interest to a working system, and how NZA's PABLO tool helps screen sites for opportunity

•       Three real case studies: a retirement village development that used a battery to peak shave and avoid a substation upgrade (saving around £700k); a university client trading on the wholesale market via an Optimiser; and a commercial site combining solar, electrification and storage

This session is part of the retrofit programme; the programme is delivered by the School and sponsored by NatWest Group – You can learn more about this here

Speakers include

•       Chris Scott, Director, NZA Consultancy Ltd

What will I achieve?

By the end of this webinar, you will:

•       Understand what behind-the-meter battery storage is and how it differs from grid-scale storage

•       Be able to explain the four main ways batteries generate value for a commercial site, from simple solar storage through to wholesale market trading

•       Have a clearer view of how batteries support an electrification strategy alongside heat pumps and EV charging

•       Know the key questions to ask about your grid connection, electricity contract and site demand profile before committing to a project

•       Understand the role of Optimisers, Virtual Lead Parties and the new P415 mechanism, and what they mean for smaller commercial users

•       Take away a practical checklist for assessing whether a battery makes sense for your site

What level is the session and do I need any particular skills?

This is a beginner to intermediate level session aimed at building owners, operators, sustainability managers, facilities and energy teams, finance leads and supply chain partners who want to understand how battery storage fits into a broader decarbonisation and energy strategy. No technical or trading background is required. The session is deliberately pitched at people who are curious about batteries but find the energy market jargon off-putting — concepts like P415, network charging and wholesale arbitrage will be explained in plain English.

What are the attendance requirements?

Please arrive promptly and stay for the duration of the event.

To receive your CPD accreditation and for this to be tracked through your Supply Chain Sustainability School dashboard make sure your full name is reflected on your Zoom account when you join the session.  

Please note, if you fail to meet the attendance requirements, unfortunately you will not be issued a CPD Certificate.

What are the technical requirements?

You will need:

• Internet connection
• A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook)
• Earphones/headphones/speakers (preferable)
• A tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone to load facilitation tools

Please note when joining this webinar, AI note takers will be prohibited for this session. Should you need this for accessibility please get in contact with Michael@supplychainschool.co.uk.

Contact details:

If you have any questions about this session, please contact Michael@supplychainschool.co.uk

Disclaimer: Any content you view or services you access are provided by the Supply Chain Sustainability School, and NatWest is not responsible for or liable for any content, including, but not limited to any advertising, products, materials, services or advice.