Commercial Battery Storage for Existing Solar PV
Commercial storage, led by evidence
Get more from the solar you already own.
Commercial battery storage helps farms and businesses store surplus solar electricity and use it when the site needs it. A battery energy storage system (BESS) can also charge from lower-cost grid electricity when the tariff and operating pattern support it.
HIT Energy Guard monitoring and battery management helps us understand your existing PV, electricity demand and export. We use that evidence to assess battery capacity, charging power and the case for maintenance, additional solar or storage.
Your Solar Is Generating. But Is It Generating What It Should?
Older commercial PV systems can continue operating while quietly losing generation through ageing modules, inverter issues, string faults or developing electrical problems. HIT Energy Guard gives us an independent view of the asset before we decide what comes next.
Two Routes – Depending on What the Data Tells Us
If the PV is underperforming, Simon and the HIT team investigate why. The answer may be maintenance, repair or repowering. We won’t replace perfectly good equipment unnecessarily. If existing inverters, electrical infrastructure or mounting systems remain suitable, we’ll look at retaining them.
If the PV is performing brilliantly, great – leave it generating. We can then look at export, site demand and whether a standalone commercial battery could capture surplus solar for use later.
Repower, Expand and Store
Modern higher-efficiency modules can sometimes achieve the required capacity using fewer panels. Where suitable, repowering may release existing framework for additional PV, which can then be considered alongside battery storage.
MONITOR → MAINTAIN → REPOWER → EXPAND → STORE → OPTIMISE
HIT Energy Guard Stays at the Centre
HIT Energy Guard was built by us more than a decade ago to independently monitor legacy solar PV. We are now using historic half-hourly solar generation and weather data alongside live PV performance, site demand, weather forecasts and electricity tariffs to develop intelligent battery management.
The aim is to determine when compatible batteries should CHARGE, HOLD or DISCHARGE – whether from surplus solar, lower-cost grid electricity or a combination of both.
HIT Energy Guard + battery storage
One platform. One monthly subscription.
Where compatible battery storage is integrated with HIT Energy Guard, intelligent battery management is included within the usual HIT Energy Guard monthly subscription. Solar monitoring and battery management work together in one service.
Woodlands Farm: commercial battery storage in action
At Woodlands Farm, Rob Mutimer’s farm and delivery business, HIT retained an existing 100 kWp FIT solar array and added 100 kWh of battery storage on the incoming supply. Surplus export can be stored and returned when the farm needs it, while the original solar keeps generating.
Measured 17–22 September 2026 · six complete days
Charged557 kWh · 17–22 Sep
Discharged585 kWh · 17–22 Sep
750 kWh exported during the same six days
Dials compare average daily throughput with 100 kWh nominal capacity; they do not show state of charge or efficiency. See the dated daily figures →
The battery charged an average of 92.8 kWh and discharged 97.5 kWh per day—close to one full cycle daily. Export still reached 265 kWh on 20 September and 212 kWh on 21 September, and a further 100 kWh battery bank has been ordered for the site. Having seen the benefits of its solar and battery installation, the farm is now introducing electric vehicles to its fleet, with the first charge point installed in the week commencing 12 October 2026. The additional bank is not yet installed or included in these figures.
Read Rob Mutimer’s Woodlands Farm case study →
Another example: see how we integrated solar and storage at a UK holiday park →
Start with the asset you already own
Our first question is not “What size battery would you like?” It is “What is your solar doing today?” By understanding generation, performance, consumption and export first, we can determine whether maintenance, repowering, additional PV, standalone battery storage—or a combination—makes sense.
Battery storage for farms, businesses and growing fleets
A farm’s early start, a warehouse’s operating hours and a delivery fleet’s return times can create very different charging requirements. We assess how a commercial battery can work alongside your solar, incoming supply and daily activity.
Store surplus solar and plan grid charging
Solar charging can shift available generation into the evening or the next period of demand. Where a suitable tariff is available, scheduled grid charging can provide another source of stored energy. HIT considers both uses together, including the battery’s charging power, usable capacity and the energy needed by the site.
Bring EV charging into the site energy plan
For farms and commercial fleets introducing electric vehicles, charger choice is one part of the project. We assess vehicle availability, required charging energy, simultaneous loads and scope for future expansion alongside solar and storage. Compatible controls and a site-specific design determine how charging can be coordinated.
Explore EV charging for farms and businesses →
See Woodlands Farm’s first EV charger update.
Size the system around the evidence
We start with electricity bills, import and export data, available solar monitoring and your operating plans. The assessment considers seasonal generation, load timing, tariffs, export value, battery losses and installation requirements, so the proposed capacity and expected net savings reflect the site.
Maintenance and repairs or targeted solar repowering may be needed first. Once installed, HIT Energy Guard helps review performance and inform the next decision.
Commercial battery storage: frequently asked questions
Is commercial battery storage right for my business?
It depends on when your site generates, imports, exports and uses electricity. Storage is most useful where available solar or lower-cost grid electricity can be shifted into a later period of demand. HIT reviews that pattern before recommending a system.
How much can a business save with battery storage?
Expected savings should be calculated from the site’s energy data and tariffs. We consider usable capacity, charge and discharge power, operating hours, seasonal solar output, battery losses, export income and project costs. Measured results from another site are useful evidence of operation, but do not determine your return.
Can a battery be added to existing commercial solar PV?
Yes, subject to a suitable design and compatibility assessment. A battery can often be added alongside productive existing PV. We review the electrical arrangement, metering and any existing tariff requirements before specifying the installation.
What is the difference between battery kW and kWh?
kW describes charging or discharge power; kWh describes the amount of energy stored. Both matter: the battery must have enough energy for the intended use and sufficient power to capture available surplus or support the chosen loads.
Can battery storage work with farm or fleet EV charging?
Yes, where the site design and controls support it. Charging should be assessed alongside vehicle return times, departure needs, available solar and the site’s other loads. Woodlands Farm has now installed its first EV charge point as the farm builds on the benefits of solar and storage by introducing electric vehicles to its fleet.
Is intelligent battery management a separate subscription?
Where compatible battery storage is integrated with HIT Energy Guard, intelligent battery management is included within the usual monthly Energy Guard subscription. We confirm equipment compatibility and the service scope for your site.
How long does installation take, and where do you work?
The programme depends on system size, electrical works, equipment lead times and any required approvals. HIT Energy Services supports commercial battery storage projects across the UK and provides a site-specific installation programme. Ask us to assess your site.
