Peak shaving: How to cut peak loads and drastically reduce your electricity costs
Are exploding energy costs and high grid charges weighing on your company? Have you already tried everything to reduce consumption (kWh), but the electricity bill remains a huge burden? Then we have good news: the biggest cost driver is often hidden elsewhere. The key to the solution lies not in overall consumption, but in short, extremely expensive consumption peaks (kW).
As experts in self-sufficiency and intelligent energy systems, we at Verkauf-Bochum.de will show you how it really works. We not only explain what the term means, but also how you can use the right technology - especially intelligent battery storage systems - to massively reduce your electricity costs, increase your independence and future-proof your company.
The most important facts in brief: What is peak shaving?
Peak shaving, or peak shaving, is a strategic method in energy management to reduce ("cap") short-term, high power peaks in electricity consumption from the public grid.
🎯Theaim is to reduce the power price (€/kW), which often accounts for a significant proportion of the electricity bill for industrial and commercial tariffs.
⚙️Howit works: A battery storage system or intelligent load management system supplies additional energy when required, so that less power has to be drawn from the grid.
🏆Main benefit: Direct and significant reduction in electricity costs through lower grid charges and power costs.
Understanding the problem: What are peak loads and why are they so expensive?
To understand why peak shaving is so effective, we need to look at how your electricity provider bills - assuming you are a commercial or industrial customer with an annual consumption of over 100,000 kWh and therefore have an RLM meter (Recording Load Metering).
Your meter not only measures how much energy you consume (work in kWh), but also the maximum amount of power you draw at any one time (power in kW). This is recorded in a so-called load profile every 15 minutes.
Working price vs. performance price: the decisive difference
A company therefore pays two main components on the electricity bill:
-
The working price (ct/kWh): This is like rent per square meter. You pay for every kilowatt hour that you actually consume. You save here by using LED lamps or efficient machines.
-
The power price (€ /kW): This is a high fee for the maximum size of the "front door" you need to the electricity grid. This charge covers the costs incurred by the grid operator to provide enough power even during short, intense peak load periods.
The tricky thing is that a single 15-minute consumption peak throughout the year can be enough to set the demand charge for the next 12 months!
| Working price | Power price |
|---|---|
| The plannable part of your costs | The hidden and expensive cost driver |
| For what? For the amount of energy consumed (kWh). | For what? For the maximum power peak (kW). |
| Metaphor: The rent per square meter. | Metaphor: The charge for the widest door. |
| How to save? Through energy efficiency & savings measures. | How to save? Through peak shaving & load management. |
A concrete calculation example
To make the savings potential tangible, let's take a look at a typical company:
Assumptions for the example:
-
Continuous load: 300 kW (the constant basic consumption)
- Peak load: +100 kW (short-term, e.g. due to additional machines starting up)
- Measured maximum power: 400 kW
- Working price: 0.20 €/kWh
- Power price: 100 €/kW per year
- Total annual consumption: 2,638,000 kWh
| Costs without peak shaving | Costs WITH peak shaving |
|---|---|
| Working price: 2,638,000 kWh x 0.20 € = 527,600 € | Working price: 2,638,000 kWh x 0.20 € = 527,600 € |
| Power price: 400 kW x 100 € = 40,000 € | Power price: 300 kW x 100 € = 30,000 € |
| Total costs per year: 567,600 € | Total costs per year: 557,600 € |
The annual saving here is 10,000 € - simply by capping the peak load. It is important to note that the total energy consumption (and therefore the energy price) remains identical. The savings are achieved solely by reducing the power price.
The solution: What exactly does peak shaving mean?
Peak shaving is the intelligent capping of these expensive peak loads. Instead of drawing full power from the public grid when your energy demand is at its highest, you cover this peak demand from another source. This means that the public grid only sees a "smoothed", i.e. lower, maximum power consumption.
The result: the peak value relevant for billing decreases, and so do your costs. Peak shaving is therefore not just energy saving, but intelligent cost management.
Related terms you should know:
-
Peak shaving: The German synonym for peak shaving.
-
Peak load management: A generic term that covers all measures for controlling peak loads.
- Demand side management (DSM): Refers to all measures to influence electricity consumption on the demand side, including peak shaving.
Peak shaving and load shifting: the crucial difference in practice
There are various ways to manage peak loads. By far the most flexible and effective method, which we at Verkauf-Bochum.de plan and implement for our customers, is the use of battery storage systems.
Method 1: Battery storage systems (BSS) - the game changer
A commercial battery storage system is the centerpiece of a modern peak shaving strategy. The storage system acts like your own decentralized power plant on site. Instead of feeding surplus energy into the grid in an uncontrolled manner, it makes it available when it is most valuable: to reduce your expensive peak loads.
-
Charging: At times of low electricity demand (e.g. at night) or when your PV system is producing a high yield, the storage system is charged with cheap energy.
-
Monitoring: An intelligent energy management system (EMS) - the system's brain - continuously monitors your load profile in real time. It knows your consumption peaks and predicts when the next one is imminent.
-
Discharging (peak shaving): If the power drawn from the grid approaches a predefined limit, the battery storage system discharges at lightning speed and provides the additional power required. The peak is "intercepted" directly on site before it reaches the meter.
The advantages are obvious: the system works fully automatically, reacts in milliseconds and leaves your core processes in the company completely unaffected. Here we rely on proven and extremely reliable components, e.g. from Victron Energy in combination with safe and long-lasting Voltsmile lithium storage systems.
Method 2: Intelligent load management (load shifting & load shedding)
Your consumers are actively controlled to avoid peaks:
-
Load shedding: non-critical loads (e.g. air conditioning systems, pumps, charging columns) are specifically switched off for a short time to prevent a peak.
-
Load shifting: Energy-intensive processes (e.g. charging an e-vehicle fleet) are deliberately shifted to low-load times, such as at night.
This method requires controllable consumers and is often less flexible than battery storage, but can be very effective in combination.
Expert warning: Why "cheap" is highly dangerous here!
The market is full of supposed bargains and "insider tips" from online forums or AI chatbots. But be careful: when it comes to energy storage systems, being cheap can be life-threatening and end up costing you dearly.
-
Unsafe components: Self-built or non-certified batteries (e.g. from platforms such as Power Queen for the DIY market) have no place in a professional commercial system. There is an acute risk of fire!
-
Insurance cover at risk: Without the necessary certificates and professional installation, you risk losing all your insurance cover in the event of damage.
-
Incorrect planning: A system that is only designed for "lots of kWh" but cannot provide the necessary power (kW) for your peaks is a bad investment.
Our advice as professionals: Rely on tested system solutions from experienced providers. At Verkauf-Bochum.de, we plan your system from A to Z, create circuit diagrams and ensure safe commissioning. This is the only way that pays off in the long term.
The benefits of peak shaving: this is how efficient peak shaving is (especially with PV systems)
The investment in a peak shaving system often pays for itself after just a few years. Here is an overview of the most important benefits:
-
Massive cost savings & predictability
-
Reduction of the power price: The biggest lever. As shown in the example, you can quickly save five-figure sums per year.
-
Reduction in grid charges: These also often depend on the maximum power consumption.
-
Avoidance of grid expansion costs: When expanding your business, you can often save yourself the cost of expanding your grid connection.
-
Increased predictability: Smoother, more consistent consumption reduces unpleasant surprises on your electricity bill and makes your energy costs more predictable.
-
Reduction of the power price: The biggest lever. As shown in the example, you can quickly save five-figure sums per year.
-
Increased security of supply & grid stability
- You become less dependent on fluctuating prices and the stability of the public grid.
- At the same time, you relieve the burden on public lines and contribute to the stability of the entire electricity grid. Grid operators reward companies that smooth out their peak loads. Every capped peak is a small contribution that relieves the load on large power plant capacities.
-
Optimization of self-consumption (especially with a PV system)
- Your cheap solar power becomes even more valuable because it not only replaces the low energy price, but also avoids the extremely expensive capacity price.
-
Sustainability and achievement of ESG goals
- Efficient energy use and the use of storage or load management improve the carbon footprint and are a clear commitment to climate protection and improve your corporate image.
- Efficient energy use and the use of storage or load management improve the carbon footprint and are a clear commitment to climate protection and improve your corporate image.
More than just peak shaving: the additional benefits of battery storage
A commercial storage system is much more than just a "peak capper". Once it is in place, it can take on additional tasks and further increase its cost-effectiveness:
-
Increase PV self-consumption: store your solar power from the day for use at night.
-
Emergency power supply: Ensures the operation of your critical systems in the event of a power failure.
-
Electricity price arbitrage (spot market trading): Buy electricity on the exchange when it is cheap (at night, when there is a lot of wind), store it and use it when it would be expensive to buy.
- Control energy marketing: Make capacity available to the grid operator to stabilize the grid and earn additional money.
For whom is peak shaving useful? Industrial applications and other sectors
In principle, peak shaving is worth considering for any company with an RLM meter and an annual consumption of over 100,000 kWh. There is particularly high potential:
🏭 Industry & manufacturing: High start-up currents from machinery generate typical peak loads.
📦 Logistics & cold stores: Cooling units have a high and often simultaneous power requirement.
🏢 Commercial properties & shopping centers: Air conditioning, ventilation and lighting lead to predictable peaks.
🚜 Agricultural businesses: The simultaneous operation of pumps, mills or ventilation systems.
🔌Charging infrastructure for e-mobility: The simultaneous charging of several electric vehicles generates massive and extremely expensive load peaks - a modern and increasingly important use case!
From analysis to savings: the 5 phases of implementation
A professional peak shaving project follows a clear, proven process. It's not about simply installing a storage system, but about creating a customized solution that is economically viable and technically flawless. These five phases are the industry standard for a successful project.
Phase 1: Creating the data basis (load profile analysis)
Every serious project begins with an analysis of last year's consumption data. Without this data basis, any planning is pure speculation. This requires the so-called 15-minute load profile data that companies receive from their grid operator or from their energy supplier's online portal. This data reveals the level, duration and regularity of peak loads.
Phase 2: Calculating the savings potential (profitability analysis)
The concrete savings potential is determined on the basis of the analysis. It is calculated how much the power price can be reduced and how this affects the annual electricity costs. The return on investment (ROI) for a possible investment can be derived from this.
Phase 3: Designing the system (technology selection & dimensioning)
The technical solution is designed in this phase. The appropriate components (inverter, battery storage system, control system) are selected and, above all, correctly dimensioned. The key question here is not just "How much capacity (kWh) do I need?", but above all "How much power (kW) must the system be able to deliver in order to safely cap the peaks?".
Phase 4: Planning and supporting the implementation (implementation planning)
The result of the technical planning is a detailed circuit and implementation plan. This plan serves as a precise guide for the specialist electrical company installing the system on site. The planner's task here is often to coordinate the installation and act as a technical contact for the company carrying out the work.
Phase 5: Bringing the system to life (commissioning & optimization)
After the physical installation by the electrician, the most critical step follows: commissioning. This is where the control logic is programmed, the threshold values for peak shaving are set and the system is connected to the remote monitoring system. Only after successful testing and fine-tuning does the system begin to actively save money. Ongoing monitoring ensures optimum operation in the future.
As you can see, the implementation of a peak shaving system is not so much a question of "if", but of "how". The quality of the analysis, planning and commissioning determines success or failure.
This is precisely where our strength lies at Verkauf-Bochum.de. We are the experts for the decisive phases of this process: from the well-founded load profile analysis to the tailor-made system design with proven components from Victron Energy and Voltsmile through to professional commissioning and remote maintenance.
Pay or act? The choice is yours.
The logic behind Peak Shaving is basically simple - and at the same time one of the smartest and most effective measures to sustainably reduce your energy costs as a company, especially for companies with short but high peak loads. Instead of passively accepting the high bills from your energy supplier, you take the reins yourself.
Not only are you reducing your dependency on the public grid and its price development, but you are also investing in security of supply and sustainability.
Want to discover your savings potential?
The first step is always a precise analysis of your load profile. This is the only way to reliably determine how much money you can really save.
Let us check your load profile together without obligation. Our experts will evaluate your data and show you in black and white what savings potential is possible for you with an intelligent peak shaving system.
At Verkauf-Bochum.de, you'll find the perfect product for this exciting topic. Discover your customized set now - click here!
Are exploding energy costs and high grid charges a burden on your company? Have you already tried everything to reduce consumption (kWh), but the electricity bill remains a huge burden? Then we have good news: the biggest cost driver is often hidden elsewhere. The key to the solution lies not in overall consumption, but in short, extremely expensive consumption peaks (kW).
As experts in self-sufficiency and intelligent energy systems, we at Verkauf-Bochum.de will show you how it really works. We not only explain what the term means, but also how you can use the right technology - especially intelligent battery storage systems - to massively reduce your electricity costs in a targeted manner, increase your independence and future-proof your company.
Peak Shaving at a glance: What it is and what it does for you
- What is it? Peak shaving is a technology for intercepting short, extremely expensive electricity consumption peaks (kW) with a battery storage system instead of purchasing them at high cost from the grid operator.
- Who is it for? Companies with RLM meters (>100,000 kWh annual consumption) that want to massively reduce their electricity costs.
- The savings potential: Reduction of the power price and grid charges by up to 80 % (often 5-digit savings per year).
- The implementation: An intelligent system detects peak loads in real time and balances them out in milliseconds - completely automatically and without interfering with your operating processes.
Understanding the problem: What are peak loads and why are they so expensive?
To understand why peak shaving is so effective, we need to look at how your electricity provider bills - assuming you are a commercial or industrial customer with an annual consumption of over 100,000 kWh and therefore have an RLM meter (recording power measurement).
Your meter not only measures how much energy you consume (work in kWh), but also the maximum amount of power you draw at any one time (power in kW). This is recorded in a so-called load profile every 15 minutes.
Working price vs. performance price: the decisive difference
A company therefore pays two main components on its electricity bill:
- The working price (ct/kWh): This is like rent per square meter. You pay for every kilowatt hour that you actually consume. You save here by using LED lamps or efficient machines.
- The power price (€ /kW): This is a high fee for the maximum size of the "front door" you need to the electricity grid. This charge covers the costs incurred by the grid operator to provide enough power even during short, intense peak load periods. The tricky thing is that a single 15-minute consumption peak throughout the year can be enough to set the power price for the next 12 months!
|
Arbeitspreis
Der planbare Teil deiner Kosten
|
⚠️ Leistungspreis
Der versteckte und teure Kostentreiber
|
The legal framework: Why peak shaving saves money
Peak shaving is much more than just a technical solution for smoothing load peaks. For companies in Germany, it is a strategic tool for making optimum use of the legal leeway provided by the Electricity Grid Charges Ordinance (StromNEV). Those who manage their load curve intelligently can massively reduce their operating costs.
The basis: recording power measurement (RLM)
Peak shaving is primarily relevant for commercial and industrial customers who have a recording power meter (RLM). In contrast to private households, the average consumption (in kW) is measured every 15 minutes.
The problem is that the highest measured peak of the entire year determines the so-called performance price. As this price is often set very high, a single short peak load (e.g. the simultaneous start-up of heavy machinery) can drastically increase the electricity bill for the entire year.
The key paragraphs (§ 19 StromNEV)
German legislation offers companies two main ways to save grid charges through load management (peak shaving):
- § 19 para. 2 sentence 1 StromNEV - Atypical grid usage:
Grid operators define "peak load time windows" each year. Those who manage to keep their peak loads out of these windows by means of storage or load shifting can reduce their grid fees by up to 80 %. - § Section 19 (2) sentence 2 StromNEV - The 7,000-hour rule:
Large consumers with an annual consumption of more than 10 GWh who smooth their load curve to such an extent that they achieve more than 7,000 hours of use can achieve a reduction of up to 90 %.
A concrete calculation example
To make the savings potential tangible, let's take a look at a typical company:
Assumptions for the example:
- Continuous load: 300 kW (the constant basic consumption)
- Peak load: +100 kW (short-term, e.g. due to additional machines starting up)
- Measured maximum output: 400 kW
- Working price: 0.20 €/kWh
- Power price: 100 €/kW per year
Total annual consumption: 2,638,000 kWh
❌ Kosten ohne Peak Shaving:
|
✅ Kosten MIT Peak Shaving:
|
Die jährliche Ersparnis beträgt hier 10.000 € – allein durch das Kappen der Spitzenlast. Wichtig ist hierbei: Der Gesamtenergieverbrauch (und damit der Arbeitspreis) bleibt identisch. Die Einsparung entsteht ausschließlich durch die Reduzierung des Leistungspreises.
The solution: What exactly does peak shaving mean?
Peak shaving is the intelligent capping of these expensive peak loads. Instead of drawing full power from the public grid when your energy demand is at its highest, you cover this peak demand from another source. This means that the public grid only sees a "smoothed", i.e. lower, maximum power consumption.
The result: the peak value relevant for billing decreases, and so do your costs. Peak shaving is therefore not just energy saving, but intelligent cost management.
Related terms you should know:
- Peak load capping: The German synonym for peak shaving.
- Peak load management: A generic term that covers all measures for controlling peak loads.
- Demand Side Management (DSM): Refers to all measures to influence electricity consumption on the demand side, including peak shaving.
Peak shaving vs load shifting: The crucial difference in practice
Before we get into the technical implementation, it is important to distinguish between the two basic strategies of load management. Many companies ask themselves: "Do we need to change our processes or do we need a storage facility?" The answer depends on which path you choose.
The technical solution: peak shaving
The peak load is capped by an external energy source (battery storage).
- Production: Continues completely unchanged.
- Implementation: Installation of a storage system.
- Advantage: Maximum flexibility without organizational effort.
The organizational solution: Load shifting
Energy-intensive processes are actively shifted to off-peak times.
- Production: Schedules are adjusted.
- Implementation: Intelligent control & process optimization.
- Advantage: Low hardware investment, but high planning effort.
| Merkmal | Peak Shaving (Speicher) | Load Shifting (Verschiebung) |
| Eingriff in Kernprozesse | Nein – völlig autark | Ja – aktive Umplanung nötig |
| Hardware-Investition | Höher (Batteriespeicher) | Gering (Software/Steuerung) |
| Reaktionszeit | Millisekunden (automatisch) | Minuten bis Stunden (geplant) |
Decision support
If your machines have to run around the clock or production must not be interrupted, peak shaving with a storage system is the best choice.
However, if you have processes that can be started flexibly (e.g. air conditioning, drying processes, charging e-fleets), you should consider load shifting first.
While load shifting often comes up against personnel or production limits, the use of battery storage systems offers by far the most flexible and effective method. Let's take a closer look at the two practical implementation methods:
Method 1: Battery storage systems (BSS) - the game changer
A commercial battery storage system is the centerpiece of a modern peak shaving strategy. The storage system acts like your own decentralized power plant on site. Instead of feeding surplus energy into the grid in an uncontrolled manner, it makes it available when it is most valuable: to reduce your expensive peak loads.
- Charging: At times of low electricity demand (e.g. at night) or when your PV system is producing a high yield, the storage system is charged with cheap energy.
- Monitoring: An intelligent energy management system (EMS) - the brain of the system - continuously monitors your load profile in real time. It knows your consumption peaks and predicts when the next one is imminent.
- Discharging (peak shaving): If the power drawn from the grid approaches a predefined limit, the battery storage system discharges at lightning speed and provides the additional power required. The peak is "intercepted" directly on site before it reaches the meter.
The advantages are obvious: the system works fully automatically, reacts in milliseconds and leaves your core processes in the company completely unaffected. Here we rely on proven and extremely reliable components, e.g. from Victron Energy in combination with safe and long-lasting Voltsmile lithium storage systems.
Method 2: Intelligent load management (load shifting & load shedding)
Your consumers are actively controlled to avoid peaks:
- Load shedding: non-critical loads (e.g. air conditioning systems, pumps, charging columns) are specifically switched off for a short period of time to prevent a peak.
- Load shifting: Energy-intensive processes (e.g. charging an e-vehicle fleet) are deliberately shifted to low-load times, such as at night.
This method requires controllable consumers and is usually less flexible than battery storage, but can be very effective in combination.
Expert warning: Why "cheap" is highly dangerous here!
The market is full of supposed bargains and "insider tips" from online forums or AI chatbots. But be careful: when it comes to energy storage systems, being cheap can be life-threatening and end up costing you dearly.
- Unsafe components: Self-built or non-certified batteries (e.g. from platforms such as Power Queen for the DIY market) have no place in a professional commercial system. There is an acute risk of fire!
- Insurance cover at risk: Without the necessary certificates and professional installation, you risk losing all your insurance cover in the event of a claim.
- Incorrect planning: A system that is only designed for "lots of kWh" but cannot provide the necessary power (kW) for your peaks is a bad investment.
Our advice as professionals: Rely on tested system solutions from experienced providers. At Verkauf-Bochum.de, we plan your system from A to Z, create circuit diagrams and ensure safe commissioning. This is the only way that pays off in the long term.
The advantages of peak shaving: This is how efficient peak shaving is (especially with PV systems)
The investment in a peak shaving system often pays for itself after just a few years. Here is an overview of the most important benefits:
- Massive cost savings & predictability
- Reduction of the power price: The biggest lever. As shown in the example, you can quickly save five-figure sums per year.
- Reduction in grid charges: These also often depend on the maximum power consumption.
- Avoidance of grid expansion costs: When expanding your business, you can often save yourself the cost of expanding your grid connection.
- Increased predictability: Smoother, more consistent consumption reduces unpleasant surprises on your electricity bill and makes your energy costs more predictable.
- Increased security of supply & grid stability
- You become less dependent on fluctuating prices and the stability of the public grid.
- At the same time, you relieve the burden on public lines and contribute to the stability of the entire electricity grid. Grid operators reward companies that smooth out their peak loads. Every capped peak is a small contribution that relieves the load on large power plant capacities.
- Optimization of self-consumption (especially with a PV system)
- Your cheap solar power becomes even more valuable because it not only replaces the low energy price, but also avoids the extremely expensive capacity price.
- Sustainability and achievement of ESG goals
- Efficient energy use and the use of storage or load management improve the carbon footprint and are a clear commitment to climate protection and improve your corporate image.
Sector coupling: peak shaving as an enabler for e-mobility and PV
Today, peak shaving is far more than just a tool for reducing costs. In a world of sector coupling and energy transition, it is becoming the technological centerpiece for companies that rely on photovoltaics and electric fleets.
1. avoid the "wallbox trap": Peak shaving for e-mobility
A growing problem for many companies: when employees arrive at the office at 08:00 in the morning and 10 or 20 electric cars are connected to the charging stations at the same time, the load curve suddenly shoots up.
⚠️ Expensive network upgrade? No thanks!
The capacity of the existing grid connection is often not sufficient for a modern charging infrastructure. An upgrade by the grid operator often costs five- to six-figure sums.
The solution: a battery storage system acts as a buffer. It absorbs the load peaks when charging the vehicles so that the grid supply remains constant. Peak shaving not only saves you ongoing fees, but often prevents the massive investment costs for a grid connection upgrade.
2. maximum synergy: PV integration & own use
The combination of a photovoltaic system and peak shaving creates a win-win situation. Instead of keeping the expensive storage system available only for rare load peaks, it is used to optimize self-consumption:
- During the day: The storage system is charged with surplus solar power.
- During peak loads: If the system detects an imminent peak (e.g. due to machine starts), the storage system immediately switches to peak shaving and uses the stored solar power.
- At night: The remaining solar power covers the company's base load.
Pro tip: Modern energy management systems (EMS) control this process fully automatically. You know exactly when the sun is shining and when a peak load is to be expected - for maximum self-sufficiency at minimum cost.
More than just peak shaving: the additional benefits of a battery storage system
A commercial storage system is far more than just a "peak capper". Once it is in place, it can take on additional tasks and further increase its cost-effectiveness:
- Increase PV self-consumption: store your solar power from the day for use at night.
- Emergency power supply: Ensures the operation of your critical systems in the event of a power failure.
- Electricity price arbitrage (spot market trading): Buy electricity on the exchange when it is cheap (at night, when there is a lot of wind), store it and use it when it would be expensive to buy.
- Control energy marketing: Provide the grid operator with capacity to stabilize the grid and earn additional money.
Additional revenue through virtual power plants (VPP)
A battery storage system for peak shaving does not have to work all day. It is often ready and waiting for the next peak load. During this time, the storage system can take on another task and actively earn money: participating in the balancing energy market.
What is a virtual power plant?
In a virtual power plant (VPP), many decentralized storage systems (like yours) are digitally networked. Together, they act like a single, large power plant. If the public power grid becomes unstable, this network helps to keep the frequency at 50 Hertz.
Earning money with ancillary services
There are two main types of remuneration:
- FCR (Frequency Containment Reserve): You receive money for providing capacity to compensate for fluctuations within seconds.
- aFRR (automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve): This is where power is drawn down over a slightly longer period of time when the grid is massively undersupplied or oversupplied.
Don't worry: peak shaving has priority!
Many companies worry that the storage system will be empty when it is needed for peak shaving. However, modern control systems are so intelligent that they set priorities clearly:
- Priority 1: Peak shaving (reduce costs)
- Priority 2: Control energy (generate revenue)
- Priority 3: Self-consumption (use PV electricity)
Conclusion
By marketing your storage flexibility, the system is transformed from a pure "savings machine" into an active source of income. This often shortens the amortization period (ROI) by another 1-2 years.
For whom is peak shaving useful? Industrial applications and other sectors
In principle, peak shaving is worth considering for any company with an RLM meter and an annual consumption of over 100,000 kWh. There is particularly high potential:
🏭 Industry & manufacturing: High start-up currents from machinery generate typical peak loads.
📦 Logistics & cold stores: Cooling units have a high and often simultaneous power requirement.
🏢 Commercial properties & shopping centers: Air conditioning, ventilation and lighting lead to predictable peaks.
🚜 Agricultural businesses: Simultaneous operation of pumps, mills or ventilation systems.
🔌Charging infrastructure for e-mobility: Simultaneous charging of several electric vehicles generates massive and extremely expensive load peaks - a modern and increasingly important use case!
Profitability: When does peak shaving pay off?
Investing in a peak shaving system is a purely economic decision for companies. The return on investment (ROI) results primarily from the difference between the investment costs (CAPEX) and the annual savings in grid charges and optimized electricity procurement costs.
Sample calculation: Annual savings
A medium-sized industrial company has the following key data:
| Leistungspreis des Netzbetreibers: | 125,00 € / kW |
| Reduzierung der Jahreshöchstlast durch Speicher: | 80 kW |
| Direkte Ersparnis pro Jahr: | 10.000,00 € |
*Zusätzlich können Ersparnisse durch die Erhöhung des Eigenverbrauchs (PV-Anlage) und ggf. die Befreiung nach § 19 StromNEV (atypische Netznutzung) hinzukommen.
Payback period and trends
As a rule, commercial peak shaving systems reach their break-even point after approx. 5 to 8 years. The service life of modern lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) storage systems, on the other hand, is 15 years or more. This means that after amortization, the system generates pure profit for many years.
- Falling system costs: Due to the scaling of battery production, the prices for commercial storage systems have fallen massively in recent years, which significantly shortens the ROI time.
- Rising grid charges:
As grid charges in Germany are tending to rise, every kilowatt hour of peak load saved will become even more valuable in the future.
What influences your ROI?
- Cycle stability: How many years will the storage system last under daily load?
- Subsidy programs: Are you using regional KfW subsidies or country-specific grants for commercial storage systems?
- Combination use: Are you only using the storage system for peak shaving or also for emergency power supply and PV optimization?
From analysis to savings: the 5 phases of implementation
A professional peak shaving project follows a clear, proven process. It's not about simply installing a storage system, but about creating a tailor-made solution that pays off economically and works perfectly from a technical point of view. These five phases are the industry standard for a successful project.
Payback period and trends
As a rule, commercial peak shaving systems reach their break-even point after around 5 to 8 years. The service life of modern lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) storage systems, on the other hand, is 15 years or more. This means that after amortization, the system generates pure profit for many years.
- Falling system costs: Due to the scaling of battery production, the prices for commercial storage systems have fallen massively in recent years, which significantly shortens the ROI time.
- Rising grid charges:
As grid charges in Germany are tending to rise, every kilowatt hour of peak load saved will become even more valuable in the future.
What influences your ROI?
- Cycle stability: How many years will the storage system last under daily load?
- Subsidy programs: Are you using regional KfW subsidies or country-specific grants for commercial storage systems?
- Combination use: Are you only using the storage system for peak shaving or also for emergency power supply and PV optimization?
From analysis to savings: the 5 phases of implementation
A professional peak shaving project follows a clear, proven process. It's not about simply installing a storage system, but about creating a tailor-made solution that pays off economically and works perfectly from a technical point of view. These five phases are the industry standard for a successful project.
Phase 1: Creating the data basis (load profile analysis)
Every serious project begins with an analysis of last year's consumption data. Without this data basis, any planning is pure speculation. This requires the so-called 15-minute load profile data that companies receive from their grid operator or from their energy supplier's online portal. This data reveals the level, duration and regularity of peak loads.
Phase 2: Calculating the savings potential (profitability analysis)
The concrete savings potential is determined on the basis of the analysis. It is calculated how much the power price can be reduced and how this affects the annual electricity costs. The return on investment (ROI) for a possible investment can be derived from this.
Phase 3: Designing the system (technology selection & dimensioning)
The technical solution is designed in this phase. The appropriate components (inverter, battery storage system, control system) are selected and, above all, correctly dimensioned. The key question here is not just "How much capacity (kWh) do I need?", but above all "How much power (kW) must the system be able to deliver in order to safely cap the peaks?".
Phase 4: Planning and supporting implementation (implementation planning)
The result of the technical planning is a detailed circuit and implementation plan. This plan serves as a precise guide for the specialist electrical company installing the system on site. The planner's task here is often to coordinate the installation and act as a technical contact for the company carrying out the work.
Phase 5: Bringing the system to life (commissioning & optimization)
After the physical installation by the electrician, the most critical step follows: commissioning. This is where the control logic is programmed, the threshold values for peak shaving are set and the system is connected to the remote monitoring system. Only after successful testing and fine-tuning does the system begin to actively save money. Ongoing monitoring ensures optimum operation in the future.
As you can see, the implementation of a peak shaving system is not so much a question of "if", but of "how". The quality of the analysis, planning and commissioning determines success or failure.
This is precisely where our strength lies at Verkauf-Bochum.de. We are the experts for the decisive phases of this process: from the well-founded load profile analysis to the tailor-made system design with proven components from Victron Energy and Voltsmile through to professional commissioning and remote maintenance.
Pay or act? The choice is yours.
The logic behind Peak Shaving is basically simple - and at the same time one of the smartest and most effective measures to sustainably reduce your energy costs as a company, especially for companies with short but high peak loads. Instead of passively accepting the high bills from your energy supplier, you take the reins yourself.
Not only are you reducing your dependency on the public grid and its price development, you are also investing in security of supply and sustainability.
Want to discover your savings potential?
The first step is always a precise analysis of your load profile. This is the only way to reliably determine how much money you can really save.
Let us analyze your load profile together and without obligation. Our experts will check your data and show you in black and white what you can achieve with an intelligent peak shaving system.
At Verkauf-Bochum.de, you'll find the perfect product for this exciting topic. Discover your customized set now - click here!
Do I have to inform my grid operator if I install a peak shaving system?
Yes, like any generation plant or large storage facility, the system must be registered with the responsible grid operator and entered in the market master data register. However, as the system reduces the grid load, this is generally viewed very positively by grid operators. We support you with all the necessary registrations.
Do I necessarily need a photovoltaic system for peak shaving?
No. Peak shaving also works perfectly well without generating your own electricity. In this case, the storage system simply charges itself from the public grid (preferably at times of low load) in order to be ready for peak times. However, a PV system additionally improves the economic efficiency (ROI).
How much space does a commercial store need for Peak Shaving?
Modern LiFePO4 systems, such as those used by Voltsmile, have a very compact and modular design. A system for a medium-sized company often requires no more space than a classic server cabinet or one or two Euro pallet spaces.
Can the system also be used as an emergency power supply in the event of a power failure?
Yes, this is one of the major additional benefits of our systems (e.g. with Victron Energy components). We can configure the system so that it switches to stand-alone operation in milliseconds in the event of a blackout and continues to supply your critical infrastructure (servers, cooling, security systems).
How quickly does the system react to a peak load?
Our intelligent energy management systems (EMS) work in real time. The response time is in the millisecond range. This is crucial, as load peaks often occur very suddenly and the storage system must take immediate countermeasures before the RLM meter records the value.
How long is the service life of such a system?
We rely on lithium iron phosphate technology (LiFePO4). These batteries are extremely robust and designed for 6,000 to 8,000 charging cycles. With normal operation in peak shaving, this corresponds to a technical service life of around 15 to 20 years.