As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Contact online >>
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have:
Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
Incorporated third-party data and information from primary sources, government agencies, educational institutions, peer-reviewed research, or well-researched nonprofit organizations.
Built our own database and rating system for solar equipment, including solar panels, inverters, and batteries.
We won''t charge you anything to get quotes through our marketplace. Instead, installers and other service providers pay us a small fee to participate after we vet them for reliability and suitability. To learn more, read about how we make money, our Dispute Resolution Service, and our Editorial Guidelines.
The electricity system is changing, from the way we generate power to the way we distribute and use it. All grid-tied energy systems are situated either "in front of the meter" or "behind the meter," and as more and more electric customers take control of their production and usage, it is important to understand the fundamental differences between these two positions on the larger electric grid.
"Behind-the-meter" refers to an energy system''s position in relation to your electric meter.
In general, residential solar panel systems live behind the meter.
You can compare behind-the-meter solar panel systems on the EnergySage Marketplace today.
The difference between behind-the-meter (BTM) and front-of-meter systems comes down to an energy system''s position in relation to your electric meter. A BTM system provides power that can be used onsite without passing through a meter, while a front-of-meter system provides power to off-site locations. The power provided by a front-of-meter system must pass through an electric meter before reaching an end user.
BTM systems can provide energy directly to your home or business without going through an electric meter and interacting with the electric grid. If electricity has to pass through your electric meter to reach your property, that electricity came from in front of the meter or the grid. If electricity doesn''t need to pass through an electric meter to reach your property, that electricity came from a BTM system. All electricity end customers sit behind the meter.
Any energy generation on your property is considered behind the meter. This includes home solar panel systems, small wind turbines, and even gas-powered generators. All of these technologies generate electricity that you can use on the premises. In the case of wind and solar, excess generation can be sent through your meter and to the grid for credit on your electricity bill (known as net metering).
Energy storage systems on your property are also behind-the-meter systems. Electricity stored in a home battery, for example, goes directly from the battery to your home appliances without passing through an electrical meter.
A more complicated type of BTM energy system is a microgrid. Microgrids are miniature versions of the larger electric grid that works to power a small number of buildings. Microgrids consist of generation, a transmission system, and sometimes battery storage. All of these components live behind the meter, as there is no need to pull electricity from the grid to keep the system energized.
In contrast, here are examples of common front-of-meter energy systems:
Just about all large generation facilities that feed into the power grid are positioned in front of the meter. This includes fossil fuel generation like coal and gas, as well as renewable energy like wind, solar, and geothermal.
Over time, utilities are installing large storage facilities, often paired with renewable energy generation plants. These storage facilities also sit in front of the meter because the electricity they dispatch must pass through electric meters at individual properties before it can be used for power.
Utility-scale electricity needs to get to end consumers via the transmission and distribution system, which means that this system is also a front-of-meter energy setup. The poles and wires you see driving along most roads that transport electricity to your property are part of this transmission and distribution infrastructure and sit in front of the meter.
Behind-the-meter systems like residential solar panel installations can be a great way to save on electricity bills and take control of your personal energy usage. Best of all, many states have some form of net metering policy that compensates you for the excess generation you send to the electrical grid. Check out EnergySage''s Solar Calculator to see how much solar alone can save you, and register for the EnergySage Marketplace to receive quotes.
Create your own clean energy with solar panels.
Enjoy the benefits of solar without rooftop panels.
Explore heat pumps, the latest in clean heating & cooling technology.
By Sifat Amin and Mehrdad Boloorchi
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are emerging in all areas of electricity sectors including generation services, ancillary services, transmission services, distribution services, and consumers'' energy management services.
Applications of the BESS in the electricity sector are divided into three categories: front-the-meter (FTM), behind-the-meter (BTM), and off-grid, which for long-term operation have to be supported by an off-grid generator.
FTM BESS are those that are integrated into a generation facility, distribution network, or a transmission system for the applications that are summarized in Table 1.
BTM BESS are connected behind the utility service meter of the commercial, industrial, or residential consumers and their primary objective is consumer energy management and electricity bill savings. The BTM BESS acts as a load during the batteries charging periods and act as a generator during the batteries discharging periods.
The application of BTM BESS could be for the fulfilling one or more of the following purposes:
BTM BESS, which is in parallel with the utility supply network should be used solely on the consumer side and there should not be any power flow back to the grid. In addition to the BTM BESS, there might be BTM PV or other types of distributed energy resources (DER) in consumer''s facility, as well.
It is necessary to ensure that BTM BESS is not discharging real power to the grid. To meet this requirement, BESS system shall continually monitor the facility load and adjust the BESS discharge not to exceed the facility consumption. In addition to this measure, a reverse power monitoring relay shall be used at the utility supply point to prevent power injection to the utility network in case of failure of BESS monitoring system.
About Behind the meter energy storage
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Behind the meter energy storage have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Behind the meter energy storage for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Behind the meter energy storage featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
