Interested in solar panels for your Massachusetts home or business? Schedule a free consultation with Boston Solar! Call 617-858-1645 or contact us here. Contact online >>
Interested in solar panels for your Massachusetts home or business? Schedule a free consultation with Boston Solar! Call 617-858-1645 or contact us here.
Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday-Sunday Closed
Subscribe to our newsletter!Get the latest updates from the solar industry.
You are likely familiar with front-of-the-meter (FTM) systems as a concept, even if you aren''t aware of the term. FTM systems are the large-scale power plants that are interconnected with the distribution and transmission systems. The "meter," in this case, is a reference to the end-user''s service meter that measures how much grid energy is being used by the residence, business, or other facility. Power generated by FTM systems must pass through that electric meter before reaching an end-user, hence power plants are "front of the meter."
In contrast, behind-the-meter (BTM) systems refer to electric-generating and storage systems (such as solar and battery storage) that are connected to the distribution system on the customer''s side of the meter. Energy that a facility receives from behind-the-meter solutions bypasses the electric meter, hence "behind the meter." They differ from front-of-the-meter systems in many ways, including who typically owns the systems, where they are installed, and the size of the systems installed.
Behind-the-meter solar and battery storage, along with other grid assets deployed at the distribution level like electric vehicle charging infrastructure, are broadly referred to as distributed energy resources (DERs). We highlight the most common types of distributed energy resources below:
Note that it''s becoming increasingly common to have different types of energy resources on-site, like solar and battery storage systems that integrate with EV charging.
To effectively coordinate these resources, optimization software consisting of a site controller and cloud-based platform (highlighted in orange above) is essential. At Enel, our optimization software is called DER.OS – and it acts as the brain of the system, managing and controlling the flow of energy between the various DERs, the building/facility, and the grid. This allows the end-user to optimize their energy use to reduce demand charges, conduct energy arbitrage, and earn money from providing grid services like demand response.
DER.OS''s cloud-based platform provides real-time monitoring and analysis of energy usage, allowing for further optimization and the identification of potential issues or inefficiencies. By leveraging such a powerful optimization tool, organizations can effectively manage and optimize their behind-the-meter resources for maximum efficiency and cost savings.
There are multiple drivers behind the rapidly growing adoption of behind-the-meter energy resources, including:
A major advantage of behind-the-meter resources is their ability to reduce energy and demand costs on electricity bills. By optimizing energy use from solar panels and batteries, organizations can minimize the amount of energy they draw from the grid during peak demand times and shift energy usage from high-priced to low-priced hours. This flexibility can lead to significant bill savings over time. Furthermore, these assets can, in some cases, also participate in lucrative programs like demand response.
Behind-the-meter resources can also provide energy consumers with greater energy independence and resilience, as they are able to generate power on-site and can continue to operate even during grid outages. Learn how your organization can decide on the best energy resilience strategy by downloading our eBook "How to Evaluate Your Energy Resilience Needs."
Behind-the-meter resources are quickly growing more popular, as they provide several benefits to communities. For instance, when aggregated into a larger capacity as in a virtual power plant (VPPs), they can help to provide a powerful alternative to expensive peaking power plants, which utilities have traditionally called into use to avoid brownouts and blackouts.
VPPs act like and have the same effect as a traditional centralized peaking power plant. Both solutions ultimately have the same goal: ensuring that energy demand on the grid is instantaneously met by the available energy supply, and that the grid remains stable. But they achieve this in a significantly different way.
Traditional peaking power plants operate out of one physical location. In addition, they typically are very polluting because they are often powered by fossil fuels. VPPAs provide a more sustainable alternative, using existing DERs – like solar and battery storage, for example – to balance energy on both the supply and demand side. When deployed at scale, DERs can help the grid operate reliably, in a cheaper and cleaner manner.
Because there are so many different DERs available, it''s likely that at least one option could benefit your organization – the decision tree in our eBook "How to Evaluate Your Energy Resilience Needs" can help you understand what solution may be best for you.
Behind-the-meter solutions, or DERs, can be an especially good fit for organizations that want to reduce their energy costs, improve energy resilience, and reduce their carbon footprint. However, the specific benefits and costs will depend on a few factors, including the facility''s energy usage, location, and complexity of the project.
Industries that have high energy costs (by usage or high tariffs) are good candidates for behind-the-meter solutions. This includes industries like commercial real estate, industrial manufacturing, data centers, and governments and schools. Behind-the-meter battery storage is particularly well-suited for organizations that operate during peak demand periods, as this solution can help reduce peak demand charges.
Location is also important – different states offer different incentives to adopt behind-the-meter solutions. These incentives can help offset the initial cost of purchasing and installing a behind-the-meter energy system. It is important to work with an energy partner that can help you identify all potential value streams to see what solutions make economic sense.
Contact our team today to find out how much value you can unlock with a tailored distributed energy resource strategy.
As energy costs continue to increase and climate change concerns mount, more companies are looking for ways to control their energy use. They can do this by installing Behind-the-Meter systems – technologies and infrastructure located on the customer’s side of the utility meter. From solar panels to battery storage units, behind-the-meter systems allow users to generate their own energy, store it for later use, and manage their consumption more effectively and efficiently.
This article will explore what behind-the-meter means, how behind-the-meter differs from front-of-the-meter, examples of the different technologies used, and the benefits that behind-the-meter solutions can provide.
Behind-the-meter (BTM) refers to the energy systems located on the customer’s side of the utility meter. These systems could include solar panels, battery storage, or energy-efficient appliances. The energy produced or stored in these systems is used primarily for the building’s own consumption, reducing the electricity needed from the grid and lowering the electricity bill. In many cases, excess energy generated by behind-the-meter systems can be sold back to the grid, providing an additional source of income or energy credits for the customer.
On the other hand, Front-of-the-Meter (FTM) systems are on the utility side of the meter. Front-of-the-meter typically includes large-scale energy generation and storage facilities like power plants, wind farms, solar parks, and large-scale energy storage systems. The energy produced or stored in these systems is used to supply the grid and distributed to various customers – residential, commercial, or industrial. Front-of-the-meter resources play a significant role in grid stabilization and management, helping to balance supply and demand, ensuring the reliability of energy supply, and increasingly supporting the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid.
While behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter systems are integral parts of the energy mix, they serve different roles and impact energy users differently. Behind-the-meter systems allow customers to take control of their energy generation and use, offering potential cost savings and increased resilience. Front-of-the-meter systems, meanwhile, are vital for overall energy supply and grid stability; these systems are more critical than ever as we transition towards more renewable energy sources.
These are just a few examples of the technologies and systems that fall under behind-the-meter solutions. The specific choice of solution will depend on various factors such as the user’s energy needs, available resources, geographical location, and financial capacity. However, regardless of the specific technology employed, the ultimate goal of behind-the-meter systems is to optimize energy use, reduce costs, support the grid, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient energy future.
These front-of-the-meter examples collectively ensure a consistent and reliable supply of electricity. Each one plays its unique role, whether generating renewable energy, providing energy storage, or ensuring the smooth operation of the entire grid. As the global energy systems evolve, these front-of-the-meter solutions and the various behind-the-meter solutions will facilitate a future sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon energy mix.
Commercial and industrial energy users often operate on a large scale, with sizable energy requirements. As a result, they stand to gain a lot from installing behind-the-meter systems. Here’s why these entities might go for behind-the-meter solutions and the benefits they could reap:
Commercial and industrial energy users can invest strategically in behind-the-meter systems and take advantage of these benefits. Not only can these systems offer financial advantages and resilience, but they can also support sustainability goals as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility program.
About Behind the meter
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Behind the meter 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 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 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.
