European agricultural businesses are increasingly turning to energy storage to control rising electricity costs and adapt to demand based pricing. Farms in Belgium are demonstrating how a smart battery energy storage system can transform energy from a fixed expense into an operational advantage. Daily operations, including ventilation, automated feeding, cooling and lighting, create predictable demand spikes that significantly increase peak electricity charges under local tariff structures.
For a typical Belgian livestock farm consuming around 450–500 MWh per year, electricity costs are driven not only by total usage but also by peak capacity tariffs. Without energy storage, annual electricity spending can reach approximately €55,000–€60,000, including €3,000–€3,600 in peak demand charges caused by short high load periods. These peaks expose farms to higher daytime pricing and increase grid fees, making energy costs less predictable.
To address this challenge, SCU provides the BRES series battery energy storage system, with a battery capacity of 215kWh. The system integrates directly into farm electrical infrastructure and operates automatically to balance energy flows in real time. During off-peak periods, the battery stores lower cost electricity, then discharges during high demand windows to cap grid consumption and reshape the load profile.
With a 215 kWh BRES system in operation, farms can reduce grid peak demand by an estimated 30–40%, lowering annual capacity fees by roughly €1,200–€1,800. Additional savings from time shifting consumption and optimized charging can reach €8,000–€11,000 per year, while controlled electricity export may generate another €1,500–€2,000 in revenue. Combined, this represents an estimated €11,000–€15,000 in annual economic benefit, translating to an approximate 12–15 year simple payback, with further upside as electricity prices evolve.
From commissioning, farms achieve a more stable and predictable energy pattern. Demand spikes are smoothed, improving alignment with time-of-use pricing and reducing exposure to peak penalties. Reliability remains critical in livestock environments, where uninterrupted power supports animal welfare and automated processes. The BRES system operates seamlessly in the background, ensuring continuous energy availability while optimizing economic performance with minimal operator intervention.
The modular architecture of the BRES allows future expansion as operational energy needs evolve. Energy storage is becoming a practical business tool for European farms, reducing peak costs, improving energy stability, and creating new financial value from electricity while supporting more efficient and resilient operations.