Start with the peak that needs to change
Peak shaving is a control objective, not a cabinet size. Begin by identifying which demand event creates the commercial or electrical problem: a short production start-up peak, a long afternoon plateau, a coincident EV-charging load, or a transformer limit. The shape, duration and frequency of the event determine what the battery must do.
Define the target in operational language. For example, the site may need to remain below an agreed import threshold during selected periods, or it may need to reduce a recurring demand spike while preserving energy for another priority. A clear target prevents a feasibility study from comparing equipment only by nameplate capacity.
Collect interval load data
Use interval data at the shortest practical metering interval and cover enough time to show production cycles, seasons and unusual operating days. A monthly electricity bill can identify cost pressure, but it cannot show how quickly a peak rises or how long it lasts.
Mark planned changes to the site, including new machinery, operating shifts, onsite generation, fleet charging or changes to the electricity connection. A feasibility result based on an old load profile may not remain useful once the operating pattern changes.
- Interval import and export data
- Demand peaks and their duration
- Operating schedules and planned load additions
- Onsite generation and curtailment records
- Transformer, feeder and connection constraints
Establish the tariff and control context
The commercial value of peak shaving depends on the local tariff, demand-charge rules, billing window, export restrictions and any contractual import limit. These rules should be documented before estimating financial benefit.
The operating strategy also needs priorities. A battery used for daily peak management may have less energy available for backup or solar shifting. The feasibility review should state which objective takes precedence and whether any reserve must be protected.
Separate power, energy and recharge opportunity
Required power describes how fast the system must reduce site import. Required energy describes how long it must sustain that reduction. Both must be modelled against the same load event. A system can have adequate energy but insufficient power for a fast spike, or adequate power but insufficient energy for a long plateau.
Recharge opportunity is equally important. Confirm when the system can recharge, whether charging creates a new peak, and whether the site connection can support the intended schedule. The review should include expected losses, operating reserve and end-of-life capacity assumptions.
Check the project interfaces early
A practical feasibility review includes the equipment location, access, cable routes, protection coordination, transformer capacity, civil requirements, communications and maintenance access. These interfaces can determine whether an otherwise suitable storage concept is straightforward or expensive to implement.
Ask the project engineer and local authority what electrical, fire, planning and grid requirements apply. Public product information can support early comparison, but the final design must follow the confirmed datasheet, local regulations and the approved single-line diagram.
Turn the review into a supplier brief
A useful supplier brief includes the load file, target limit or objective, tariff context, site drawings, available space, operating priorities, required standards and schedule. Ask suppliers to state the assumptions behind usable energy, continuous power, auxiliary consumption, control scope and the items excluded from their proposal.
The feasibility output should be a transparent decision record, not a guarantee of savings. It should identify the data used, the proposed operating logic, remaining uncertainties and the next technical checks needed before a quotation or contract.