836: The Battery Paradox: Why C&I Solar Isn’t Installing Battery Storage

Jul 22, 2025

Jason Smith, Solutions Engineer at CPS America, dives into the intricacies of battery energy storage systems in commercial and industrial solar. He discusses major barriers hindering battery adoption, like complex installations and long lead times. Jason highlights exciting advancements that promise 3.5-year paybacks thanks to demand charge reductions. Learn about the significance of UL 1741 standards and how HVAC control can turn buildings into thermal batteries. This conversation is a game-changer for installers and developers eager to stay ahead in the energy storage landscape.

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INSIGHT

Demand Charge Drives Battery Adoption

Demand charge mitigation is the key driver for integrating batteries with commercial solar installations.
Net metering changes have reduced revenues, increasing the attractiveness of battery storage for using PV power efficiently.

INSIGHT

Battery Footprint Shrinks Dramatically

The biggest barrier to C&I battery adoption is the large footprint of older battery systems.
Advances in cell technology now allow for much smaller, denser battery systems, easing this constraint.

INSIGHT

Faster Payback On Batteries

Payback periods for commercial battery storage are shrinking, now as low as 3.5 years.
This rapid payback happens before warranty expiration, driven mainly by demand charge reductions.

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Commercial & Industrial solar is no longer just about getting panels up on the roof (Or over the parking lot, as the case may be). I wanted to explore something that’s been bugging me…given the increase in C&I traction lately, what’s still holding the sector back from adopting batteries at scale?

For the answer, I turned to Jayson Smith, Solutions Engineer at CPS America, to better understand how footprint, lead times, and complexity have historically stalled C&I battery storage adoption. But that’s all rapidly changing thanks to smarter tech, tighter energy management integration, and a drive to reduce total cost of ownership. From 3.5-year payback periods to shrinking footprints, this episode is packed with insights to help installers and developers stay ahead of the storage curve.

Expect to learn:

🔹 How demand charge reduction is leading to 3.5-year paybacks

🔹 The UL 1741 CRD standard that removes costly BOS components

🔹 The top barriers to battery adoption in the C&I market (and how to overcome them)

🔹 The real reason you should care who actually makes your battery system

🔹 How HVAC control turns buildings into thermal batteries

Whether you're selling, designing, or deploying storage, this episode can help you make sense of what the latest advancements mean for your business.

And, if you are curious about how we can PREVENT costly battery failures before they even get to the field, tune in to our next Live Broadcast on July 23 titled “Trust but Verify, How to ensure BESS Quality before it’s too late!” where we’ll be joined by field experts from Fire Safety and Factory Quality Assurance to better understand how the industry at large can improve battery deployments while avoiding giving renewables a black eye. Register (Or watch the replay) at www.suncast.media/live

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

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