Car showroom and service centre | Ploiești, Romania

A car showroom and service centre in Ploiești, Romania, had already invested in rooftop solar. The next step was to make better use of the energy it generated. Solar production peaked around midday, while electricity demand was concentrated in the morning and afternoon.

This mismatch meant surplus solar energy was exported to the grid, while electricity still had to be purchased at other times. The customer needed a way to store that surplus and use it when the site required it.

Adding Energy Storage Without Replacing Existing PV Infrastructure

The customer had two priorities: increase solar self-consumption using the existing PV system and complete the installation with minimal impact on daily operations.

Working with local partner ATI Energy, DUNEXT supplied a PowerHill 233 kWh liquid-cooled energy storage system integrated with the DuLink Cloud Platform. PowerHill provides the storage capacity, while DuLink coordinates its operation with solar generation and site demand. DUNEXT’s Romanian service team supported delivery, installation and commissioning.

DuLink Enables Intelligent PV and Storage Coordination

In this project, DuLink connects directly with the existing Huawei PV inverter, providing visibility of solar generation to support coordinated operation of the PV system, PowerHill battery and site loads.

When solar production exceeds the site’s demand, surplus energy is stored in PowerHill. When demand exceeds available solar generation, the battery can discharge to help cover the shortfall. DuLink coordinates these charging and discharging decisions so that stored energy can be used when it is needed.

Together, PowerHill and DuLink turn the existing PV installation into a more flexible energy system, aligning solar generation and storage with the building’s daily electricity needs.

Four Key Benefits Delivered by the Project

1. Higher Solar Self-Consumption

Surplus solar electricity can be stored in PowerHill and used later on-site. DuLink coordinates this process, helping the business use more of its own generation and reduce electricity purchases from the grid.

2. Reduced Grid Demand During Peak Periods

PowerHill can supply stored energy during periods of higher demand. With discharge coordinated by DuLink, the battery helps limit power drawn from the grid, subject to available charge and system settings.

3. Coordinated Management of Solar and Storage

DuLink links the existing PV inverter with the storage system, allowing battery operation to respond to solar production and site consumption. This gives the customer an integrated approach to managing the two energy assets.

4. Installation with Minimal Business Disruption

PowerHill’s integrated cabinet design simplified installation alongside the existing PV infrastructure. With support from DUNEXT’s local service team, the system was commissioned while the showroom and service centre remained operational.

A Practical Example of Maximizing Existing Solar Investments

The Ploiești project combines PowerHill’s energy storage capability with DuLink’s coordinated energy management to get more value from an existing solar installation. For commercial sites with a mismatch between generation and consumption, this approach offers a practical path to higher self-consumption and lower grid electricity purchases. Actual savings depend on the site’s energy profile, tariffs and operating strategy.