Sonnenbatterie, considered to be one of the market leaders in Germany’s emerging solar-plus-storage sector, claims the new version of its Sonnenbatterie Eco battery storage system has more than double the potential lifespan of previous models.

The company said the lithium-ion based system now has a lifetime of 10,000 charge cycles, whereas previous versions could manage up to 5,000. Company spokesman Mathias Bloch told PV Tech that additionally, while the previous models could cycle at a depth of discharge (DoD) of 80%, the new version can manage 100% DoD cycling.

“So Sonnenbatteri Eco 4 (the new model) has a usable capacity of 4kWh,” Bloch said.

According to Sonnenbatterie, the new model’s increased lifespan lowers the cost of stored electricity. The system’s pricing ranges from €0.17 (US$0.18) to €0.24 per kWh depending on the system size. While the price remains the same, Bloch said, the economics improve over time.

While there is a definite trend of falling PV system sales to German households, the portion of those installed with energy storage options attached is growing, providing something of a lifeline to the market. Germany Trade & Invest, a specialist development lending institution, quotes figures from research firm EU PD that forecast PV-battery systems sales to hit 100,000 by 2018 in the country.

For the full version of this story, including further information on Sonnenbatterie's technology and the company's expansion plans, visit PV Tech Storage.