E-acumulators.ro is the oldest online shop of electrical products on the Romanian market. Concerned about the new smart home concept and alternative options for classical energy generation, Dan Tudose, the company’s manager, has analyzed the trends and developments of the global energy market in order to provide Romanian customers with the benefits of new green energy breakthroughs.
According to the national annual report published in 2018 by ANRE (Romanian National Regulatory Authority for Energy), the Romanians faced electricity outages in 2017, which amounted to an average of 284 minutes per year per consumer. The value exceeds the range of indicators registered in EU member states, as most energy distribution infrastructure is older than 35 years. At the same time, the number of households connected to the existing national electricity grid has steadily increased. Extreme weather conditions have significant effects on increasing energy consumption and the frequency of power outages: very cold winter temperatures and very high summer temperatures cause consumers to use thermal systems or air conditioners at the same time.
“There are solutions for peak demand: for example, in New York, in the morning when everyone starts the coffee maker, they put into service trucks transporting “packed energy” (power generators on wheels) and deliver energy to the grid, for an extra energy offer to cover consumption. This could also be implemented in Bucharest. If the number of consumers delivering power to the grid would increase, there would not be so many voltage drops and costs would be lower for everyone”, says Dan Tudose, senior manager and shareholder of E-acumulatori.ro.
Fortunately, there are solutions at hand for households to respond to such unpleasant situations. There are currently several options to supplement your energy consumption. The most used and known systems in Romania are: photovoltaic systems, storage batteries and UPS sources (uninterruptible power sources).
Photovoltaic systems – generation of green electricity
Homeowners who want to turn from consumers to prosumers (small energy generator capable of delivering the surplus production into the grid) can benefit from a State Fund grant of up to 20,000 lei for the installation of a system of photovoltaic panels at home. For a house, solar panels are installed in about two days, the duration varying according to the complexity of the work. The cost of the photovoltaic system installation is less than 5% of the investment property. The installation of the photovoltaic system ensures energy independence (about 70-80% of what you consume comes from the panels) and it is also a transportable investment. If you sell the house or you transfer it, the next owner will enjoy electricity production for decades.
Power storage in batteries
The main concern of energy specialists is to improve the energy storage system in batteries. International studies show that homeowners are constantly looking for solutions to ensure their energy independence. Storage solutions can be used by both apartment owners as well as in houses and industrial spaces.
For a homeowner who wants to cover only perimeter lighting, central heating and surveillance, a small storage system is enough. If the customer wants to use strong consumers on batteries, such as the microwave or air conditioner, some calculations are needed. To choose the most efficient variant, specialists at E-acumulatori.ro analyze the frequency of interruptions in power supply and the length of time for which the customer wants a safe solution. After a consumption estimate of kilowatts per consumer, E-acumulatori.ro offers the best customized alternatives. Customers can choose among lithium or lead batteries, and the selection criteria depend on the final use of the device. Generally, a lead-acid battery is recommended, for less than $ 1,000.
UPS – safe solutions for home appliances
UPSs (uninterruptible power sources) are devices that protect your electrical equipment from voltage fluctuations. Customers can choose UPS for computers, systems or the whole home, with UPS’s main role being to provide energy on short-term. The best performing models are those that operate independently of the grid conditions, providing the highest level of protection and the widest range of autonomy. These systems use an inverter, a charger (rectifier) and an internal or external battery. UPSs store energy and deliver it when the voltage fluctuates.
“We are heading towards a green energy world where customers are increasingly interested in the solutions they receive, for example, they are interested in the lifetime of a battery or the number of cycles. We find solutions for all our customers, both households and companies interested in cost-optimizing solutions. When we talk about energy, we automatically think of alternative sources of renewable energy, and here the batteries are the most used storage devices. In the future, they will increasingly be used by both residential and industrial consumers. Battery storage technology evolves considerably, and this will reduce the cost of batteries and thus increase the number of users on a large scale. Slowly, the energy market turns green”, says Dan Tudose.
About E-acumulatori.ro
E-acumulatori.ro is a family business, started in 2002 and strongly developed since 2009. At present, the online store portfolio includes 30,000 products. Among the brands there are Panasonic, Enersys, LG, Renusol, Legrand, Eaton. In 2018, E-acumulatori.ro registered a turnover of 8 million lei (VAT not included), by 17% higher than in the previous year.