Front of the Meter vs. Behind the Meter: What Does It Mean?
Behind-the-meter, or BTM, has become a buzzword on on-site energy production. Used primarily to describe renewable energy sources like wind and solar, behind-the-meter solar figures shed light on the total solar capacity of a region and offer insight into commercial energy production.
What Does Behind-the-Meter Mean?
Behind-the-meter describes energy production capacity on site. The term is derived from the energy flow’s position; it never passes through the electrical meter. Most BTM energy systems provide electricity for homes or businesses on-site to meet all of the building’s needs or to supplement energy from the grid.
What Does Front-of-the-Meter Mean?
Front-of-the-meter, or FTM, encompasses all electricity produced off-site that passes through a power meter. In most cases, FTM electricity is generated at the local power plant by any number of sources, including:
Coal
Natural gas
Solar
Wind
Geothermal
Nuclear
Hydropower
61% of electricity produced at US power plants (FTM) is from fossil fuels. Non-renewable energy accounts for roughly 2,508 billion kWh of the 4,108 billion kWh consumed. Renewable energy contributes 20% of the nation’s electricity supply.
Examples of BTM Energy – Storage, Generation and More
Behind-the-meter energy systems include several variations and combinations beyond generation, including the the most common:
Behind-the-Meter Energy Storage
On-site energy storage is crucial to commercial BTM systems. Facility-scale battery storage offers businesses the flexibility to lower costs by utilizing stored energy when electricity rates are highest. Storage reduces overall expenses, reliance on the grid and emergency power in the event of loss incidents like natural disasters or fires.
BTM Microgrids
Microgrids are scaled-down versions of power grid that often power entire cities. Instead, microgrids power specific communities, neighborhoods or commercial facilities. Microgrids are key for businesses looking to control their energy environment.
On-site Power Generation
BTM includes all on-side types of power generation. In most contexts, the term is used for renewable energy generation, including the most common type of BTM, solar. It’s important to. note that on-site generation is intertwined with storage. 80% of all residential solar power systems include storage and 40% of all commercial systems combine solar and storage.
Behind-the-meter energy generation includes:
Solar
Wind
Hydropower
Biomass
Gas or diesel
Get Ahead by Getting Behind-the-Meter with Keen
Our teams can help design the right combination of energy production and storage for your facility’s needs. We provide bespoke energy solutions that forecast energy needs, accommodate seasonal energy fluctuations and utilize automated monitoring and control systems to maximize efficiency. To learn more about our work, contact us today.