02.12.2025
How a 100kW Battery Will Cut School Bills by 23%
With energy costs remaining unpredictable and sustainability targets continuing to rise, battery storage has become one of the most practical ways for schools to lower bills, reduce emissions and build long-term resilience.
Using real performance forecasts generated by VEST’s optimisation platform, we’ve modelled for our client exactly how a 100 kW behind-the-meter battery will perform once installed at their local school. These figures come directly from VEST’s modelling engine, which uses hundreds of historical forecasts, wholesale trading behaviour and live market volatility to create accurate, real-world projections.
Setting the Scene
We'll keep the school anonymous for confidentiality reasons so let's call it Sunshine Primary. Sunshine Primary has clear priorities:
Reduce annual energy bills
Cut carbon emissions significantly
Strengthen long-term energy resilience
Lead by example in sustainability and climate education
Using Sunshine Primary's daytime electricity profile, VEST has modelled the performance of a 100 kW battery under normal operating conditions.
The Solution: A 100 kW Battery Optimised by VEST
Once installed, the battery will work automatically in the background at Sunshine Primary to:
Charge when electricity prices are low
Discharge during expensive peak periods
Shift consumption to cheaper, cleaner hours of the day
Reduce exposure to price spikes and volatility
This requires no behavioural changes from staff or pupils. The intelligence sits entirely in VEST’s optimisation, not in how the school operates day to day.
This is also where the difference lies: A plug-and-play battery delivers basic optimisation. VEST’s advanced optimisation unlocks significantly greater savings and carbon reductions by trading intelligently against wholesale market behaviour.
What the Data Shows
Once the battery is live and based on VEST’s real performance data, Sunshine Primary will see:
23% annual electricity bill reduction
50% CO₂ reduction
These results are driven by thousands of optimisation cycles and proven UK market patterns. The school’s battery will not just shift energy, it will actively manage consumption in a way that reflects real-time market conditions.
Where the Savings Will Come From
1. Peak-Shaving During Expensive Hours
Schools like Sunshine Primary consume the most energy between 9am and 3pm, precisely when grid prices typically surge. The battery discharges during these hours, avoiding costly peak rates.
2. Charging When Prices Are Lowest
Overnight and off-peak charging ensures the school uses low-cost stored energy the next day.
3. Cleaner Energy Use Throughout the Week
By pulling less from the grid during peak, gas-heavy hours, the school will significantly reduce emissions, by up to 50% based on VEST’s forecasts.
Why This Matters for the School
This model clearly demonstrates:
The scale of financial savings the school will achieve
How smart optimisation (not just storage capacity) creates value
A tangible carbon reduction pathway, supporting sustainability commitments
Greater resilience and protection against rising or volatile energy prices
The ability to redirect savings into teaching, staffing, facilities, technology, or pupil support
More money back into the school means more resources where they matter most.
A Teaching Opportunity, and a Leadership Moment
The benefits aren’t only financial. Once installed, the battery can become:
A live teaching tool, helping pupils understand renewable energy and climate action
A symbol of sustainability leadership, demonstrating the school’s commitment to reducing emissions
A real-world example of innovation in education, showing pupils what climate solutions look like in practice
Cutting emissions by 50% positions the school as a genuine climate leader in the local community.
What’s Possible
VEST’s modelling shows that once Sunshine Primary's 100 kW battery is operational, the school will:
Reduce electricity bills by 23%
Cut carbon emissions by 50%
Improve energy resilience and stability
Demonstrate leadership in sustainability and education
If you’d like to understand the full forecast for your site (or run additional scenarios) VEST can provide a tailored, no-obligation assessment. Get in touch here.
With energy costs remaining unpredictable and sustainability targets continuing to rise, battery storage has become one of the most practical ways for schools to lower bills, reduce emissions and build long-term resilience.
Using real performance forecasts generated by VEST’s optimisation platform, we’ve modelled for our client exactly how a 100 kW behind-the-meter battery will perform once installed at their local school. These figures come directly from VEST’s modelling engine, which uses hundreds of historical forecasts, wholesale trading behaviour and live market volatility to create accurate, real-world projections.
Setting the Scene
We'll keep the school anonymous for confidentiality reasons so let's call it Sunshine Primary. Sunshine Primary has clear priorities:
Reduce annual energy bills
Cut carbon emissions significantly
Strengthen long-term energy resilience
Lead by example in sustainability and climate education
Using Sunshine Primary's daytime electricity profile, VEST has modelled the performance of a 100 kW battery under normal operating conditions.
The Solution: A 100 kW Battery Optimised by VEST
Once installed, the battery will work automatically in the background at Sunshine Primary to:
Charge when electricity prices are low
Discharge during expensive peak periods
Shift consumption to cheaper, cleaner hours of the day
Reduce exposure to price spikes and volatility
This requires no behavioural changes from staff or pupils. The intelligence sits entirely in VEST’s optimisation, not in how the school operates day to day.
This is also where the difference lies: A plug-and-play battery delivers basic optimisation. VEST’s advanced optimisation unlocks significantly greater savings and carbon reductions by trading intelligently against wholesale market behaviour.
What the Data Shows
Once the battery is live and based on VEST’s real performance data, Sunshine Primary will see:
23% annual electricity bill reduction
50% CO₂ reduction
These results are driven by thousands of optimisation cycles and proven UK market patterns. The school’s battery will not just shift energy, it will actively manage consumption in a way that reflects real-time market conditions.
Where the Savings Will Come From
1. Peak-Shaving During Expensive Hours
Schools like Sunshine Primary consume the most energy between 9am and 3pm, precisely when grid prices typically surge. The battery discharges during these hours, avoiding costly peak rates.
2. Charging When Prices Are Lowest
Overnight and off-peak charging ensures the school uses low-cost stored energy the next day.
3. Cleaner Energy Use Throughout the Week
By pulling less from the grid during peak, gas-heavy hours, the school will significantly reduce emissions, by up to 50% based on VEST’s forecasts.
Why This Matters for the School
This model clearly demonstrates:
The scale of financial savings the school will achieve
How smart optimisation (not just storage capacity) creates value
A tangible carbon reduction pathway, supporting sustainability commitments
Greater resilience and protection against rising or volatile energy prices
The ability to redirect savings into teaching, staffing, facilities, technology, or pupil support
More money back into the school means more resources where they matter most.
A Teaching Opportunity, and a Leadership Moment
The benefits aren’t only financial. Once installed, the battery can become:
A live teaching tool, helping pupils understand renewable energy and climate action
A symbol of sustainability leadership, demonstrating the school’s commitment to reducing emissions
A real-world example of innovation in education, showing pupils what climate solutions look like in practice
Cutting emissions by 50% positions the school as a genuine climate leader in the local community.
What’s Possible
VEST’s modelling shows that once Sunshine Primary's 100 kW battery is operational, the school will:
Reduce electricity bills by 23%
Cut carbon emissions by 50%
Improve energy resilience and stability
Demonstrate leadership in sustainability and education
If you’d like to understand the full forecast for your site (or run additional scenarios) VEST can provide a tailored, no-obligation assessment. Get in touch here.
With energy costs remaining unpredictable and sustainability targets continuing to rise, battery storage has become one of the most practical ways for schools to lower bills, reduce emissions and build long-term resilience.
Using real performance forecasts generated by VEST’s optimisation platform, we’ve modelled for our client exactly how a 100 kW behind-the-meter battery will perform once installed at their local school. These figures come directly from VEST’s modelling engine, which uses hundreds of historical forecasts, wholesale trading behaviour and live market volatility to create accurate, real-world projections.
Setting the Scene
We'll keep the school anonymous for confidentiality reasons so let's call it Sunshine Primary. Sunshine Primary has clear priorities:
Reduce annual energy bills
Cut carbon emissions significantly
Strengthen long-term energy resilience
Lead by example in sustainability and climate education
Using Sunshine Primary's daytime electricity profile, VEST has modelled the performance of a 100 kW battery under normal operating conditions.
The Solution: A 100 kW Battery Optimised by VEST
Once installed, the battery will work automatically in the background at Sunshine Primary to:
Charge when electricity prices are low
Discharge during expensive peak periods
Shift consumption to cheaper, cleaner hours of the day
Reduce exposure to price spikes and volatility
This requires no behavioural changes from staff or pupils. The intelligence sits entirely in VEST’s optimisation, not in how the school operates day to day.
This is also where the difference lies: A plug-and-play battery delivers basic optimisation. VEST’s advanced optimisation unlocks significantly greater savings and carbon reductions by trading intelligently against wholesale market behaviour.
What the Data Shows
Once the battery is live and based on VEST’s real performance data, Sunshine Primary will see:
23% annual electricity bill reduction
50% CO₂ reduction
These results are driven by thousands of optimisation cycles and proven UK market patterns. The school’s battery will not just shift energy, it will actively manage consumption in a way that reflects real-time market conditions.
Where the Savings Will Come From
1. Peak-Shaving During Expensive Hours
Schools like Sunshine Primary consume the most energy between 9am and 3pm, precisely when grid prices typically surge. The battery discharges during these hours, avoiding costly peak rates.
2. Charging When Prices Are Lowest
Overnight and off-peak charging ensures the school uses low-cost stored energy the next day.
3. Cleaner Energy Use Throughout the Week
By pulling less from the grid during peak, gas-heavy hours, the school will significantly reduce emissions, by up to 50% based on VEST’s forecasts.
Why This Matters for the School
This model clearly demonstrates:
The scale of financial savings the school will achieve
How smart optimisation (not just storage capacity) creates value
A tangible carbon reduction pathway, supporting sustainability commitments
Greater resilience and protection against rising or volatile energy prices
The ability to redirect savings into teaching, staffing, facilities, technology, or pupil support
More money back into the school means more resources where they matter most.
A Teaching Opportunity, and a Leadership Moment
The benefits aren’t only financial. Once installed, the battery can become:
A live teaching tool, helping pupils understand renewable energy and climate action
A symbol of sustainability leadership, demonstrating the school’s commitment to reducing emissions
A real-world example of innovation in education, showing pupils what climate solutions look like in practice
Cutting emissions by 50% positions the school as a genuine climate leader in the local community.
What’s Possible
VEST’s modelling shows that once Sunshine Primary's 100 kW battery is operational, the school will:
Reduce electricity bills by 23%
Cut carbon emissions by 50%
Improve energy resilience and stability
Demonstrate leadership in sustainability and education
If you’d like to understand the full forecast for your site (or run additional scenarios) VEST can provide a tailored, no-obligation assessment. Get in touch here.
