BaaS is now possible with Hyonic and will transform how energy storage is deployed, managed and financed

The challenge for operators 

National Grid electricity networks are under huge pressure. Demand is rising sharply with the growth of renewables, data centre expansion, energy security concerns, sustained regional or national power outage, increased electric vehicle usage and a host of other issues. In the UK, moving power around the national grid consumes 9% of all electricity generated — costing more than £3 billion annually and wasting energy.

Both in the UK and globally, Grid infrastructure generally relies on lead-acid cells to smooth out power surges in many electrical sub-stations a more robust and environmentally friendly storage medium than lithium-ion.

However, both technologies lose efficiency as they age. Lead-acid cells require regular maintenance and release hydrogen gas as they charge, meaning complex HVAC systems are required to regulate hydrogen levels in battery rooms.

Replacing everything with lithium-ion isn’t practical. Costs are higher, lifespan and recycling is limited and the global raw materials supply chain is struggling to keep up. With hundreds of millions of lead-acid cells already in place across substations, data centres, and industrial sites around the world, any solution to reduce pressure on the Grid must work with legacy infrastructure – lead-acid cells.

The Hyonic Solution

Hyonic’s HBA1 additive rejuvenates existing lead-acid cells. When small HBA1 capsules are added to ageing cells, chemical recycling occurs. This has been measured at up to 105% of their OEM performance. Laboratory test simulation results (on both brand new and aged cells) predicts that HBA1 extends lead-acid cell usable lifetime to over 20 years. With up to an 80% reduction in hydrogen emissions, electrolyte levels are stabilised and a steady lifetime performance is maintained.

This breakthrough makes Batteries as a Service (BaaS) viable for the first time.

How BaaS works

Instead of purchasing, owning and maintaining batteries, consumers subscribe to a managed energy storage service provided by the National Grid Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s).

The technology — a configuration of Hyonic lead-acid batteries and hybrid inverters — is installed on the homeowners’ property and supplied as part of the monthly subscription. The inverter runs the batteries down during the day before pulling energy from the grid during the night to recharge – and recharging off grid via solar where available.

• For Operators: no need for costly battery infrastructure replacement, improved network capacity, reduced carbon emissions and a huge cut in the cost of shunting electricity across the national grid. A regular subscription income is created for the DNOs and power is stored locally, available right when and where it’s needed, and drawn down from the Grid overnight – off peak. Subscribers suffer no loss of service during a grid power outage, as the BaaS infrastructure provides them with an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS system).
• For Consumers: predictable monthly payments, lower bills (all energy drawn down is off peak), potential earnings by selling stored power back to the grid during the day. Energy security is on-site with reliable backup storage. By adding solar panels, households can generate and trade even more energy.

Lead-acid + HBA1 beats lithium-ion for BaaS

• Longevity: lead-acid with HBA1 lasts 20+ years vs lithium-ion’s 7 – 9 years.
• Cost: around one-third of the price of lithium-ion.
• Availability: recycled lead-acid components are readily available to manufacturers.
• Recyclability: lead-acid is one of the world’s most recycled products, whereas lithium-ion recycling is still in its infancy.
• Safety: proven, stable technology with far lower fire risk.

The impact

With Hyonic BaaS, every substation and household battery bank becomes part of a distributed energy storage network. Operators reduce grid strain, avoid billions in wasted costs and cut emissions. Consumers gain energy security resilience and financial upside.

BaaS is the future of energy storage — and it’s been made possible by Hyonic.