Battery Storage Size Calculator

Plan backup capacity for critical site operations. Tune depth of discharge, voltage, and safety margin. Get clear sizing, then export it to your team.

Size battery storage for jobsite daily energy needs. Account for surge loads, autonomy, losses, and reserve. Download CSV or PDF results for faster crew planning.

Inputs
Average power you must keep running.
Highest continuous demand expected.
Motor starts, compressors, heavy tools.
Runtime you need during an outage day.
Number of outage days to cover.
Common values: 12, 24, 48, 96, 192.
AC conversion losses.
Charge/discharge losses (use conservative values).
Portion of nameplate energy you plan to use.
Cold/heat can reduce usable capacity.
Covers uncertainty, aging, and unplanned loads.
Extra headroom for added equipment later.
Optional: apply typical DoD and losses.
Used only for module quantity estimate.
Fields marked with * are required.

Example Data Table

Scenario Critical kW Peak kW Hours Days Voltage Nominal kWh Capacity Ah Modules (5.12 kWh)
Concrete pour night shift 5 8 10 1 48 106.10 2210 21
Crane standby and lighting 3 5 12 2 48 152.78 3183 30
Examples are illustrative; always verify with equipment specs and site conditions.

Formula Used

1) AC energy required
EAC (kWh) = Critical kW × Backup hours × Autonomy days

2) Loss-adjusted energy at the battery
EDC = EAC ÷ (Inverter eff × Battery eff)

3) Usable storage required (temperature adjusted)
Eusable = EDC ÷ Temperature availability

4) Nameplate storage to install
Enom = Eusable ÷ DoD × (1+Reserve) × (1+Future)

5) Approximate capacity in amp-hours
Ah = (Enom × 1000) ÷ DC voltage


This sizing is energy-based. Check current limits, cable sizing, and allowable C-rate for your selected battery modules.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. List the loads you must keep running during outages.
  2. Set Critical load to the average kW of those loads.
  3. Set Peak load to the highest continuous kW expected.
  4. Use Surge factor for motor starts and heavy tools.
  5. Choose backup hours per outage day and autonomy days.
  6. Enter realistic efficiencies, DoD, and temperature availability.
  7. Add reserve and future expansion for a practical build.
  8. Press Calculate, then export CSV or PDF if needed.

Article

Load Profiling for Sites

Battery sizing starts with a realistic load profile. Separate critical loads such as lighting, pumps, controls, communications, and safety systems from optional tools. Use nameplate power only as a check; measure typical kW with meters or equipment logs. If loads cycle, estimate duty factor and average kW over the backup window. A clean profile reduces oversizing and avoids unexpected brownouts.

Autonomy and Runtime Planning

Runtime is the second driver. Multiply average critical kW by backup hours and the number of outage days you want to cover. For construction, autonomy often depends on delivery schedules, fuel restrictions, and local grid reliability. Short, frequent outages may favor fewer hours with higher surge capability. Long outages push energy capacity higher and may require staged load shedding to keep essentials running.

Efficiency and Thermal Derating

Stored energy is not fully delivered to AC loads. Inverter conversion, battery round‑trip losses, and cabling reduce usable energy. Temperature also matters; cold mornings and hot enclosures can lower available capacity. The calculator converts AC energy to DC energy using efficiencies, then derates with a temperature availability factor. Conservative values protect performance when conditions are worse than planned.

Reserve, Aging, and Expansion

Reserve margin is practical insurance. It covers forecast error, seasonal temperature changes, and battery aging that reduces capacity over time. Future expansion accounts for added trailers, extra lighting towers, or a new pump. These factors are applied as multipliers on the nameplate kWh requirement. For projects with tight deadlines, higher reserve reduces the risk of downtime and costly work stoppages.

Procurement and Installation Checks

After selecting nominal kWh, confirm hardware limits. Verify continuous and surge inverter ratings, battery module current capability, and acceptable C-rate. Check DC bus voltage, breaker sizing, and conductor ampacity for the estimated peak and surge currents. Finally, translate total kWh into module counts for procurement, allowing for spares and maintenance access. Always validate the final design against manufacturer specifications. Document assumptions and review them with the superintendent before ordering.

FAQs

1) What inputs matter most for sizing?

Critical load, backup hours, and autonomy days drive energy. Peak load and surge factor guide inverter and current sizing. Efficiencies, depth of discharge, and temperature availability convert usable energy into required nameplate capacity.

2) How do I estimate critical load on a jobsite?

List essential equipment, note typical watts, and apply duty factors for cycling tools. Use clamp meters or temporary submeters when possible. Convert to kW and average across the backup window.

3) Why is depth of discharge included?

Using only part of nameplate capacity improves lifespan and keeps a buffer for unexpected demand. The calculator divides usable energy by the planned depth of discharge to obtain installed capacity.

4) How should I set reserve margin?

For uncertain loads or harsh weather, use 10–25%. If downtime is expensive, increase it. If you have accurate metering and stable loads, a lower reserve may be acceptable.

5) What does module size do in the calculator?

It converts total required kWh into an estimated number of battery modules for procurement. Enter your module’s rated kWh and the tool rounds up to the next whole module.

6) Is this result a final electrical design?

No. It is an energy-based sizing estimate. Confirm breaker ratings, cable ampacity, ventilation, enclosure temperature, and manufacturer limits for continuous current, surge current, and allowable charge and discharge rates.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.