Insight · Battery Storage
Behind-the-meter versus standalone BESS
Behind-the-meter storage sits on the customer’s side of the meter. Standalone BESS is typically a network-facing asset. Say which you have before anyone costs or funds it.
WattFund Editorial Team · Published 17 Sept 2026 · 4 min read
The distinction in one sentence
BTM batteries usually exist to serve on-site demand, solar shift or resilience. Standalone batteries usually exist to charge and discharge against the network, markets or contracted services.
What changes in the project file
BTM needs demand data, site electrics and often a solar or load story. Standalone needs site control, connection position, duration and a commercial route that does not pretend those items are optional.
Costing and capital
A BTM install is often closer to a commercial energy project on an occupied site. Standalone construction capital is usually a different counterparty set. Hybrid industrial sites can include both logics — label them rather than blending a merchant stack into a factory capex.
Co-located does not mean identical
Solar plus BTM storage on a warehouse is not the same as co-located standalone generation and standalone storage on one landholding. Grid and offtake can still be two systems.
Direct answer
Which description should you use? The electrical and commercial one that is true: who the battery serves, and which side of the meter it sits on.
Questions
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