Renewable energy systems provider Wattstor is today unveiling Wattstor ATS, a purpose-built automatic transfer switch (ATS) that enables commercial and industrial facilities to restore operations during grid outages using their existing battery energy storage systems (BESS). Created by Wattstor’s in-house engineering team, the system provides a practical and affordable alternative to traditional diesel generators and enterprise-grade UPS.
Wattstor ATS is engineered specifically for sites that operate grid-tied, solar-plus-battery systems. In standard grid-connected configurations, solar and battery systems automatically shut down during outages, forcing sites to fall back on fossil-fuel generators. Wattstor ATS changes that. It handles the seamless switch from grid-connected to off-grid mode, triggering battery systems to supply backup power during outages and reducing—or even removing—the need for diesel generators.
“On-grid/off-grid solutions exist at both ends of the market, from domestic systems to large industrial sites with traditional generators,” says Kevin Ball, Chief Commercial Officer at Wattstor. “But none fit the needs of mid-sized commercial facilities using solar and battery systems. Wattstor was having so many enquiries from organisations looking to move away from diesel backup, but without the scale or budget for a full UPS setup—so we built our own solution.”
Traditional ATS solutions are limited to switching between either grid power or generator power and don’t allow for hybrid or grid-parallel configurations. Wattstor ATS has been developed to handle multiple operating modes, including reactivating battery systems in islanded/off-grid mode, supplying either the full site or selected essential systems.
Wattstor ATS is aimed at organisations such as schools, care homes, commercial buildings and light industrial operations—facilities that are investing in renewables and energy optimisation but are underserved when it comes to cost-effective, low-carbon resilience.
“More and more mid-sized facilities are turning to battery storage to lower energy bills and manage peak loads and Wattstor ATS allows them to extend that same infrastructure to also provide backup power,” adds Ball. “Wattstor brings reliable, clean resilience within reach of organisations typically left behind on the road to net zero.”
Wattstor ATS key features:
- Switches between grid and off-grid battery power, reducing reliance on diesel generation.
- Fully aligned with Wattstor’s Podium EMS (Energy Management System), enabling users to manage backup priorities and reserve battery capacity for critical loads during outages.
- Capable of supplying up to 1 MW of backup power for essential systems during outages.
- Can be installed with minimal disruption.
Wattstor ATS expands Wattstor’s portfolio of renewable energy solutions and reinforces its mission to make clean technologies accessible, practical and scalable for commercial and industrial organisations across the UK and Europe.
