Energy Storage for Solar Panels: Solar Batteries

 Solar batteries are the most effective tool that allows us to use the generated electricity in the most efficient way. They might cost you a little bit when you add them to your existing system but it totally worth it and has gained so much popularity in recent years. 

Many Energy providers are having a basic solar battery trial with some selected customers so as to test the usage of solar batteries on a larger scale. The result will help to prove that solar batteries can be used in different ways. Like harnessing electricity from renewable sources, managing total usage of our homes, providing excess electrical power back to the grid. 

If you are thinking to invest in a solar panel system, then it might be an addition if you add a solar battery to your system. So, there are certain points that need to be considered before opting for solar batteries that often include their price. 

Always gather required knowledge about the solar battery from the experts and research whether the battery has the potential to offer a better return on investment or not.

What do you mean by Solar Batteries?

Solar batteries are used to store the excess electricity produced by your system in the daytime and later used at different times for households. They are also referred to as home batteries. The battery gets charged up during the daytime when the panels absorb maximum sunlight or they can also get charged during off-peak times which means when the electricity is cheaper.

The generated electricity is in form of a direct current before it is transferred to the inverter. It comes out as an alternating current after the inverter. 

How much energy gets stored in a Solar Battery?

Solar batteries come in different varieties and are different in their capacities as well. The solar panel system capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and 1kWh referred to as 1000 Wattswhich is used for 1 hour. 

Many battery systems already have a fixed storage capacity that starts from 2kWh to 14kWh and depending on the capacity, you can add extra battery modules so as to increase the energy storage capacity.  

Solar Batteries Cost

The cost of solar batteries varies depending on the two major factors that are their battery capacity and the energy they produced (energy ratings). Basically, a home solar battery system starts from around £400 per kWh.

It might be possible that different brands have differences in their prices. So it is important for you to research the products and see whether they are capable of optimising the system well. 

The cost may vary depending on few factors:

  • Battery life cycle

  • Storage capacity

  • The usable capacity

  • Chemical materials and how its made

Different manufacturers use technologically advanced software that will affect the functioning of the system. A piece of good news is that the cost of a home battery system has dropped due to an increase in the usage of electric vehicles. The recycled batteries will be the reason to make the home batteries more affordable in the coming years.

The Pros and Cons of Solar Batteries

There are many reasons a solar battery is a good option for your solar PV set-up:

  • The battery has the ability to store the surplus electricity generated by the system for future use, rather than to export it. 

  • Helps in a reduction in utility bills

  • Store the solar electricity that can be exported back to the grid that helps in making a small amount of money for the owner. 

  • Provides the ability to be independent of the electricity grid 

There are some limitations also that should be considered:

  • High-end solar batteries have large upfront costs, which means that it will take a larger duration of time to offer a return on investment to the customer.

  • Solar batteries have a relatively short lifespan of 5 years or max up to 15 years, this is half less than solar PV panels lifespan.  

  • All the electricity suppliers will not allow for the excess electricity to be exported back to the grid.  

Is it Worth Installing Solar Batteries to the system?

As the cost of the solar batteries decreases, the amount of electricity generation will eventually increase which further results in an increase in return on investment over the batteries. So it is always a better idea to calculate how much energy is generated from your solar PV panels and then you should check how much actual energy is generated if you have a battery system added. Compare it and make a wise decision accordingly. 

Best Batteries for Solar Storage 

To know which solar batteries are best, you must know what you want to do with the energy produced and how will you utilise it efficiently. Always look at your energy management capabilities and check whether they fulfil your household requirements or not. If you get all the answers then you will be able to find out the best option for you depending on your preferences. 

Solar Battery Usage

The best way to check your usage of a battery system is to use the stored energy in a most useful way by running your appliances. Always keep in mind, do not use too many appliances at one time because this will increase the demand for energy that the maximum energy discharged. 

Is It Necessary To Have Solar Panels for Solar Batteries?

Absolutely no, the solar batteries could also work without the solar panels to store the electricity that has been bought from the grid. The question may arise that, why do we need to do this? So the answer is it might help you for future energy usage during blackouts or power outages. Your solar batteries can store excess electricity from off-peak hours so that they can be used during peak hours. And this is the reason the energy providers suggest the customer use more energy during off-peak hours.

What Is The Lifespan Of A Solar Battery? 

Usually, the life expectancy of a solar battery depends on how much it is used. The storage capacity of a battery starts to drop annually and it is expected that the battery will last around five and 15 years. So always remember that an average solar panel has a lifespan of about 20-30 years, so you may have to change your battery twice during the lifespan of your panels. 

Are Solar Batteries a Good Option for Off-grid Homes? 

Solar battery systems are considered the primary solution for off-grid homes. The battery systems have been set up differently so it does not provide any electricity grid backup. The more concentration is on the appliance and demand management. 

Does the Electric Cars Affect the Future of Solar Batteries?

As there will be an increase in the use of electric cars, solar batteries will become cheaper. Recently many car manufacturers have collaborated with some battery suppliers to use their car batteries once they are no longer in use for the cars. Eventually, when the capacity of the car batteries drops, they are used for home batteries as they are given a second life. These recycled batteries will be more cost-effective during the increase in turnovers. 


Comments

  1. Great blogging style.
    To know more about the installation visit us as we are the best solar panel installing company in Lucknow, India.
    Website:Golden ACS Solar

    ReplyDelete

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