Solar Battery Storage

Solar Battery Storage Definition:

A device that reserves energy for later consumption that is charged by a connected solar system. The stored electricity is consumed after sundown, during energy demand peaks, or during a power outage. Most common on residential or commercial buildings.

Breaking Down Solar Battery Storage:

To fully understand a solar storage battery system and the relevant benefits of owning one, there are a few external factors that we need to consider.

Time-of-use (TOU) Rates

Depending on your utility, you may have a time-of-use rate plan. That means that depending on the time of day you use your energy, you will be charged various rates. Prices for electricity are highest when demand for electricity is peaking; usually from after work into the evening.

Having a solar battery system can help mitigate the amount of electricity you would normally buy during peak hours. It can store the extra energy generated from your solar panels during the day for you to use at more expensive rate times. Peak TOU rates can be as much as double the off-peak rates. Therefore, a solar battery storage system can quickly pay for itself.

Net Metering

Many utilities are phasing out their net metering programs and are no longer offering full credits for the electricity you are selling back to the grid. Often you will sell your electricity at a reduced wholesale rate, then buy it back later from the grid at the full retail rate. If you are in this situation with your utility, it is more valuable to store your electricity for later consumption in your home.

Important Factors when Purchasing a Solar Storage Battery

Capacity & Power

These two factors are important for knowing the amount of electricity a solar panel battery can store and how much electricity it can provide at any given moment. A battery’s capacity is the total amount of electricity it can store measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The battery’s power rating will tell you the amount of electricity that the battery can deliver at one time measured in kilowatts (kW).

To put these two variables into context, we can look at the two extremes; a battery with high capacity and low power, and a battery with low capacity and high power. A battery with high capacity but low power will be able to supply power to a number of key appliances in your home for a long time. A battery with low capacity but high power will be able to power your entire home for a short amount of time.

Battery life & Warranty

Because the life of any battery naturally degrades over time, it is important to know the expected lifespan of the potential solar battery you will be purchasing. A battery’s lifespan is usually measured in either a total number of full cycles or in years. Over time, it will lose some of its capacity as well. Therefore, knowing the battery’s lifespan and warranty is important to know before purchase.

Solar Battery Options

A number of batteries can be used as a solar panel battery. The most popular are lithium ion and lead acid. Among these options, lithium-ion batteries are the best option for a solar battery storage system.

Lithium-ion

The most popular of home storage batteries, lithium-ion batteries have the longest lifespan and are very compact and light compared to the other battery types. With all these benefits, however, they are the most expensive.

Lead acid

These batteries are some of the cheapest but have the shortest lifespan and capacity. These are a good option if you are trying to store energy on a budget, but will cost you more in the long run as you have to replace them more frequently.