SOLAR BATTERIES
What is a
SOLAR BATTERY
A solar battery is a battery designed specifically to store electricity produced by solar panels and to make that power available for later use. In addition, solar batteries are used in the growing number of standalone solar charger units being installed in cities, for example, to provide mobile phone and tablet charging facilities for the public.
For customer with existing PV systems
Our highly trained team can provide you with professional advise so that you can choose the right battery to connect with your system. We offer a wide range of battery installations and brands, including Enphase, Sonnen, Tesla and Sungrow
Essential reasons for having a solar battery
Solar energy is a significant source of clean, renewable and sustainable energy. However, solar energy systems without associated battery storage have several key limitations:
Solar power systems can only produce electricity during daylight hours
Even during daylight hours, the amount of energy produced will vary in proportion to the amount and strength of the sunlight landing on the solar panels
At any given point, the maximum amount of electricity that can be drawn from a solar power system is the amount of power that the system is producing at that moment; any further electricity requirements will have to be met by an alternative source
On the other hand, all electricity produced by a solar energy system must be used in real-time or it goes to waste (again, where a battery system is not in place)While typically thought of as a backup power source, there are a handful of additional reasons to add battery storage to your solar system. These include:Increase bill savings in areas with time-of-use rates and/or unfavorable net metering policies
Gain independence from your utility provider
Reduce your reliance on dirty electricity from the grid
Contribute to a more resilient power grid
And let’s not forget that some people just like to adopt new technologies and be on the cutting edge.We welcome all homeowners interested in battery storage, but it is important to establish goals before diving into the world of solar batteries because your goals will help determine which type of solar battery best suits your needs. For example, a new tech enthusiast will likely choose an entirely different type of solar battery than a homeowner looking to maximize their cost savings.
Things to know before
buying a solar battery
Solar battery technology
Solar batteries can be divided into six categories based on their chemical composition: Lithium-ion, lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lead-acid, flow, saltwater, and nickel-cadmium.Frankly, the first three categories (lithium-ion, LFP, and lead-acid) make up a vast majority of the solar batteries available to homeowners. Each of these battery backup power technologies has its own set of unique characteristics, making them best for different types of solar systemsHowever, battery technology is evolving at lightning speed, so it’s worth keeping an eye on them all.
SOLAR BATTERY LIFE
Solar batteries carry warranties on the number of ‘cycles’ they will deliver. One cycle is defined as one complete discharge of the battery (using it until its store of electricity is empty) followed by a full recharge. In practice, a solar battery is most likely to normally be partially discharged then recharged, rather than get fully discharged each time. The range of lifetimes for leading solar batteries varies significantly, but will be in the thousands of cycles, say between 2,000-10,000 cycles (although solar battery technology is improving constantly and at a fast rate).
Solar battery test and trial
Storage battery technology is complex and still evolving, as is the industry itself. The trial has demonstrated that there's a fair chance that a battery bought today will be obsolete within a few years – or worse, it might malfunction.Obsolescence is not a problem in itself as long as the battery keeps on working as claimed. But also, some manufacturers and distributors might not still be around to honour warranty claims – something that happened during this trial.Apart from the possible technical issues, it's still the case that batteries don't yet make full economic sense for most households, though we expect that to change within the next decade. We recommend you do your sums carefully to understand the economics for putting one in your home.You can also use our Solar Estimator tool (in partnership with SolarQuotes) to get quotes from reliable installers in your area. .
The future for solar batterieS
Solar batteries are already big business, and they are set to become a massive factor in the growth of solar energy in the coming years. This is because they are such a robust means of providing electricity when solar systems are not generating electricity, or even working in the background during daylight hours. As a result of maximizing the use of the power generated by solar systems, they have a pronounced effect on bringing down electricity bills and reducing dependence on public energy grids.If you do go ahead and get a battery, it's important that it's installed by experienced technicians who are familiar with the individual requirements of the product. As with any solar installation, look for a CEC-accredited installer – in this case, look for one who has specific accreditation for battery installation.Good warranty support is also essential, so we advise sticking with major brands who you can expect to still be around in 10 years.