Solar Panel Batteries
Renewable and Sustainable Energy with Solar Panel Batteries
10
Chapters
All
Skill Level
20 Min
Duration
English
Language
Chapter 3
Table of Contents
Solar Batteries
As more and more people look to reduce their electricity costs, solar technology can help. This includes the ever-present solar battery. But what are solar batteries, and how do they work?
We’ve summarized all the essential information relating to solar batteries to inform you before making any purchasing decision.
Do I Need Batteries For My Solar Energy System To Work?
We get asked this all the time. The answer is yes and no. The right question usually is: do you want batteries for your solar energy system to work? It’s a matter of preference and budget.
A lot of people consider buying batteries alongside their solar energy systems. Batteries are sold separately from solar panels. The cost of backup batteries has fallen over the past few years. They are becoming one of the primary components of solar power systems.
The price of solar batteries falls within a range of $7,000 – $15,000. Note, this is typically $15,000 for the first battery and an additional $5,000 to $7,000 per additional battery. Yes, this can get expensive. However, most people find the option of running home appliances independently appealing. The truth is that a single solar battery is not strong enough to run your entire house. You’ll need multiple to accomplish this. A single battery can only power a limited number of devices, and that too for only a day.
Your solar panel batteries will only function for approximately twenty-four hours, after which you should recharge them. So, you should keep in mind that you need sufficient sunlight to recharge them fully.
Integration of Solar Panel Batteries in Existing Systems
Integrating solar batteries into an already existing solar power system is also tricky. The ease of installation depends on the system’s design compatibility with batteries without a lot of modifications.
Such systems are called storage-ready networks because they already feature an inverter, which makes it more straightforward to add a solar battery. There are also few types of equipment needed.
If your solar panel system is incompatible with batteries, there might be additional difficulties.
Selling Excess Solar Power
Another reason solar panel batteries are appealing is that they allow you to sell the excess power to your electric provider.
Local electric companies may sell their electricity at low rates during periods when production from your panels is low and when your battery(ies) is depleted – typically late in the evening or early in the morning before the sun rises. Therefore, it makes much more sense to obtain electricity from them leveraging net metering electricity plans. These are typically available within a Solar Buyback Program.
There are two groups of people who can achieve an overall benefit from buying solar batteries. The first are those who experience frequent power failures. In such a scenario, solar batteries prove helpful as they are used when electricity is not available from the grid and will continue to power your panels when sunlight is available. Note, solar systems without a battery will not produce electricity during a blackout which is another advantage for having one as a backup solution.
The second group of people is those who are financially well-off, and the costs of buying a solar battery will not affect them that much.
Such people can also reap the additional benefits which they will gain from purchasing a solar panel. These benefits include:
- saving money by using less energy from grid-tied systems
- contributing to environmental protection
- help in reducing your reliance on the electrical grid by accommodating the exponential growth in the region which caused it to collapse in February of 2021
- achieving independence in the use and distribution of electricity.
The prices of batteries are likely going to drop further in the coming years. This may lead to electrical companies offering a more significant amount for electricity reserves to smooth out grid-tie fluctuations.
Grid-Tied Systems: Why Are They Better?
On-grid systems are systems where your solar panel batteries are connected to the local power grid and are not producing power independently. This benefits you in several ways.
Solar Credits
The first benefit is that any excess power produced can be transferred to the local energy grid for credits. You can redeem the units in your account during cloudy days and at night.
You can store credits in your account and then use them when your solar battery’s output is low. These credits can also help in reducing your electricity bill. Households connected to the grid have the option to store and sell their electricity to other parties for a profit.
No Additional Equipment Required
The second advantage of grid-tied systems is that they require no additional equipment for your solar panels. Individuals who use grid-tied systems also don’t have to worry about the extra costs of buying solar batteries, which independently produce power. The issue of money being spent on maintenance is also minimized.
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Key Takeaway
Well, that’s all the essential information you need to know regarding solar batteries. Always weigh each alternative and all the pros and cons carefully before making a decision. Also, keep in mind that solar battery technology is undergoing rapid advancement in current times. The future will surely bring many more types, which may offer even superior performance.
