The advantage of installing a solar power system in your home or business is the access it provides to a reliable, inexpensive energy alternative. Although many solar power users rely on the electricity generated from their system to supplement their traditional power source, more users are looking for ways to expand their use of solar.

A solar battery is one way to ensure that you get the most out of your solar power system. The electricity produced from solar panels exceeds the amount that most people use during the day, so excess electricity must go somewhere. In many cases, the municipal utility system receives that excess power. But a solar battery provides storage of excess solar energy created for use when electricity demand is greater.

How solar battery storage systems help

As solar power systems become more popular, the concept of generating alternative energy for residential and commercial use is expanding to include storing that energy for later use. Solar battery storage provides a way to access electricity even when the electrical grid of a utility system is down. Batteries also help make residential and commercial property owners less reliant upon traditional energy sources, providing another way to save utility costs. For commercial users, storing solar energy in battery systems helps reduce and eliminate peak demand charges billed by municipal utility companies. 

Advantages of solar batteries

Battery storage used in solar power systems helps reduce reliance upon unstable grid electricity supplies. As the cost of electricity continues to increase, homeowners and business owners seeking more stable utility costs can use solar power as a way to mitigate electricity charges. In addition to producing enough electricity during the day’s sunlight hours for a home or business, solar batteries provide a source to store excess electricity produced during those peak sun hours for use at night when electricity demand will likely be greater. By having access to solar power throughout the day, homeowners and business owners are less affected by the ups and downs of the global energy market.

How solar batteries improve the return on your solar investment

Some municipal utility systems add a surcharge to customer bills that accounts for peak energy consumption. This additional charge typically covers heavier electricity usage that occurs in the late afternoon and evenings. Solar batteries allow a solar power system to store excess electricity generated during peak sunlight hours for use during these peak energy use times. Because a home or business is not powered by the utility company during that time when using stored solar power, that can result in greater savings when avoiding the surcharge. 

What type of batteries are used for solar? 

A solar power system for a home or business requires batteries that are designed for solar. These batteries used for home energy storage are primarily made from one of three different chemical compositions: lead-acid, lithium-ion, and flow batteries. The lithium-ion batteries are most common in residential use and considered a reliable option, but there are other types of batteries that are more affordable.

As you learn more about solar energy storage systems, you will discover some pretty complicated technology that can be difficult for a layperson to understand. There are product specifications and technical descriptions that can be confusing as you attempt to identify the best solar battery option for you to store energy. Some basics about battery storage that you should understand that impact your solar power system are a battery’s power rating, depth of discharge, round-trip efficiency and warranty.

Discuss these concepts and what they mean for your solar power system with an expert at Midwest Solar Installers.

What size of solar battery is needed?

It’s important to have the proper battery size when considering this storage for your solar power system. It’s not uncommon for residential users to buy an undersized solar battery, thinking that money can be saved or misunderstanding what size is needed for a particular system. But a home or business solar power system must have a proper solar battery storage system to perform correctly. Most solar battery manufacturers provide some guidance to help you calculate the best battery capacity for your system. Most homes require a 20kw system for adequate solar power storage. 

Consider these factors when selecting solar batteries

There are a number of things you should understand when researching solar batteries and how they can serve your solar energy system, including:

• Price: You can expect to pay a high cost for a quality solar battery that will serve your system for a long time. This is not one of those purchases that you should make casually. A lower-cost battery will not last as long, so your long-term expenses will likely increase if you opt for a cheaper option. 
• Capacity: It’s important to understand battery capacity because it determines how much energy you can store. If your solar battery system is limited by less storage capacity, then you won’t benefit from the excess solar power produced by your panels. 
• Voltage: A solar battery must have the proper voltage to match the solar power system’s specifications. 
• Cycle life: A solar battery’s cycle life is the number of discharge and charge cycles it provides before capacity is reduced to a level that’s too low. 

A solar battery storage system can be a useful addition to your power system. But there are many technical aspects involved with making the right choice. Discuss how a solar battery can serve your solar power system with the professionals at Midwest Solar installers.