Solar battery storage is taking the solar power industry to a new level by providing a way for homeowners and business owners to capitalize on all of the solar energy their panels collect.
Because solar technology is always developing, it’s important to have a good grasp of what your options are before you make the investment. Here are three key things you need to know about solar battery storage and the benefits it provides.
1. There Are Two Main Configurations
First, note that there are two main configurations currently being used for solar batteries, which are critical load backup and self-consumption.
Critical Load Backup
Critical load backup configurations aim to provide backup energy for the times when your property really needs it. For example, if an outage occurs, these batteries will function similarly to a backup generator and power the necessary parts of the home or business as needed.
Because of the nature of solar power, this kind of backup system can also aid in keeping things running on cloudy days when your panels can’t absorb as much solar energy to begin with.
Self-Consumption
Self-consumption setups, on the other hand, are specifically tailored to lower your electricity bill by storing and utilizing excess solar energy at strategic times. This configuration typically requires more batteries to be added to the system, but it can save you money in addition to offering some built-in peace of mind for outages and other issues. Usually these self-consumption setups are installed specifically to be used during peak utility seasons.
2. Not All Batteries Are the Same
Second, not all batteries are the same. There are several factors to consider, including price (which can be up to $15,000 per battery), voltage, and capacity. One such notable factor to consider is whether your batteries should be grid interactive or not.
Grid interactive batteries (such as the LG Chem) can charge with energy grid power as well as the direct excess solar energy produced by your solar panels. Grid independent batteries, on the other hand (such as the Tesla Powerwall), can only receive solar power. Depending upon how and when you want to use your battery system, one type or a combination of both will be more suitable.
3. Your End Goal Should Determine Your Purchase
Finally, it’s important to make decisions ahead of time regarding how you want to use your solar battery system. This is where a consultant like one from our team at Solar Optimum can be especially helpful, because planning ahead will allow you to make informed decisions about how many batteries and what types of batteries you need. The last thing you want is to invest in a solar battery system only to find that it fails to provide the amount of backup power or cost savings you need. Look for government incentives, too.
Solar Optimum Can Help You Choose
If you’re interested in taking your residential or commercial solar system to the next level with solar batteries, we’ve got you covered at Solar Optimum. Contact us today to find out more about how our top-notch battery storage products and services can give you the energy peace of mind you’re looking for.
