While solar panels can save you thousands of dollars in electricity expenses, they can only generate energy and power your home during the day. However, with a solar battery, you can remove this limitation, offering an energy storage system that ensures your house can access solar power even during cloudy days and at night.
What Are Solar Batteries Good For?
Solar batteries effectively improve the functionality and efficacy of solar installations. Most systems do not have a battery, so purchasing and installing one is an added cost, begging the question — are solar batteries worth it?
The main goal of having a solar battery is to get higher savings than the cost of ownership. Solar batteries help boost tax credits and maximize your savings on NV Energy’s time-of-use plans by optimizing when you send/receive power to the grid. It will also further enhance the value of your home and reduce your payback period.
In addition to financial benefits, solar batteries provide a dependable energy source in the rare case that a power outage happens. The battery will keep your home powered when there is minimal or no sun and also improve the number of appliances you can plug in simultaneously.
Who Can Benefit From Solar Batteries?
While just about any homeowner in Las Vegas can benefit from adding batteries to their solar panel system, the following groups get the most benefit from them:
Those who depend on medical equipment
CPAP machines, ventilators, and other critical medical equipment require a reliable power supply, and solar installations with backup storage can help mitigate power interruptions during grid outages.
Those who need continual access to their devices/internet
Having solar batteries could ensure you have a reliable power supply and never have to worry about work interruptions from internet loss.
Those looking to lower their carbon footprint
Solar power is one of the purest forms of energy. Thus, increasing your potential to use this energy through battery storage makes you an environmental steward.
Those wanting to live off-grid and depend on backup storage
If you want to live off-grid, having a reliable power source is essential. You can generate and store solar power, ensuring you never have to tap into the traditional grid.
What Are the Potential Drawbacks of Solar Batteries?
The hefty cost of solar batteries is one of the major hesitations consumers have when considering if solar batteries are worth it. A complete system with the batteries could cost anywhere from $25,000 to $35,000. However, it’s often cheaper to install both the panels and battery simultaneously since a battery alone may cost more than $20,000.
Another drawback of solar batteries to keep in mind is that hot temperatures may shorten their lifespan. They can normally sustain a maximum temperature of about 113ºF (45ºC). Exposure to extreme temperatures makes them degrade faster, which lowers their capacity. Their internal cells can also get damaged by thermal stress, which causes the batteries to fail permanently.
Solar Optimum Is Your Reliable Solar Partner in Las Vegas
Solar batteries are a pricy investment, but their benefits often outweigh the cost. Solar Optimum can help you estimate the energy needs in your Las Vegas home and verify whether installing a battery makes sense for you. Download our free Battery Buyer’s Guide to learn more about features to look for when shopping for a solar battery and incentives to help make it more affordable.
