Solar power is an excellent way to power your home, but if you only use energy from the sun, you won’t be able to power appliances when the sun’s absent. That’s where solar backup batteries come in handy for your home’s solar setup. Learn more about what they are, how they work and why they’re so important.
What Are Solar Backup Batteries?
Solar backup batteries can hold the excess power generated by your solar panels and store that energy until you need it later. Solar batteries are designed to be efficiently rechargeable so you can reuse them to hold excess energy gathered during peak sunlight hours and then consume that energy when solar power isn’t available.
These differ from consumption-only batteries, which aren’t connected to the grid and can only power small devices. Instead, solar backup batteries can be wired into your home so they work for large appliances, light fixtures and everything in between. The Tesla Powerwall is an example of a backup battery, as it can hold a substantial charge and then transfer large amounts of energy.
Solar Backup Battery Process
So, how does a solar battery work? The batteries charge from solar panels and store excess energy for instances when you need power. Here, the battery turns on and disconnects from the distribution panel during power outages, at night time and whenever else you may need the extra energy.
When you generate solar energy through your home’s solar panels, it’s unlikely that your home needs 100% of the energy you generate at any given time. Your needs may be lower during the day when no one is home and higher in the evening when your family is watching TV. Instead of letting all that solar energy generation go to waste throughout the day, homeowners can either store that energy in a battery or offload it into the grid through a net metering program. Often, a combination of both is best.
Benefits of Solar Backup Batteries
Enjoy more advantages of transitioning to solar power by having solar backup batteries in your home.
- Greater Energy Independence: When you have solar panels, you are independent from the grid—as long as the sun is shining. But with the right battery capacity, you can power your home entirely off the grid, even at night.
- Savings Potential: Solar energy already reduces your energy bill by giving you power during peak sunlight hours. With batteries, you use much less energy (or even no energy) from the local grid, greatly reducing your energy bill to nearly nothing.
- Investment in Your Home: Solar backup batteries are becoming more popular. By installing one in your home, you can increase your home’s value and make it more appealing on the market when you decide to sell the property.
Get a Complete Solar Setup With Solar Backup Batteries From Solar Optimum
No solar setup is complete with a solar backup battery to store extra energy for nighttime hours and power outages. When deciding to add a backup battery to your setup, it’s important to find a certified installer with the necessary knowledge.
At Solar Optimum, we install the industry’s top home battery manufacturers and are among the elite solar companies that have deployed more home batteries compared to others in the industry. Download our Battery Buyers Guide or contact our team for more specifics about how a solar backup battery can save your household money.
