The solar battery lifespan is an essential consideration by manufacturers to ensure their batteries are durable, reliable and facilitate energy production when needed. Besides, most homeowners prefer solar battery storage brands that deliver quality battery units to guarantee sturdy solar energy storage and longevity. However, some factors determine the lifespan of solar batteries, regardless of the solar energy storage unit you install.
Life Expectancy of a Solar Storage Battery
In general, solar batteries have several elements and technical aspects that need consideration when choosing the proper backup required for your system. Standard solar batteries have a lifespan of between 5 and 20 years. Yet, many manufacturers warrant a 30-year lifespan of their batteries that matches the life expectancy of modern solar systems. Despite this duration, specific factors might cause solar batteries not to complete their lifecycle.
4 Factors That Affect Solar Storage Battery Lifespan
With different solar battery manufacturers today, homeowners have diverse battery options to choose from when integrating solar energy into their homes. Among the top considerations are solar energy storage systems that ensure a constant supply of renewable energy. That said, here are the four critical factors that affect solar battery lifespan.
Battery Chemistry
Solar batteries are available in three different types:
Lithium-ion batteries: These are the most common solar energy storage batteries because they are lighter, have a longer lifespan, are more compact, and have a higher depth of discharge (DoD).
Lead-acid batteries: These have a shorter lifespan, lower DOD, and perhaps the least expensive solar batteries in the market.
Salt batteries: These lack heavy metals like lead-acid and lithium batteries and use saltwater electrolytes as an alternative, making them more eco-friendly.
Lithium-ion batteries tend to have a longer lifespan and are considered a more reliable solar energy source than lead-acid and saltwater batteries.
Usage Cycles
Batteries evolve around charging and discharging, which wears off over time, and your unit will no longer store and discharge enough energy after multiple usage cycles. When it comes to solar energy storage, these batteries are deep-cycle units that can discharge up to 80% of stored energy before recharging. Hence, charging your batteries based on pertinent specifications such as model and size to maximize your solar battery potential is ideal. And to ensure your solar batteries last longer, pay attention to the manufacturer’s DoD to avoid straining your battery and affecting its lifespan.
Temperature
Generally, solar batteries should be installed in areas with optimal temperatures to maximize efficiency and lifespan. Suppose you live in a region with moderate temperatures. The best way to maximize your solar batteries’ efficiency and the life cycle is by installing them outdoors. If you live in extreme temperature regions, installing your batteries in the basement or garage can help promote efficiency and its lifecycle.
Routine Maintenance
Maintaining your solar batteries regularly helps ensure the longevity as well as efficiency of your solar energy storage units. Besides, it saves you more money than considering costly repairs or a new installation. Manufacturers often provide instructions on maintaining solar batteries, although it is advisable to hire a professional maintenance service to maintain your batteries.
How To Increase Your Solar Battery Lifespan
With several factors likely to affect solar battery lifespan, there are effective ways to extend its lifecycle. Here are some steps to increase your solar battery lifespan.
Use Appropriate Solar Batteries
Solar batteries designed for particular applications ensure a long lifespan, besides efficiency and reliability. Primarily, lithium batteries have become common because they have a longer lifespan and are conducive to the environment. Other solar batteries, such as cell batteries, are also gaining popularity with technological advancement. To increase your solar battery lifespan, ensure you install appropriate batteries in your home.
Keep The Batteries Charged
Like any other battery, solar batteries can quickly get damaged when left without charge for a long time. Even if you are storing them, ensure the charging source is always turned on to facilitate continuous charging. Failure to charge your solar batteries over an extended period can make these units wear off prematurely and shorten their lifespan.
Regulate The Number of Your Batteries
Some people think that having more batteries at the bank increases the amount of solar energy stored from solar panels. But, this can lead to problems such as resistance and connections, resulting in unequal charging. Regulating the number of batteries in your bank promotes equal charging and prevents connections that affect your solar energy storage lifespan.
Consider Equalization
With solar energy, chances of overcharging are likely to occur, affecting the lifespan of batteries. Battery equalization helps overcharge your solar batteries in a more regulated manner without causing any damage. Again, some batteries are fitted with solar charge controllers to suppress overcharging, consequently increasing their lifespan.
Consult Your Local Experts
Installing solar panels is a big investment that requires reliable and long-lasting solar battery storage units. However, you need to ensure your solar batteries are in perfect shape, well-installed, and charged correctly to maximize efficiency and lengthen their lifespan. Again, choosing the right type of solar battery allows you to get the best results when considering renewable energy.
For more information, contact us here at Solar Optimum to learn more about your options when it comes to solar battery storage.
