Solar panel systems bring numerous benefits to home and business owners alike, and are increasing in popularity, exponentially. As advancements in technology are made with every passing year, solar systems are becoming more and more sophisticated, in turn, making them more effective. With a solar battery backup system, solar power can be harnessed and stored for use as emergency backup power when needed.
Read on to discover more about battery energy storage systems, and how they work:
What is a solar battery storage system?
A battery backup or storage system, is a rechargeable battery system that stores energy from the solar system, and provides it to a home or business. Storing surplus energy that has been produced by the solar panels, these systems enable you to power your home or business without the help of the grid, and when necessary, provide emergency backup power.
How exactly do solar batteries work?
Working by converting the direct current (DC) energy that the solar panels are producing and storing it as alternating current (AC) for later use, battery backup systems with a higher capacity can charge a larger solar system. In essence, this is what solar batteries do:
They charge – during the hours of daylight, battery storage systems are charged by clean electricity that has been generated by solar.
They optimize – using algorithms to coordinate solar production, usage history, utility rate structures and weather patterns, intelligent battery software is able to optimize when the energy that has been stored, is used.
They discharge – during times of high power usage, energy is discharged from the battery storage system to help reduce or even eliminate, expensive demand charges.
Having a solar battery professionally installed as part of your solar panel system, enables you to store excess solar electricity, rather than simply sending it back to the grid. When a solar panel produces more electricity that is needed, that excess energy is used to charge the battery. The only time that electricity will go to the grid, is when your battery if fully charged, and only when the battery has been depleted, will electricity be drawn from the grid.
How long do solar batteries last?
Typically, a solar battery will last for anything from 5 years, right up to 15 years, and how long they last for is often dependant on how well they are maintained, and whether they have been protected from extreme temperatures.
What batteries are most commonly used?
For residential energy storage, batteries are usually made with lead acid or lithium ion, with the latter generally considered to be the best option for solar panel systems. Lighter and more compact than lead acid batteries, and with a longer lifespan, they are however, more costly than their lead acid counterparts.
Whether your home or business would benefit from a battery backup system is something you should discuss with a local solar energy company, but being able to limit your dependency on the grid and having access to power whenever you need it – including in an emergency – can be extremely beneficial.
