A Backup Battery could also save you money if your utility company is billing with a Time Of Use model
New solar customers are usually unaware that solar panels will do no good when the power goes out. A battery backup storage system allows customers to keep the lights on when the power goes out.
Net Metering allows the utility provider to buy the extra power created by the utility customer. However, that power back feeding to the grid in blackout situations is dangerous to any repair workers trying to fix the issue. Therefore, every grid-tied solar system has a back feed shut-off system that automatically shuts everything down when a power outage occurs.
Battery Backup Storage System can serve multiple purposes for your home
Reducing your overall consumption along the way
The other main benefit of adding Battery Backup Storage to your home is to help offset the price increases during certain times of the day. These plans are known as Time Of Use or TOU Billing Programs. Many utility companies are already using TOU plans or are planning on adopting some version of a rate fluctuating billing style. It costs the utility company more money to produce energy at certain times of day, so they want to reward those who have found ways around consuming power at those times. Battery storage can reduce overall energy costs by collecting and storing the Sun’s energy when utility rates are low—then using that stored energy when the rates go up.
The different type’s of battery backup storage to suit your solar-powered home’s specific needs
These Lead-Acid batteries are going stronge with 6 years of daily full depth charge and discharge. This is battery backup storage needed for off-grid life in Central America. Lead-Acid batteries typically last 5-7 years. The battery below was just under 5 years when it checked out.
Lithium-ion battery storage
Lithium-ion is the most popular chemistry for all batteries used with solar. Improved longevity and improvements regarding fire safety have made the lithium-ion battery the go-to choice for most solar enthusiasts. They aren’t cheap, but the lithium-ion becomes more cost-effective once broken down into a per-cycle price. Lithium-ion covers a few different chemistries, but lithium iron phosphate and nickel manganese cobalt oxide are the two most popular. Lithium-Ion Batteries last about twice as long as lead-acid’s and generally come with a ten-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Lead-acid battery storage
Lead-acid batteries have been around for 160 years, but they are the least efficient, heaviest, and they arent very reliable. Nevertheless, these are great if you are on a budget. Unfortunately, they might cost more overall needing to be replaced much more frequently. With only a five-year warranty you wouldn’t want to use these with utility companies that charge a TOU billing. However, if your batteries are only honestly expected to be used during a blackout, you won’t need the 10-year 2500 cycle lifespan of the Lithium-ion competitor.
AC-coupled battery storage
AC-coupled battery storage systems take AC electricity from the Sun, flip it to DC for storage, then back to AC for use in the house. Unfortunately, power is lost every time the electricity is inverted, so the AC coupled setup is less efficient than the DC-coupled systems. However, the AC-coupled systems are usually “stackable,” meaning multiple batteries can be strung together. In addition, the AC-coupled systems are faster to instal. Also, the AC-coupled setups allow the power from the solar panels and the energy from the batteries be both used during the day. If you already have solar panels installed, and now you want to add batteries, you need an AC-coupled battery solution.
DC-coupled storage
DC-coupled battery storage systems takes more labor to install, but by eliminating the need to change energy back and forth from DC to AC, they are more efficient overall. Electricity flows from panels to the battery storage, as DC. Special Hybrid inverters take the DC electricity from the batteries and the DC electricity from the solar arrays and converts and combines them to AC for use in the home. With only one conversion the system is simply more efficient. Although both designs have their specific advantages, much of the determination will be based on weather you are adding batteries to an existing solar array, or your buying everything new all at once.
Battery technology has improved with time, but the basics remain the same. The Lead Acid chemistry has stayed the same for 160 years now. There is a wide variety of options available in the retail market, and no matter what you decide, adding battery backup storage to your home will significantly Increase The Cost.
Let the Blue Sky Solar team look at your current solar setup or energy usage if you don’t have solar panels yet, and we will determine how efficiently your home is. After reviewing your current solar setup or energy usage, we will know precisely how many batteries your usage requires. Then, we will determine if you have enough panels to charge up the batteries quickly. Remember, the Federal Tax Credit still applies to battery backup.
Let’s start with a free, no-obligation consultation. A consultation will help our Energy Consultants explore solar solutions specific to your location and situation. Every home is different, and solar isn’t always a good solution. Blue Sky Solar consultants will provide a complete home energy audit and see what Energy Efficiency Solutions might benefit the home. After that, we can be sure that adding battery backup storage if the right choice for you.
Adding battery backup to your current solar array, and other home energy efficiency solutions, will make your home much more efficient.
We lower energy consumption to start, then we look for different ways to make each home more efficient. All well taking care to not reduce the occupants’ quality of life. Here is a list of the 4 best batteries to install with solar.