Photo voltaic panels are among the finest instruments we’ve got to fight local weather change and to realize some freedom from utility corporations. However photo voltaic panels do have one deadly flaw: they don’t produce electrical energy when the solar isn’t shining.
That’s the place photo voltaic power storage is available in. Pairing a photo voltaic panel system with power storage makes it potential to make use of photo voltaic power, even when there isn’t a solar, by saving the electrical energy for later use.
Photo voltaic storage shouldn’t be solely nice for the surroundings, it additionally unlocks a number of advantages for householders, like entry to dependable backup energy and in some instances, extra electrical payments financial savings.
retailer your photo voltaic power
Most owners select to retailer their photo voltaic power by utilizing a solar battery. Technically, you can store solar energy through mechanical or thermal energy storage, like pumped hydro systems or molten salt energy storage applied sciences, however these storage choices require lots of house, supplies, and transferring elements. Total, not probably the most sensible solution to retailer power for a house.
Photo voltaic batteries, however, are a good way to retailer residential photo voltaic power. The most typical kind of battery used for photo voltaic power storage are lithium ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries last more, require much less upkeep, and take up much less house than different photo voltaic power storage options in the marketplace, like lead-acid batteries.
Lithium ion batteries are in a position to retailer photo voltaic power by a collection of chemical reactions, the place lithium ions are moved by an electrolyte resolution inside the battery. So, when photo voltaic panels ship electrical energy to the battery storage system a chemical response happens that strikes lithium ions and releases electrons in an electrolyte resolution inside the battery, which shops the power.
When it is advisable use electrical energy from the battery, the electrons movement backward and the electrical energy is discharged from the battery. This course of may be repeated time and again, making the battery rechargeable.
How a lot does photo voltaic power storage price?
Including photo voltaic power storage to your house will price someplace between $9,000 and $12,000.
Photo voltaic power storage prices have been declining every year as battery know-how improves and extra individuals undertake it. However that doesn’t imply that photo voltaic storage doesn’t nonetheless price a fairly penny. Fortunately, there are some states that supply rebates and incentives particularly for photo voltaic power storage, like California’s SGIP Program, that help soften the blow of upfront costs. Not only that, solar batteries are eligible for the 26% federal solar tax credit, as well.
Learn more: State-by-State Solar Incentive Guide
The actual price you’ll pay for solar energy storage depends on the type of battery that you chose, the manufacturer, and how many batteries you install. Some of the most popular brands of solar batteries include the Tesla Powerwall, LG Chem RESU, and sonnen.
Not sure where to start when it comes to shopping for solar energy storage? Check out our complete solar battery guide.
The benefits of solar energy storage
Solar energy storage systems are becoming more popular every year and it’s no surprise why – here are just a few of the benefits of installing solar-plus-storage:
Backup power
Despite what many people believe, solar panels will not power your home during a power outage. In order to keep your lights on when the grid goes down, you need to pair your solar system with a solar battery. This is why energy storage is most popular in places like California, where widespread power blackouts are commonplace.
As an added bonus, solar batteries are a much quieter backup power option than gas-guzzling generators. Plus, you don’t have to worry about refueling a battery, you just let your solar panels do their thing and the energy is ready for you to use!
Energy independence
Having solar energy storage means you’re less reliant on the utility grid. We already know that means that you’ll be protected when the grid power goes out, but it also means that you’ll be less beholden to the utility all around.
For one thing, solar energy storage protects you from the electric rate increases that are almost guaranteed to happen every year. A battery lets you pull electricity from it instead of taking power from the grid and paying expensive rates.
Also, you know exactly where your power is coming from. With a utility, the energy can be generated from foregin gas and oil. You can rest assured that your home is powered with solar energy made right on your roof!
Electric bill savings
However, not all utilities offer full retail net metering, and instead they purchase excess solar electricity at a lower price. This is where solar energy storage can provide extra utility bill savings. Instead of sending your excess electricity to the grid and getting paid a low rate, you store it for later and get the full retail value out of it.
Solar storage is also helpful if your utility uses Time-of-Use rates to charge higher electric prices during peak demand hours. You can use the electricity stored in your battery during these peak hours and avoid paying the expensive rates set by your utility.
Many utility companies in the U.S. still create most of their power using dirty fossil fuels. This means that for every kilowatt-hour of electricity you use from your utility, you’re probably contributing to the burning of fossil fuels.
With solar energy storage systems, however, you use all of the electricity your solar energy system produces, maximizing the amount of renewable energy your home runs on. Using a clean energy source like solar cuts back on carbon emissions and makes for a happier and healthier planet.
Is solar energy storage right for your home?
If you live somewhere that experiences frequent electric grid power outages, or if your utility uses Time-of-Use rates, then solar battery storage will be a worthwhile investment for you. Otherwise, solar batteries are still pretty expensive, so they won’t pan out financially for most homeowners.
While there are plenty of solar battery benefits, you need to consider if those benefits outweigh the costs. What we mean is, solar energy storage isn’t something you need to install, it’s more of a luxury.
While solar energy storage might not provide you with additional financial savings, solar panels almost certainly will. Solar panels are cheaper than ever and will start saving you on your electric bills from Day 1. You can see if solar panels are right for your specific home using our solar savings cost and savings calculator.
Key takeaways
- Mechanical storage, thermal storage, and battery storage are all ways that solar energy can be saved for future use.
- Batteries are the most common solar energy storage for residential photovoltaic (PV) solar systems.
- Lithium ion batteries charge and discharge from a chemical reaction that moves electrons from one part of the battery to the other.
- Solar energy storage provides reliable backup power, energy independence, can reduce electric bills, and are environmentally friendly.
- Solar batteries will cost between $9,000 and $12,000 to install.
