The simple answer is YES. But, at Crystal Solar Energy, we use many parameters such as your electricity consumption through the year, analyse the usage pattern, what you pay per kWh, your roof area, PV generation, export and will advise you if installation of battery makes significant savings for you. This is all a part of our process to provide you the best advice.
Looking for the most efficient battery for your solar energy system?
Solar batteries make a smart investment and enable you to store unused power generated during the day for later use. A huge step in achieving energy independence, solar batteries ensure that you are always able to power your home. If you are keen to make the most out of your solar panels, installing solar batteries is a wise decision. However, given the huge options, you may wonder about the solar battery storage that will best work for your home. Read on to get a complete understanding of solar batteries to make the right choice.
What is solar battery storage?
Solar panels save you money on your electricity bills. With a battery storage system connected to your Solar PV, you benefit from the Solar PV supplying power the electricity needs during the daytime, and charging the battery with surplus power generated that can be used later, after the sun has set. With the Feed In Tariffs dropping every year, and the power prices rising, it makes a worthy investment to store the excess power produced by your solar panels. This stored energy can be used to power your home on a cloudy day or at night.
What is the best battery for solar storage?
If you have solar panels mounted on your roof and you are keen to pair them with solar batteries, it is important to choose the right battery storage. Having an understanding of the battery specifications will help you pick a solar storage option that will help you optimize the energy generated by your solar panels.
Capacity
This indicates the maximum amount of energy that the battery can store and is measured in kilowatt-hours. While nominal capacity indicates the amount of energy that the battery can hold, usable capacity is the energy that is available for use.
Depth of Discharge
It refers to the amount of maximum energy that can be used from the battery storage, without causing any damage to the battery. Batteries need to hold some amount of energy to get charged and prevent degradation.
Power
Power indicates the maximum capacity that the battery is capable of delivering at any given point of time. This is expressed in Amperes or kWh over a specific time period.
Efficiency
It refers to the ability of a battery to charge and discharge to the maximum rated capacity. Most batteries have a round trip efficiency of over 90%.
Charge/Discharge Cycles and Lifespan
Various battery manufacturers express the life of the battery in Cycles. A Cycle refers to a full charge and maximum rated discharge, expressed in numbers. E.g. 6000 cycles. Most batteries are warrantied for 10 years minimum with a life expectancy of over 16 years – as long as the batteries are operated under manufacturer’s guidelines.
Temperature Range
Batteries work within a certain temperature range referred to as the ambient temperature. This is specified by the manufacturer. Lithium batteries operate under a wider temperature range and this makes lithium batteries the choice of storage in current times.
Types of Batteries
The rapid development in the sphere of battery technology has made available wide options. Based on your power needs, you can choose from a range of battery options for your home. For homes, lithium batteries are the most popular because of their smaller footprint, lifespan, and ability to discharge to a higher degree than lead-acid battery.
A Lead-acid battery is relatively cheaper but is sensitive to temperature and have a shorter lifespan. Another limitation of the battery is its large size.
A great alternative to the lithium battery is the flow battery. The battery is known for its efficiency and ability to function in high ambient temperatures. However, the battery is comparatively expensive and requires maintenance.
Choosing the Right Battery for a Solar Energy System
If you are planning to add a battery as part of your solar panel system, considering the above battery specifications will help you make the right choice. With efficient solar battery storage, you can use the power when you need it the most and reduce your dependence on the grid. You save on your energy bills and always have a reserve of energy for your requirements and power even the event of a power outage.
Are you looking for the best solar battery storage in Melbourne?
At Crystal Solar Energy, we are committed to offering the best solar energy solutions to cater to your requirements. With over 10 years of experience in battery technology, we can help you choose the right battery for your home.
It is important to note that batteries are to be designed to suit the solar pv system and your consumption pattern. At Crystal Solar Energy, we can advise you on a range of batteries that will suit your budget, and works for you.
Call us on 1300 756 634 to find out more. You can also use our online contact form to connect with us.
