Even the most enthusiastic solar supporters can agree on one limitation: solar panels only produce power when the sun is shining. Peak energy usage, on the other hand, tends to occur in the nights, coinciding with lower solar output and producing a supply and demand problem. The truth is that solar panels frequently produce more than enough electricity during low-demand hours when the sun shines to fulfill peak demand later in the day. This implies that effective solar energy storage can offer up a plethora of opportunities for both homes and enterprises.
This article will go over solar energy storage in detail.
How can we store solar energy effectively?
The majority of homeowners choose to store their solar energy in the form of a solar battery. Technically, solar energy may be stored using mechanical or thermal energy storage methods such as pumped hydro systems or molten salt energy storage technologies, but these methods need a lot of space, resources, and moving components. Overall, this is not the most practical method of storing energy for a home.
Solar batteries, on the other hand, are an excellent way to store solar energy in the home. Lithium ion batteries are the most often utilized form of battery for solar energy storage. Lithium ion batteries outlast other solar energy storage systems on the market, such as lead-acid batteries, require less maintenance, and take up less space.
Lithium ion batteries may store solar energy through a series of chemical processes that occur within the battery as lithium ions flow through an electrolyte solution. As a result, when solar panels transfer power to the battery storage system, a chemical reaction happens, which transports lithium ions and releases electrons in an electrolyte solution within the battery, allowing the energy to be stored.
When you need to consume power from the battery, electrons flow backward and the battery is drained. This procedure may be done indefinitely, making the battery rechargeable.
What Are the Benefits of Storing Solar Energy?
Storing excess energy is critical for getting the most out of any solar panel system, and it may result in cost savings, more efficient electricity networks, and lower fossil fuel emissions. There are several major advantages of storing solar energy:
Electric load balancing If power is not stored, it must be consumed as soon as it is created. Energy storage enables surplus energy to be saved for peak demand. In terms of renewable energy, storing excess electricity helps the lights to stay on even after the sun goes down or the wind stops blowing. Simply said, energy storage enables an energy reservoir to be charged while generation is high and demand is low, and then released when generation decreases and demand increases.
Filling in the blanks Short-term solar energy storage enables for steady electricity flow during generator outages caused by passing clouds or normal maintenance.
Resilience to energy The electricity grid is prone to disturbances and outages caused by a variety of factors, including wildfires and extreme weather. By decentralizing where we acquire our energy, solar energy storage offers a protective bubble during disruptive occurrences.
What is the cost of solar energy storage?
Solar energy storage for your home will cost between $9,000 and $12,000.
Solar energy storage costs are falling year after year as battery technology improves and more people use it. However, this does not mean that solar storage is not expensive. Fortunately, certain jurisdictions, such as California’s SGIP Program, provide rebates and incentives expressly for solar energy storage, which serve to mitigate the impact of initial expenditures. Not only that, but solar batteries qualify for the federal solar tax credit of 26%.
The real cost of solar energy storage is determined on the type of battery you select, the manufacturer, and the number of batteries you install. The Tesla Powerwall, LG Chem RESU, and sonnen are some of the most popular brands of solar batteries.
Not sure where to begin your search for solar energy storage? Check out our comprehensive guide to solar batteries.
Is solar energy storage a good option for your home?
If you live in an area where there are regular power outages, or if your utility employs Time-of-Use charges, solar battery storage will be a beneficial investment for you. Otherwise, solar batteries are still too costly for the majority of homes.
While there are several advantages to using solar batteries, you must examine if those advantages exceed the price. What we mean is that solar energy storage is a luxury rather than a necessity.
While solar energy storage may not result in further savings, solar panels almost surely will. Solar panels are now more affordable than ever and will begin saving you money on your utility bills from the first day. You may use our solar savings cost and savings calculator to evaluate if solar panels are perfect for your house.
How long will a solar battery last?
Standard solar batteries have a lifespan of 15-30 years, depending on the kind.
How many solar batteries will I require? Storage capacity varies greatly depending on your unique demands and considers aspects such as required storage capacity, backup load, and backup length. Aurora Solar’s Battery Storage tool can assist in determining these storage requirements.
Is solar energy worthwhile for me?
Yes. In 2019, solar energy became cheaper than coal, with an average price of $.068 per kilowatt-hour (compared to an average price of $.13 for U.S. residential electricity the same year, which is primarily fossil-fueled). Aside from the economic benefits, solar energy cuts carbon emissions and increases resilience.
How can I get maximum solar efficiency?
This is where solar panel positioning comes into play. We propose that you use solar panel design software to help you plan your installation and achieve maximum efficiency. Examine how it works with Aurora Solar.
Conclusion
The sun provides an infinite supply of clean energy, but harnessing it may be difficult. Fortunately, various business and household storage choices provide proven methods for storing solar energy, and new technologies are being researched on a regular basis. Mechanical storage methods provide excellent solutions for harvesting solar energy when it is most needed in commercial applications, and grid-scale battery storage will most certainly become accessible shortly. Battery storage is the greatest option for home solar, with a range of cheap devices on the market. Together, these technologies provide an effective portfolio for storing solar energy and make a strong case for more solar deployment in commercial and residential contexts.