Battery Backup For Solar Panels

What Are Two Solar Battery Options To Consider

If youre looking for solar battery backup power options, here are some currently on the market:

Great for homeowners who are searching for a reliable solar-ready storage solution in an aesthetically pleasing design.

The price for this option is normally around $9,000 to $13,000 depending on the vendor.

These lithium-ion battery that can be paired with a solar panel system.

Users can track power consumption, solar production, and battery levels at any time of the day when they pair it with a SolarEdge inverter and optimizers.

During a power outage, this would still allow the typical American household to power essentials like a bathroom, furnace, refrigerator, etc.

Great for homeowners looking for a versatile battery solution to power essential appliances at night, during grid outages, or during peak hours.

The cost for this option is usually between $6,000 and $7,000 per unit.

Keep in mind that you may require 2 or more connected in series to provide sufficient capacity, which could drive up costs.

This option is quickly becoming the standard go-to for both residential and commercial storage needs.

Its a fully integrated lithium-ion AC battery system.

Its shipped in an all-weather encasement plus liquid cooling.

It can be installed indoors and outdoors.

How Long Do Solar Batteries Last

Current battery technology is built to last much longer than old-school systems. The grid-tied solar energy storage batteries Green Mountain Solar offers all come with a 10-year warranty, though our experts suspect theyll last you beyond that. At that 10-year warranty, its assumed youll still have 70-90% of your original capacity depending on how you use it, says Rob. So, the likelihood of a homeowner to want to replace their system after 10 years is very slim.

Tesla Powerwalls have an unlimited cycle life for the 10-year warranty. That means that you can cycle it as much as you want in backup mode or self-consumption mode and its still covered under the warranty for 70% of the original capacity for that whole 10 years, he says. For these modes, it would be physically impossible to hit a cycle count that is greater than 2,800, so therefore Tesla just says a blanket statement that you do not need to consider cycles. Its just a flat 10 years.

Enphase batteries also come with a 10-year warranty. The Enphase batteries do have a cycle limit, but if you did a true apples to apples comparison between the systems, it works out to be identical to Teslas 2,800 cycles, Rob explains. Which, when its in battery backup mode or self-consumption mode, is effectively impossible to hit before the 10-year warranty is up.

How Batteries Qualify For The Federal Clean Energy Tax Credit

Homeowners have long been able to enjoy a significant tax break when they install solar panels. The current federal clean energy tax credit gives homeowners back 30% of the upfront cost to install solar panels at tax time, the year after theyre installed. Luckily batteries also qualify for the tax credit, whether or not theyre installed with solar panels.

Before 2022, a battery storage system had to charge exclusively from solar energy to qualify for the tax credit. Then congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which updated the tax credit to include batteries not charged from solar power.Here are some example cost calculations for the solar battery tax credit:

The last important thing to know is that taxpayers must have tax liability in order to claim the ITC. If you dont owe taxes equal to the credit amount, you can claim it over more than one year, but the credit can only offset taxes you would have owed.

Disclaimer: SolarReviews is not qualified to give tax advice. Contact a tax professional to learn more about how the federal clean energy tax credit could work for you.

Find out which solar incentives & rebates you qualify for

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Solar Panels And Solar Batteries Make A Great Pair

Installing a solar battery storage system can be a great way to get the most value out of your solar panels.

Batteries are an excellent source of backup power, they increase your energy independence, and in some cases can even save you more money on your electric bill because youll be drawing power from the battery instead of the grid.

However, solar battery systems do come at a price. If youre looking to save money on your electricity bill, installing a solar battery might not be right for you, especially if your utility offers net metering. However, if you live in an area that experiences widespread blackouts, like the ones in California and Texas, or somewhere with Time-of-Use utility rates, having a battery backup to store energy for when you need it will be beneficial.

The upside is that the price of solar battery technology continues to fall, so much so that someday in the near future, solar batteries will come standard with all solar energy systems.

If youre looking to pair your solar panels with storage, make sure you contact multiple reputable battery storage installers to ensure that you get the highest quality installation at the best possible price.

See what local installers are charging for solar + battery storage installations

Determine Your Primary Energy Goal

We recommend talking with your storage provider about sizing and programming the battery to meet your energy goal:

• You can use your battery to provide backup power for your essential electrical needs and/or medical equipment during power outages.
• You can shift your use of grid energy to lower-price times of day to see bill savings.
• If you have your own home solar system you can also:
• Capture your solar energy and use it later to power your home.
• Send excess renewable energy back to the grid during more expensive peak times to see more bill savings.

Also Check: How To Qualify For Solar Panels

Installing With Maine Solar Solutions

Although pairing solar panels with energy storage is becoming more common, it doesnt mean its the right choice for everyone. Our solar consultants and electricians can help you find the right solar + battery backup solution for your home. We take care of everything from designing the system specifications, permitting, installation, financing options, and customer support. We present fixed cost pricing that includes the battery, transfer switch, any additional electrical equipment required, permits, and installation services by our team of qualified electricians. We also offer our zero-down low-interest financing for solar + battery backup.

It Only Makes Sense To Backup Your Critical Loads In Most Cases

For most American homes, it will only be prudent to install enough solar batteries to power the essentials. Because of the price associated with solar storage systems, installing enough batteries to meet 100% of your typical energy needs would simply cost too much.

Instead, youll want to work out whats known as your critical loads the essential items that will keep running in the event of a power outage via energy from your batteries. These often include things like your refrigerator, freezer, small heaters, a few lights, medical equipment, and maybe a few outlets to charge devices.

Your solar installer should be able to help you determine what are the absolute necessities, and then design a battery system that is capable of meeting your requirements.

Solar Batteries: Dependable Emergency Power

Are solar panel batteries worth it? In terms of providing dependable backup power to keep you and your family safe and comfortable during uncertain times, yes. From a strictly financial standpoint, not necessarily.

Thanks to net metering, most Americans can upload their extra electricity to the utility grid and draw on it for future use for free. However, when the grid goes down, so will their solar system unless there is a battery backup system. With solar batteries, grid-tied system owners can experience a small bit of energy independence without having to sink thousands of dollars into an off-grid storage solution. Its the best of both worlds!

Also Check: Do I Qualify For Solar Rebate

What Level Of Battery Backup Do You Need

If you want battery backup with your hybrid system, you need to ask yourself what level of backup is important to you. Start by asking yourself these questions:

• Does your neighbourhood regularly suffer from blackouts?
• Do the blackouts typically last for a long period of time?
• Which appliances do you need to access during blackouts?
• Is there a critical appliance that you need to keep running at all times?

Why Are Solar Backup Batteries So Expensive

If youve invested in solar electricity for your home, then it may be worth investing in a solar backup battery. However, solar backup batteries are expensive. Although prices drop every year, solar backup batteries continue to be a large expense because of the following factors:

The Manufacturer & Brand: Like any other piece of electronics, solar backup batteries are influenced by the brand. German battery company Sonnen has carved a niche for itself in the premium part of the market, for example, because Sonnen has unique manufacturing processes and long-lasting batteries. If you buy a luxury solar backup battery from Sonnen, you could pay up to $30,000. Tesla, LG, and other major names have also entered the space, and the brand influences the price significantly.

Battery Components: The main cost of a solar backup battery lies in its components. Most residential systems use lithium-ion batteries made of nickel manganese cobalt or lithium iron phosphate . Cheaper batteries use lead-acid, although these batteries are less powerful and dont last as long.

Size of Battery Array: You may need to install multiple batteries for larger homes. The more batteries you install, the more expensive your solar energy system will be. The size of the battery also changes based on your needs. Depending on the number of kilowatt-hours of energy you use, the storage capacity of the battery, and other factors, youll need to adjust the number and size of solar backup batteries you need.

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How Does Home Solar Battery Storage Work

If youre thinking of going solar, you need to be thinking of storage. If you invest in a solar system to energize your home – why not collect and store all the power that you generate? Save and use this power for another time, when you need it the most.

Solar batteries offer you big control and a big opportunity for increased savings, powering your home during a blackout, and reducing the negative effects of climate change.1

There is a strong future for battery storage across America.2 The solar industry has been at the forefront of this migration to high-tech stored energy, and Sunrun has been there from the very beginning.

Battery Or Generator Which Is Better When The Power Goes Out

In New England, where ReVision Energy operates, we are no strangers to outages caused by harsh winter winds and unpredictable storms. Home standby generators tend to be the norm for backup power in utility outages. However, home batteries are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative.

Though generators may be cheaper initially, they are limited by their fuel dependence, maintenance, and service costs. While there are some limits to its power output capabilities, the battery pack generates no emissions, requires no recurring maintenance, and can be continuously charged by the sun.

Check out the comparative table below and see why a battery is a much more viable option than a generator:

While there are some limits to its power output capabilities, the battery pack is infinitely cleaner, can run indefinitely under proper design circumstances, has no recurring maintenance needs, and offers a range of capabilitiessuch as self-consumption of solar power and grid support servicesnot offered by generators.

As technological evolution and fierce competition push down the sticker price of battery backup units, we expect the next 3-5 years will show a seismic acceleration in the adoption of residential battery systems.

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Final Thoughts: Solar Batteries

The bottom line is that to get the most out of your solar system, youll need more than just top-of-the-line panels. Having a reliable solar battery can also be crucial. Make sure you explore your options and account for your homes specific energy needs when choosing the best solar batteries for your system.

If you want to book a professional solar consultation for free, you can do so by clicking one of the links below. A consultation with a certified company is a great way to find out what type of battery would work best for your home, how much your solar system would cost and how much you can save by taking advantage of local and federal solar incentives.

Most Versatile: Byd Battery

What We Like:

• This modular tower battery is available at a number of different voltage levels so that you can choose the option best suited for your home or business energy needs.
• Its a cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate battery, which performs well at high temperatures and has a longer cycle life than other lithium solar batteries.
• Battery modules can be stacked in order to increase the total capacity thats available to you.
• The BYD battery comes with a 10-year warranty and claims to be good for around 3,000 total cycles.

What We Dont Like:

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Are Solar Panels Toxic

Despite the large amount of information circulating about solar panels being toxic, modern crystalline silicon solar panels contain virtually no toxic materials. The claims of toxic solar panels come from the mostly obsolete thin-film solar panels which did contain trace amounts of cadmium and telluride. However, unless these panels are broken up into fragments, the trace amount of cadmium is contained within the EVA layers and cannot leach out.

Modern crystalline silicon solar panels contain only a trace amount of lead in the solder used for the cell interconnections. However, the use of solder is starting to be phased out with the new busbar compression joining techniques and conductive paste materials. Its worth noting solder is used in hundreds of millions of electrical devices and appliances. There are far more toxic elements used in consumer electronic devices, mobile phones, computers, & TVs, which is why electronic waste or E-waste is a large global problem.

Roughly 98% of the solar panels installed around the world today are of the silicon crystalline variety and do not contain cadmium or telluride. Solar panels are very benign and even when damaged the cells do not cause any contamination as the cells are encapsulated within a very durable polymer and contain no readily soluble materials. However, like all appliances, solar panels need to be collected and recycled at the end of life which we discuss in the section below.

Is Solar Battery Storage Right For My Home

If you have solar PV panels, or are planning to install them, then using home batteries to store electricity youve generated will help you to maximise the amount of renewable energy you use. In fact, 60% of people who have, or would consider, a home battery told us the reason was so they could use more of the electricity generated by their solar panels.*

Home-energy storage will also reduce the electricity you use from the grid, and cut your energy bills. If your home is off-grid, it can help to reduce your use of fossil fuel back-up generators.

Even without solar panels, you may be looking to make use of time-of-use tariffs with a battery. These let you store up electricity while its cheap so you can use it during peak times.

A few energy companies have launched these already, and we expect to see more of them as they can help to balance energy supply and demand, and reduce the need for additional fossil-fuel generation at peak times.

If, for example, it’s a windy night and lots of wind turbines are generating electricity for the grid that no-one is using, it makes sense to make the most of that with battery storage.

Home-energy storage will cost you upwards of £2,000, so youll need to make sure your investment is worthwhile.

If youre at home during the day and already use a large proportion of the electricity you generate through solar panels, or divert surplus electricity to heat your water , then a battery may not be right for you.

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Find Solar Panels With A High

How effectively solar panels with battery backup convert sunlight into usable power is what we mean when we talk about its efficiency.

Solar panels with battery backup efficiency are typically about 18.7 percent. This indicates that 18.7% of incident solar radiation will be transformed into helpful power using optimal circumstances.

The best solar panels’ efficiency with battery backup is made from monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon. It depends on the purity of the crystalline silicon used in their construction.

A solar panel’s efficiency is affected by more than just its power rating and degradation rate all elements, including shadow, temperature, and orientation, play a role.

Solar Backup Batteries Explained Are Solar Backup Batteries Worth It

Solar backup batteries allow you to store energy that your solar panels produce. Your solar panels get energy from the sun all day long, and they store this energy in a battery for later use.

Theoretically, solar backup batteries solve the biggest problem with solar panels: you can store energy for later use. Your solar panels only produce electricity during the day, which is also the time when you use the least amount of electricity. With a solar backup battery, you can store this energy instead of wasting it or selling it back to the grid.

Solar backup batteries have surged in popularity. But are they worth it? Should you buy a solar backup battery? Today, were explaining everything you need to know about solar backup batteries and their value.

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