In today’s times, batteries for solar energy storage systems are now better than ever before. Although it’s important for you to do your homework and thoroughly research which batteries are right for your system and the amount of electricity you use. Let me break it down for you…
Types of Solar Powered Battery Storage Systems
Retrofit Hybrid Solar Power system
There are two main types of battery storage systems. The first one being, a ‘Retrofit Hybrid Solar Power System’. When a Grid-Connected Solar Power System already exists on the property, the property owner might then decide they want to add a battery bank to their system. To do this, they must add an Energy Management System and a battery bank. The EMS will cleverly manage the first load of electricity generated from the sun straight to the property and will identify the excess electricity and chuck it into the battery bank. The old Grid- Connected System will now have two new separate components, the EMS and the battery bank and this is known as a Retrofit Hybrid Solar Power System.
New Installation
The second type of storage system is known as ‘New Installation’. This is when a Grid-Connected Solar Power System does not already exist and the customer is purchasing a solar power system with energy storage for the first time. On the Retrofit system, the system would already have had an inverter installed when the system was installed. The inverter inverts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). On a new installation, your installers will be able to install your inverter and your EMS as one component and this is called a Hybrid Inverter. One component will act as both the EMS and inverter, thus converting your electricity to DC and also managing the process of first load electricity into the property and excess into the battery bank.
So to make it simple, the Retrofit installation will have more components than a New Installation. The Retrofit when complete will consist of the inverter that was already there and then an extra EMS and a battery bank. Whereas the New Installation will not have the extra inverter component, because the inverter and EMS will combine as one component together.
Types of batteries for solar panels
There are two main types of batteries for solar panels:
- Lead based
- Lithium ion based
Lead based batteries are the cheapest type of batteries you can buy. They also have the shortest lifespan and are only expected to last up to 5 years. Your expert might advise that lead based batteries are suitable for your system if your electricity usage isn’t too high, which all depends on your electricity load and the amount of appliances you have to run in your household- but I’ll come on to that a bit later. All batteries have different discharge levels and the average recommended level for lead based batteries, is only 50%. This means that if you regularly discharge your lead based batteries beyond 50%, you can end up damaging the batteries. Think of them like a mobile phone that has a slightly poorer battery life to other mobile phones on the market.
And secondly, the best batteries you can purchase for your system are the Lithium ion based batteries but of course, these are the most expensive batteries. These batteries can last up to at least 10 years and beyond. So you can almost forget about having to maintain your system for quite some time. The Lithium ion batteries have a recommended discharge level of 80%, so that’s quite a big leap from the lead based ones. Although these batteries are the most efficient, they might not be necessary for your system and your usage and your energy expert might advise that you purchase something less substantial.
How many batteries do I need for my home?
Well, how long is a piece of string? The amount of batteries you require all depends on your living arrangement and how much electricity you require and this is what we call your ‘load’. For example, if you live alone, you’re likely to be watching only one television in the evening, only having the lights on in the room you are using, running a smaller sized refrigerator and generally having less lights and appliances in your household. If you are a large family of 5, you are most probably using a television downstairs, perhaps a computer is on in the study, lights on in the lounge room, lights on in an upstairs bedroom somewhere and cooking going on in the kitchen. The larger your load, the more batteries you will require. Your energy expert will be able to advise you on this subject, after analyzing your recent electricity usage and your recent electricity bill.
If you already have a solar power system and want to invest in energy storage, or if you are new to solar entirely and want some figures on how much it might cost, get in touch with Energis today on 1300 782 217. One of our energy experts will be happy to recommend the best system for your energy needs. Whether you are a home or a commercial business, Energis can provide you with a smart energy solution to start saving you money.
