Solar panel installations allow homeowners to generate clean renewable electricity during daylight hours when the sun is shining. But according to the experts over at Vivint Solar, adding solar battery storage to your system opens up additional solar benefits around the clock. Backup energy reserves and overnight power become possible with properly planned battery integration. Understanding the advantages of supported solar reveals why today’s solar battery storage system options make sense for many homeowners.
Storing Solar Energy
Solar panels directly produce DC current only when exposed to sunlight. Abundant energy goes to waste if not immediately used or captured in batteries. Storage preserves your solar power investment.
Battery Basics
Specialized lithium-ion batteries designed for solar energy storage are packaged into integrated units convenient for home use. Multiple battery packs wired together increase capacity. Units link directly to solar systems while advanced power electronics manage flow to and from batteries.
Key Capabilities
Today’s solar energy batteries provide essential storage capabilities:
- Charge from solar panels during productive daylight hours.
- Discharge stored solar power overnight when panels are inactive.
- Provide emergency backup electricity during utility grid failures.
- Enable off-grid solar system capability for independence.
Intelligent charge controllers within each battery pack optimize performance. Routing excess solar energy into storage reserves each sunny day means batteries let you maximize and control usage of your available solar power around the clock.
Savings from Stored Power
Strategically dispatching stored solar energy allows homeowners to optimize electrical cost savings in multiple ways.
Self-Consumption
Minimizing export of excess solar power to the grid increases utilization of your available energy. Self-consumed solar electricity displaces more expensive grid-supplied power. Time-of-use rates also reward shifting demand away from peak hours when electricity costs more. Using your solar energy first reduces waste while maximizing savings.
Evening Usage
After the sun sets, batteries release stored solar power as needed to run lights, appliances, entertainment systems and other evening loads. Each kilowatt-hour dispatched from storage substitutes for expensive grid power at night. Managing household demand timing further ensures batteries align with your usage requirements once sunlight wanes.
Back-up Protection
Grid outages leave homes powerless. But your solar battery storage system keeps essential loads operational when the grid fails. Refrigeration, lighting, medical devices, and critical systems stay online. Even short outages quickly justify having emergency reserves.
Increased Independence
With substantial battery capacity, you can take your home completely off-grid if desired. Energy independence gives you control over your power supply without relying on utilities. While off-grid solar system costs are higher upfront, the long-term savings and self-sufficiency may warrant investment for some homeowners.
Optimized Economics
Solar battery storage options balance purchase costs against enhanced savings opportunities. Today’s lithium-ion batteries paired with smart power controls optimize system economics. While adding batteries increases your upfront investment, the magnified benefits for self-consumption, overnight solar power usage, outage protection and grid independence quickly offset initial costs through greater utility savings. Intelligently operated batteries boost returns on your solar power investment.
Ongoing Technology Improvements
As with solar panels themselves, batteries continue getting cheaper and more efficient each year. Improved chemistry boosts storage capacity and battery life. Smarter power electronics reduce charging losses while optimizing dispatch. Declining prices coupled with rising retail electricity rates further speed payback periods. Your solar power investment returns even more value with properly integrated battery storage.
Conclusion
Solar energy battery storage unlocks the full potential of your household photovoltaic system. Storing excess daytime solar power provides a 24/7 renewable energy solution. Batteries minimize wasted potential when the sun is available while ensuring electricity around the clock. With smart solar battery integration, sunlight can provide all your home energy needs.