How It Works
You might be wondering how do my panels work at night when there is no sunlight? You may be tied to the grid which is when the energy flows back to your house from your utility provider or you may have battery storage. A battery stores all you excess energy that is generated during the day that you do not use. When your panels are not producing energy, the battery kicks in and powers your home such as at night or during a blackout. Once your battery is completely full you will then send energy back onto the grid. The battery storage will protect you from power outages, lower your energy bills and avoid peak electricity rates. There are a few things to take into consideration when looking at what type of battery works best for you.
- Capacity & Power: Capacity is the total amount of energy a solar battery can store (kWh). The size of this will depend on the amount of energy you consume and produce. The capacity of a battery tells you how big your battery is, but it doesn’t tell you how much electricity a battery can provide. In order to understand that we need to address the battery’s power rating. A power rating is the amount of energy a battery can deliver (kW). A battery with a high capacity but low power rating will deliver a lower amount of energy but for a longer time and vises versa.
- Depth of Discharge: The Depth of Discharge (DoD) is the amount of the battery’s capacity that has been used. In other words, it’s the amount of energy that has been removed from a fully charged state of the battery. A higher DoD means that you will be able to use more of the battery’s capacity.
- Battery Life: With your phone you may notice throughout time that it doesn’t hold a charge as well as it did in the beginning. The same applies to solar battery storage. With time the battery will lose its ability to hold a charge which can be based on what brand you use. In general, batteries last between 5 to 15 years. However, it depends on the amount of energy you are consuming, the capacity & power rating and if you are tied to the grid.
There are a number of different things to consider when choosing the right battery storage for you, but we got you covered! We know this may be overwhelming but that’s why our skilled engineer will do the work for you and select the best battery storage!
SMA Sunnyboy
SMA provides some of the best energy storage technology, with 30 years of experience. We trust that SMA will provide you with energy even during a blackout. The SMA energy system will instantaneously disconnect your system from the grid and provide energy from the battery. They offer a versatile, simple, flexible and innovative solution to battery backup.
Generac PWR Cell Battery
Generac PWRcell is an intelligent energy storage system. It is equipped with PWRview energy monitoring technology that will protect you during times of power outages and allows you to control your energy usage to save on utility costs. Get through the night on stored solar energy and protect what’s important! Gain greater independence from the grid!
Tesla PowerWall
The Tesla Powerwall detects grid outages and automatically becomes your home’s main energy source. Protect your home from the next power outage and keep your lights on.
Tesla Electrical Car Charger
A Tesla Wall Connector offers the fastest charging speed for your vehicle at home. Wall Connectors are available with either an 8.5’ or 24’ cable length.
Battery Storage FAQ
They typically last 5 to 15 years, however it all depends on the manufacturer. We make sure to select the best battery fit for your needs.
Lithium ion is the best type because they are lighter, have a high DoD, and longer lifespan than other batteries.
Having a battery will allow you to always have reliable energy flowing into your home. During a blackout, you’ll be the one with power verses everyone else. In addition, you most likely will not be drawing energy from the grid which will reduce your electricity bill.
Yes, but that will depend on the battery brand you choose.