If you’re considering installing solar energy in your home, you may be curious about what happens when the sun sets and you still need electricity. We typically consume the most energy between midday and early evening, so we must have efficient access to energy after sunset.
One of the most effective methods is to store extra energy. This article will discuss the significance of renewable energy storage and how to use batteries to store solar energy at home.
How solar energy storage works
The energy storage market is expanding rapidly. Mordor Intelligence forecasts that the energy storage market will experience a CAGR of 19.9% between 2017 and 2027. When you consider the numerous advantages energy storage offers to homeowners and businesses, it’s easy to understand why it’s experiencing such rapid growth. To comprehend the benefits of energy storage, we must first examine how solar energy is stored.
When your solar panels generate electricity, they distribute it to all of your home’s power outlets. If your solar panels produce excess energy, the excess will be stored in your energy storage system or sent to the grid. If there is an energy deficit in your home, the electrical system will draw power from the grid or your stored reserves. Having a solar energy storage system at your residence reduces your reliance on the electrical grid and helps you maintain energy independence.
Benefits of storing solar energy
Because the times when the sun is at its strongest do not always coincide with the times when we require the most energy, storing solar energy is essential for the efficient use of energy. Having the ability to store solar energy allows you to capitalize on times of peak energy production and carry any surplus into times of high demand but low production. With efficient storage options, you can use the solar energy generated by your panels whenever it is required.
Among the most alluring advantages of solar energy storage are:
- When you install residential solar panels, you will typically connect your home energy system to the grid, resulting in cost savings. Your system will send and receive excess energy to and from the grid to account for fluctuations in energy production and demand. A net-metered system charges you based on the difference between the amount of energy you use from the grid and the amount of energy you produce. However, if you have a solar-plus-storage system, you can store your excess energy and draw directly from it, reducing the need to connect to the electric grid.
- Energy distribution throughout the day: Utilize solar energy as required, regardless of when the sun is at its brightest. Clouds, storms, and shorter days will not prevent you from using your solar panels. When your solar panels produce less energy than you require, you will be able to access your reserves.
- Backup energy: Even if the electrical grid is down, you will still be able to access power from your storage systems in the event of a major storm or power outage. Utilize your solar energy reserves to keep your phone charged and to stay in touch with the news during a natural disaster.
Using Batteries for home energy storage
Solar energy storage in batteries is the most practical and economical option for homeowners. Let’s investigate in greater depth how batteries store energy.
How Batteries Function
A battery contains two metals or chemical compounds that form the anode and cathode electrodes. There is an electrolyte solution in between.
Electrons are liberated from an atom by a chemical reaction between the electrolyte and anode, causing them to collect at the anode. In the meantime, a second chemical reaction at the cathode prepares it to receive this electron flow. For this transfer to occur and produce an electric current, both electrodes must be connected by an electric circuit.
After the battery has expended its energy, it must be recharged. A power source, such as solar panels, will reverse the chemical reactions, allowing the battery to produce electricity once again.
What You Should Know About Solar Batteries
If you’re considering installing a solar battery in your home, keep the following in mind:
Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type of battery due to their widespread application. Several of these batteries are likely already present in your home to power smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.
The total number of solar battery installations will increase by 50 percent from 2019 to 2020, a period characterized by rapid growth.
As with other energy storage options, solar batteries have their limitations. Unless you pair your solar batteries with a smart panel that allows you to seamlessly manage the electricity distribution in your home, you will be required to specify which rooms the solar battery powers.
To get the most out of your home’s solar power system, a solar battery may be the best investment. Install a solar battery to enjoy cost savings and consistent energy whenever you need it.
How Long Can Solar Energy Be Stored?
In recent years, solar energy storage capacities have increased tenfold, and some systems can now store energy for 18 years. Typically, standard household batteries have a lifespan of 1 to 5 days.
The best way to store solar energy
As a storage solution, batteries are utilized by a significant number of solar-powered homeowners. Lithium-ion batteries appear to be the preferred option for home storage because they are inexpensive and compact. Also available for people are nickel-cadmium and lead-acid batteries. According to experts, a variety of sources is the optimal option for long-term use.