Choosing a Solar Battery for Your Home
Many solar owners have opted to install a solar battery with their system to provide their home with a source of energy storage and backup power for when you need it most. With so many great options available, you may be asking yourself, “What solar battery is best for my home?” Before making a choice, you should know a little bit about each type of solar battery and how it would benefit your home and meet your individual energy needs. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the most common types of solar batteries and how they work, giving you some insight as to which one would be best for your home!
What is a Solar Battery?
A solar battery is a device that stores excess energy produced by solar panels, allowing you to use it after sundown, during power outages and rolling blackouts, and other scenarios in which you need energy to power your home. For those whose homes are tied to the grid, a solar battery’s stored energy is the difference between losing power altogether or being able to keep the lights on, even when the rest of your neighborhood is in the dark. If your home isn’t tied to the grid at all, you need a solar battery to store energy because you won’t be able to pull from the grid when you need it. There are several types and sizes of solar batteries, and the larger capacity your battery has, the more energy it is capable of storing.
What are the Types of Solar Batteries?
Most of the options on the market today fall under four main types: lithium ion batteries, flow batteries, lead acid batteries, and nickel cadmium batteries.
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Lithium Ion Batteries
These solar batteries have become increasingly popular in the last few years because of their long lifespans and the fact that they require little to no maintenance. They’re capable of storing more energy in smaller spaces than lead acid batteries can. A famous example of a lithium ion battery is the Tesla Powerwall, of which Renu is a proud installer!
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Flow Batteries
Flow batteries contain a liquid within that powers them and tend to be rather large, so they’re not ideal for residential installations. For commercial solar projects that have more space and require more energy, these are a great option.
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Lead Acid Batteries
Lead acid batteries were invented in 1860, making them easy to dispose of if needed. They’re also probably the cheapest option when it comes to energy storage, but require regular maintenance and have a relatively short lifespan (between 5 and 10 years, depending on how well they’re cared for).
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Nickel Cadmium Batteries
These types of batteries are very durable and capable of operating at extreme temperatures, but cadmium is a very toxic chemical and they’re hard to dispose of properly. These are not used for residential purposes.
The Best Solar Battery for Your Home
With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which solar battery best fits your home and its energy needs. We’ll walk you through some of the most popular batteries on the market:
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Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall, sized for day-to-day use, can store up to 13.5 kWh of solar energy produced by your solar panels. The Powerwall is capable of detecting outages before they affect your home, disconnecting from the grid and restoring power to your home before you even know it! With two Tesla Powerwalls, you’re able to power your home with your own stored energy for 7+ days. Renu Energy Solutions has been a certified Tesla installer since 2016, so if you’re interested in this solar battery, contact us today!
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Generac PWRcell
The Generac PWRcell is another excellent option for residential energy storage. It’s capable of storing up to 10 kWh of power making it a great alternative for those whose homes don’t require as much energy as the Tesla Powerwall would provide. This solar battery is covered by a warranty of 10 years and will continue to power your home in the event of a grid outage! For more information on the Generac PWRcell, contact Renu today for an energy storage consultation.
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Enphase Encharge
The Enphase Encharge line has several solar batteries to choose from, with the Encharge 3 providing 3.36 kWh of stored energy and the Enphase 10 providing 10.08 kWh. This battery is great for powering your home day-to-day and storing excess energy in the event of a blackout or grid outage. Plus, it comes with a 10 year or 4,000 cycles warranty!
Energy Storage with Renu Energy Solutions
Because of the convenience, peace of mind, and reliability that a solar battery provides, many solar customers choose one to accompany their solar panel system. With the ability to continue to power your home even when the grid is down, solar batteries offer energy independence to homeowners across the county. If you’re interested in installing a solar battery backup system to pair with your solar system, contact us today for a free consultation! We’d be happy to help you on your journey to energy independence.