Battery
What is a Solar Battery?
Solar batteries are devices designed to store excess electricity generated by solar panels during sunny periods. Their main function is to store this surplus energy for later use, typically during cloudy days or at night when solar panels are not actively producing electricity. Solar batteries ensure a reliable and continuous power supply, reducing reliance on the grid and enabling homeowners and businesses to maximize their energy self-sufficiency while minimizing utility costs.
The following information is to be used as a resource for homeowners interested in learning more about Battery Storage to maximize homeowner benefits, minimize utility grid dependency, or local distribution constraints.
Electrical Energy Stored in Batteries not only reduces energy costs, but also helps balance the supply and demand of power instantaneously in your home, providing energy efficiency, and backup power to your home during grid outages. Thus, energy storage allows power grids to be more efficient and resilient.
Solar Battery FAQ’s
No. If the electric grid fails, you will lose electricity, even powering with solar panels.
Because the majority of solar panel systems installed are Grid Tied only.
Generators and battery backup systems are required to use transfer switches to separate your home and the grid while the grid is down. Then with a grid outage you can use your solar power!
A battery storage system involves a storage battery, electricity metering, solar production, energy management software and home electrical loads. Basically, a battery storage system is a storage device used to power home electronics, and use the solar energy produced on site more efficiently.
Energy storage can cut power costs in two main ways: The primary way is by allowing customers to avoid “on peak” or premium pricing. Additionally, storing excess solar production in the battery will reduce the amount of kWh’s purchased from the electric utility thereby lowering the overall cost of electricity.
On-peak time is the time of day when the demand for electricity is at its highest point. During on-peak times, the utility must supply expensive additional electricity production. In order to meet the high demand, there is an extra charge that must be applied by the utility to the customer. Energy battery storage will allow the customer to automatically purchase the electricity at off-peak prices for use during the peak period. This will lower your electricity production during those on-peak times and allow you to avoid the extra charge.
There is no maintenance required with storage batteries. Battery operational data is monitored, collected and displayed through online programs. If you become aware of equipment issues, notify JSunPV as soon as possible.
Yes. You will not have to do anything. When an outage occurs, depending on setup, your battery will power the appliances identified as a critical load or the full home. If there is sunlight the batteries will replenish their charge.
Your battery will power your home approximately 3 to 4 hours depending on the level of charge at the time of the outage and the loads it is providing power for.
We will work to ensure the most beneficial charging / discharging times based on your preferences. Typically, the sunshine fills the battery with excess energy from the sun, then discharges as needed. Various operational modes are available to meet Peak Demand or Time of Use schedules. Also an Emergency Backup mode preserves battery capacity for off grid usage.
If you are considering battery/storage as part of your solar investment, there are a few things you should know to have a better understanding and decision process. Your thoughts will help us decide what equipment is best for you.
- Is this equipment for emergency power during grid outages?
- Are you interested in maximizing your daily solar production or are you interested in complete GRID FREE living?
These three uses suggest different equipment sizing, selection as well as investment price/cost.
For battery backup you can choose between “Whole Home” or “Partial Home” backup. Some solar equipment can incorporate power created from diesel/propane generators. The power can be used to meet the needs of home and charge batteries.
The second most common option for solar + storage is to use it for maximizing self-consumption. This mode of operation does not allow for powering the home when the grid goes down. It just allows the batteries to store extra solar power created and not needed in the moment.
The third most extreme use for storage/batteries is complete Off Grid or NO Grid living. These projects almost always require integration of generators, batteries and solar panels.
This project requires accurate load calculations and sizing of equipment. It is usually best to find the average daily kWhs of usage on site, and multiply it by three, thus allowing for 3 days of power.
Common Battery Storage Options
We want you to choose the battery that suits you best, therefore, we have several options available for which we are certified installers:
The Enphase IQ Battery is an AC-coupled storage system that is: reliable, smart, simple, and safe.
- Stable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry
- Grid-forming capability for backup operation
- Monitoring and control via the Enphase App
LG’s 3rd generation of storage battery provides maximum energy and gigh power output which enables whole home backup both in peak time and blackouts.
- the worlds largest capacity (16kwh).
- unique modular design enables easier installation.
- real time online battery status monitoring.
Manages your energy sources to intelligently support household consumption and to decrease your reliance on the grid.
- integrate solar, batteries, generator and the grid
- remote whole home energy management with smart app.
- integrate various solar inverter manufacturers
As the industry’s only complete whole-home power plant with batteries, the RaVolt Home Power Plant empowers your entire home with grid-tied or grid-independent capabilities.
- completely adaptable to unique power needs.
- climate-controlled enclosure for outdoor installation.
- uninterrupted power supply.
Simple Turnkey Solutions Solving Complex Energy Challenges.
Energy Resilience. Delivered. One solution to manage all your energy needs.
- battery agnostic.
- smart load management.
- generator ready.
From July 14th – 18th, 2023 there were over 165,000 people without power in the KC Metro area. On previous outages, power was only out for a few hours. This time we had 2 full days of uncertainty!
We went to sleep with about 80% stored battery power and woke up with about 35%. Then as expected, the battery was charged full by noon, even while supplying our power demands!
My battery is wired to supply a subpanel of what I determined “essential” appliances or rooms. This includes some overhead lights, my coffee maker, garage door opener, wifi router, refrigerator, deepfreeze, microwave, plasma tv, stereo receiver/speakers plus some outlets for fan…etc. What is more, we also supplied an extension cord for the neighbor’s deepfreeze.
We were comfortable watching TV, internet connected, and getting water and food from the fridge. As I experienced this comfort at home with NO grid power, I also observed the sun shining through the windows and battery pack with full capacity and I thought “What else can we do to use this extra power?”
The next day we woke up to 20% battery and cloudy skies with rain. While about 300W of sun trickle charged battery, we were conservatively enjoying the stored power. The sun came back out around noon and it only took 3 hours or so to charge battery full, even while running our portable AC.
When the grid power was ON again, my family and I felt very grateful for being able to stay home during the experience and spend the time together thanks to our solar battery!