Solar Battery Storage Helps Australians Save Money
Using solar power is a great way to save money and help the environment at the same time. Having solar panels installed will certainly help you save money. If you go a step further and have a solar battery stored, you’ll be able to better control your electricity usage bills and reduce their totals dramatically.
This is a good way to explain how the savings will work for you. You can use the battery to store the energy coming in during the day. Use this power in the peak usage period which is 5pm – 11 pm. Then change back to using the grid when electricity is the cheapest.
These batteries are large. Some can be the size of a fridge. Solar panels create direct current (DC) electricity that’s stored in the battery. Alternating current (AC is what you use in your home or business. You need an inverter to change the DC into AC electricity so it can be used correctly.
Differences between an AC and DC-coupled storage system
AC-coupled system: This system is joined to the output part of the solar panels and collects the AC power supplied from the grid. You need an inverter to change the power. You have much greater flexibility by using an off-the-grid uninterruptible power supply. In a blackout that affects the grid, you don’t lose power because the inverter turns itself off. There are also energy trading schemes run by numerous companies. Battery charging is inefficient.
DC-coupled system: This system joins the the DC side of your solar inverter. Some systems will allow you to store energy from the grid AND the solar power. This system is preferable when you want to store the excess energy from the sun in daylight hours and then use it during the evening peak period. Households where not much power is used during the day would be suitable for this setup.
Only solar power is stored. It’s cheaper to install because it uses the existing inverter and you don’t need to buy a new one and get that installed. Your DC system would disconnect from the power grid if it went down if the grid fails for any reason and this is to protect the technology. The battery charging is very efficient.
Is home solar battery storage for you?
Solar power is of immense benefit to the world because it’s clean, renewable energy. Feeling like you have “done your bit” for your country is a great feeling. You need to weigh up all the pros and cons and make a list of questions you want answered BEFORE you make any sort of buying decision.
There are a lot of solar companies out there all competing for your business. This is good because you can contact them and ask questions to see if they know what they’re talking about. Remember, a solar panel system can be costly to begin with. Solar batteries are also not cheap.
How to choose the right home solar battery storage for your needs
Buying the solar battery might be the most expensive part of your solar power system. The voltages and type of batteries vary enormously and how much you use the stored energy will affect how much life you get from your battery.
In an ideal world, you need a battery that has plenty of life and and is very reliable. You must work out what your general power consumption is over the course of a year. The best setup has plenty of solar capacity but not many batteries. The reason for this is that it improves the effectiveness of each battery you use. When there’s not much sun, the battery will recharge. This ongoing process increases the life of your battery.
You can have 2V, 6V or 12V batteries that will provide 12V, 24V OR 48V power supply. A 12V battery is useful if you’re out camping in a standard caravan or tent. For bigger vans and tents, a 24V battery will be suitable.
You have a battery system monitor which is very useful. Your battery is monitored and you get information such as: what you’re generating, what you use, the number of amp-hours in and out of the batteries, the condition of the batteries and what level of charge they have. The list goes on and on but it’s a necessary monitor so you don’t run out of power when you least expect it.
Why have battery backups?
There are lots of reasons why you need battery backups for your solar power. Residential needs include: refrigeration, lighting, cooking, entertainment, water pumps and cooling and heating. Businesses also need backup power for: refrigeration, cash registers, computers, phones machinery and much more.
What’s the next step?
Now that you have a lot of knowledge about home solar battery storage and all the ins and outs, it’s time to make a list of questions to ask the experts and Google companies that install solar panels and batteries. Get at least three quotes so you have something to compare and then weigh up all the pros and cons of each.
Never let money be the only factor in your decision. Look at performance, reliability of systems, what support the company may offer you once you’re a client. Only make a decision when you’re satisfied the company meets all your requirements and answers all questions.
Resources:
abc.net.au/news/2015-10-21/home-battery-storage-to-revolutionise-solar-industry/
energymatters.com.au/residential-solar/battery-storage/
teslamotors.com/en_AU/powerwall