With solar growing in popularity, many property owners are also choosing to add a battery backup/storage system in conjunction with their solar photovoltaic (PV) system. But is the added expense of adding a battery storage system worth the investment? Let’s look at a few factors that have led to the rising popularity of battery storage systems and what you may want to consider when determining if a battery backup is worth the investment.
What’s driving the rise in popularity?
Technology changes
Part of the rising popularity of battery storage is that technology has made battery backup systems far more efficient and relatively maintenance-free. Ten years ago, a homeowner looking to add a battery backup needed to understand that the systems were somewhat labor-intensive to manage and required a fair amount of physical space to accommodate the battery sizes. Fast forward to 2023, and the systems of today are all but maintenance-free and relatively compact in design; however, they require some space and thoughtful integration into your home or business. Additionally, some local and state governments have added new construction code requirements to accommodate the growing number of battery storage units added to new and existing homes. Unless you have extremely limited space or live in an area where the building codes require significant modifications, a battery backup may be a great fit for you.
Grid uncertainty
Many consumers now add a battery backup to defend against grid instability and offer themselves peace of mind. This line of thinking has been recently amplified by severe weather events that have left large portions of states like Texas and Florida without power for extended periods of time. If you live in an area prone to power outages or severe weather, a battery backup is very likely worth the investment.
E-vehicle charging
As more consumers are looking to combat fluctuations in gas prices by moving to electric vehicles (EVs), the addition of home battery charging stations has also grown. Many EV owners want the ease, convenience, and optimal energy saving of having a level 2 charging station and battery backup connected to their solar PV system—essentially eliminating or drastically reducing their transportation fuel costs. If you have an EV or are considering getting one, adding a battery backup and a level 2 charging station might be well worth the investment.
Download our eBook, Energy Storage + Solar, to learn more about solar energy storage and battery backup systems.
