Battery technology has become a rather large portion of most of our lives, from powering our cell phones to fueling our cars, batteries are nearly everywhere. So how are batteries playing a role in solar powered homes?
The battery revolution
Many of the early battery options available for solar were bulky, high maintenance systems, but in the late 1990s advancements in lithium ion battery technology made storing the energy from your solar PV system easier and more convenient. This is primarily because lithium is lightweight and has a high tendency to lose electrons. As a result, the majority of battery backups available today use lithium-ion technology. For example, two of the most popular battery backup systems, the Tesla Powerwall and the Enphase IQ system—are built on rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology and are commonly used for solar energy storage.
How battery backup works with solar
A battery backup is made up of a few key parts including:
- Solar PV system which harnesses the sun’s energy
- Many battery cells (the battery pack)
- An inverter to create useable energy
- A cooling system
Working together, this system of parts allows the energy produced by the sun to be captured by your solar panels and safely and efficiently stored in the battery backup. The battery backup stores the energy and then conveniently distributes electricity when and where you need it.
To learn more about the benefits of adding a battery backup to your solar photovoltaic system, contact an All Energy Solar representative.
