Battery Backup – What’s the Best Option for Your Solar System?
Many supporters of renewable energy, solar power especially, often ask whether or not a battery backup is a viable option for their system. In many states, extreme weather conditions cause residents to fear the likelihood of their power being shut off. For instance, power outages caused by recent fires or fire threats in the areas surrounding Bakersfield, CA have left thousands of residents without backup energy. Home generators, such as the popular Generac brand, only last so long and require gas and manpower to keep them running. Solar battery backup is a safer alternative that can help your family or business in an emergency situation. There is no need to travel outside your home in severe weather in order to maintain the system, it simply turns on and off by itself.
How does it work?
In a typical grid-tied system, when sunlight produces extra energy during the day, it feeds back to the grid in exchange for credits. These credits are then used to power your home. If there is an excess of credits towards the end of the billing cycle, the power company will then pay the producer (homeowner) for extra energy produced by their solar system.
In a battery backup system, when sunlight produces extra energy, it is converted by the battery inverter then stored in the battery for later use. There’s no feeding it back to the grid, no exchange of credits, just simple energy storage for you and your family. In an emergency situation, users can have a sense of ease knowing their battery is constantly being recharged. Most manufacturers make these batteries with software that is viewed by your smartphone, so you can see the charging status of your battery.
Top Solar Battery Options
There are several top brand solar and solar battery options available today:
- LG Chem: Top rated, popular, and one of the most widely used battery options available. The popularity is due to LG Chem’s quality and compatibility with a huge range of home energy storage (hybrid) inverters including the SolarEdge optimizer system. Available in three main sizes 6.5kWh, 10kWh, and 13kWh, the RESU range is also one of the most affordable and reliable battery systems on the market. Read the full LG Chem RESU review.
- Sonnen: The Sonnen ‘ECO’ system is much like the Tesla Powerwall 2 in that it has a built-in power inverter. However, unlike the Powerwall 2, which is only available in one size, storage capacity starts at 5 kWh (2 x modules) and goes up to 15 kWh maximum. The Sonnen ECO is a great retrofit option for homes with an existing solar system. The modules use Lithium Ferro phosphate cells (LFP) manufactured by Sony, some of the longest-lasting cells backed by a 10-year warranty. Read the full Sonnen ‘ECO’ review
Other Notable Brands in Solar
- Enphase: One of the more popular microinverter options, these are a great alternative to the common ‘string’ solar inverter and are used in over half of all solar installations in North America. Microinverter systems also have no single point of failure, which is particularly important in a large system with many panels. Read the full Enphase microinverter review
While the technology is still relatively new, homeowners and businesses are increasingly demanding solar systems that are paired with battery storage. According to SEIA Solar Industry Research, the growth over the next five years is expected to be significant. By 2025, more than 25% of all behind-the-meter solar systems will be paired with storage, compared to under 5% in 2019.
There are options for choosing a “battery ready system” or choosing to purchase a battery with your original installation. The battery ready system is much like a common grid-connected solar system but uses a hybrid inverter rather than a common solar inverter. Modern hybrid inverters have battery connections and controls built-in, which makes adding a battery much easier in the future. The downside is ‘battery ready’ or hybrid inverters are typically 20-40% more expensive than a common solar inverter.
So whether you decide to install a battery with your system or choose a battery ready system – local solar companies in California are the experts who can help you learn what it is you’re looking for. Sun Peak Solar in Bakersfield specializes in Residential solar, Commercial solar, and industrial solar. Residents can choose to stop paying PG&E for their electricity and start producing it themselves. Now is the time to request a solar consultation in order to take advantage of the Federal Solar Tax Credit and ITC Stepdown.