Solar panels generate free and renewable electricity from sunlight. How do you maximize using the power your panels generate, as well as the savings on your utility bill? One way is with energy storage. Having solar battery backup can give you more energy independence and, in some areas, additional economic benefits.
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We’ll explain more about solar batteries and energy storage to help you understand when adding a battery to your home is a good decision.
A solar battery is a device you can add to your solar power system to store the excess electricity generated by your solar panels.
You can use the stored energy to power your home at times when your solar panels don't generate enough electricity, including nights, cloudy days, and during power outages.
A solar battery helps you use more of the solar energy you’re creating. If you don't have battery storage, any excess electricity from solar power goes to the grid. In some locations this might be the most economical way to use your solar energy. In others — or if your goal is to use as much of your solar power as possible — a solar battery can be a good fit.
Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular form of solar batteries on the market. This is the same technology used for smartphones and other high-tech batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries work through a chemical reaction that stores chemical energy before converting it to electrical energy. The reaction occurs when lithium ions release free electrons, and those electrons flow from the negatively-charged anode to the positively-charged cathode.
This movement is encouraged and enhanced by lithium-salt electrolyte, a liquid inside the battery that balances the reaction by providing the necessary positive ions. This flow of free electrons creates the current necessary for people to use electricity.
When you draw electricity from the battery, the lithium ions flow back across the electrolyte to the positive electrode. At the same time, electrons move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode via the outer circuit, powering the plugged-in device.
Home solar power storage batteries combine multiple ion battery cells with sophisticated electronics that regulate the performance and safety of the whole solar battery system. Thus, solar batteries function as rechargeable batteries that use the power of the sun as the initial input that kickstarts the whole process of creating an electrical current.
When it comes to solar battery types, there are two common options: lithium-ion and lead-acid. Solar panel companies almost always install lithium-ion batteries because they can store more energy, hold energy longer than other batteries, and have a higher depth of discharge.
Also known as DoD, depth of discharge is the percentage to which a battery can be used, related to its total capacity. For example, if a battery has a DoD of 95%, it can safely use up to 95% of the battery’s capacity before it needs to be recharged.
Battery manufacturers prefer lithium-ion battery technology for its higher DoD, reliable lifespan, ability to hold more energy for longer, and a more compact size. However, because of these numerous benefits, lithium-ion batteries are also more expensive compared to lead-acid batteries.
Lead-acid batteries (the same technology as most car batteries) have been around for years, and have been used widely as in-home energy storage systems for off-grid power options. While they are still on the market, their popularity is fading due to low DoD and shorter lifespan.
Coupling refers to how your solar panels are wired to your battery storage system, and the options are either direct current (DC) coupling or alternating current (AC) coupling. The main difference between the two lies in the path taken by the electricity the solar panels create.
Solar cells create DC electricity, and DC electricity must be converted into AC electricity before it can be used by your home. However, solar batteries can only store DC electricity, so there are different ways of connecting a solar battery into your solar power system.
With DC coupling, the DC electricity created by solar panels flows through a charge controller and then directly into the solar battery. There is no current change before storage, and conversion from DC to AC only occurs when the battery sends electricity to your home, or back out into the grid.
A DC-coupled storage battery is more efficient, because the electricity only needs to change from DC to AC once. However, DC-coupled storage typically requires a more complex installation, which can increase the initial cost and lengthen the overall installation timeline.
With AC coupling, DC electricity generated by your solar panels goes through an inverter first to be converted into AC electricity for everyday use by appliances in your home. That AC current can also be sent to a separate inverter to be converted back to DC current for storage in the solar battery. When it’s time to use the stored energy, the electricity flows out of the battery and back into an inverter to be converted back into AC electricity for your home.
With AC-coupled storage, electricity is inverted three separate times: once when going from your solar panels into the house, another when going from the home into battery storage, and a third time when going from battery storage back into the house. Each inversion results in some efficiency losses, so AC-coupled storage is slightly less efficient than a DC-coupled system.
Unlike DC-coupled storage that only stores energy from solar panels, one of the big advantages of AC-coupled storage is it can store energy from both solar panels and the grid. This means even if your solar panels aren’t generating enough electricity to fully charge your battery, you can still fill the battery with electricity from the grid to provide you with backup power, or to take advantage of electricity rate arbitrage.
It’s also easier to upgrade your existing solar power system with AC-coupled battery storage, because it can just be added on top of an existing system design, instead of needing to be integrated into it. This makes AC-coupled battery storage a more popular option for retrofit installations.
This entire process starts with the solar panels on the roof generating power. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of what happens with a DC-coupled system:
The process is slightly different with an AC-coupled system.
If you have a hybrid inverter, a single device can convert DC electricity into AC electricity and AC electricity into DC electricity. As a result, you don't need two inverters in your photovoltaic system: one to convert electricity from your solar panels (solar inverter) and another to convert electricity from the solar battery (battery inverter).
Also known as a battery-based inverter or hybrid grid-tied inverter, the hybrid inverter combines a battery inverter and solar inverter into a single piece of equipment.
Hybrid inverters are growing in popularity because they work with and without battery storage. You can install a hybrid inverter into your battery-less solar power system during the initial installation, giving you the option of adding solar energy storage down the line.
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Adding battery storage for solar panels is a great way of ensuring you get the most out of your solar power system. Here are some of the main benefits of a home solar battery storage system.
Your solar panel system often produces more power than you need, especially on sunny days when no one is at home. If you don't have solar energy battery storage, the extra energy will be sent to the grid. If you participate in a net metering program, you can earn credit for that extra generation, but it’s usually not a 1:1 ratio for the electricity you generate.
With battery storage, the extra electricity charges up your battery for later use, instead of going to the grid. You can use the stored energy during times of lower generation, which reduces your reliance upon the grid for electricity.
Since your batteries can store the excess energy created by your solar panels, your home will have electricity available during power outages and other times when the grid goes down. (In some locations, batteries are installed as arbitrage, or consumption-only, systems. These are cheaper to install and let you store energy for later use, but don’t provide backup power.)
With solar panel battery storage, you can go green by making the most of the clean, renewable energy produced by your solar panel system. If that energy isn't stored, you will rely on the grid when your solar panels don’t generate enough for your needs. However, most grid electricity is produced using fossil fuels, so you will likely be running on dirty energy and boosting your personal carbon footprint when drawing from the grid.
When the sun goes down and solar panels aren't generating electricity, the grid steps in to provide needed power if you don’t have battery storage. With a solar battery, you’ll use more of your own solar electricity at night, giving you more energy independence and helping you keep your electric bill low.
A solar power battery is a quiet backup power storage option. You get maintenance-free clean energy, without the noise from a gas-powered backup generator.
Understanding how a solar battery works is important if you’re thinking about adding energy storage to your solar power system. You can take advantage of the excess energy your solar panels create, giving you more control over when and how you use solar energy.
Having the right system design is vital to making the most of your solar panels. A system that’s designed, installed, serviced, and maintained well could help you lower your energy bills for decades to come. Reach out today to get a free estimate of your savings.
Is it worth getting batteries for solar?
In some cases, yes, having batteries for solar energy storage can be a valuable complement to your solar panels. Having battery storage lets you use solar power 24/7, maximize savings from your system, and have reliable power during bad weather and grid outages.
How many batteries do you need to run a house on solar?
This depends on your needs and how you expect to use your energy system. For short-term use of stored power or owners fine with using some grid electricity, one or two batteries is the likely answer. For owners going “off the grid” or expecting full or close-to-full power during major outages or disasters, stacks of batteries may be needed.
How long does a solar backup battery last?
Solar battery lifespans are 5-15 years. Major manufacturers often extend 10-year warranties for their batteries. You may be able to prolong your battery’s lifetime and long-term efficiency with smart usage habits.
How much does a solar battery backup system cost?
The cost of solar batteries varies quite a bit depending on the capacity and number of batteries you need and the incentives, such as tax credits and rebates, available to you. Home solar batteries can cost up to $15,000 to purchase and install.
Georgia Power advancing projects in Bibb, Lowndes, Floyd and Cherokee counties to enhance reliability, resiliency for a growing state
ATLANTA, May 7, /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today that construction is underway on 765-megawatts (MW) of new battery energy storage systems (BESS) strategically located across Georgia in Bibb, Lowndes, Floyd and Cherokee counties. The BESS projects were authorized by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) through the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process and provide quickly dispatchable capacity for customers. The new projects follow the company's first-ever BESS facility at Mossy Branch near Columbus, which entered service last year (read more here).
BESS projects support the overall reliability and resilience of the electric system, while also enhancing the value of intermittent renewable generation resources such as solar. Storage systems can improve the efficiency of renewable energy by storing excess energy produced during periods when the demand for electricity is lower, for use when the demand is higher, such as on cold winter mornings. Because battery storage can provide stored energy to the grid for hours on demand, BESS resources enhance the overall reliability of the electric system.
"At Georgia Power, we work with the Georgia PSC and many other stakeholders to make the investments required for a reliable and resilient power grid, integrating new technologies to better serve our customers today and as Georgia grows," said Rick Anderson, senior vice president and senior production officer for Georgia Power. "As we expand our diverse energy mix to include more renewable energy, which requires careful advance planning and flexibility to accommodate times when that source is not available, these batteries will be an invaluable part of the electric system."
Construction is currently underway at the following BESS locations:
Future Georgia Power Battery Storage
Georgia Power continues to work with the Georgia PSC to procure and develop BESS projects across Georgia. An additional 1,000 MW of new battery energy storage is expected to be procured in the coming years through competitive bidding processes and a 13 MW demonstration project is in development at Fort Stewart Army Installation near Savannah, Georgia. All-source capacity Request for Proposals (RFPs) proposed in the and IRPs are also expected to include BESS assets.
Georgia Power is also committed to supporting customer-sited generation resources to meet the state's growing energy needs. The IRP includes two customer expansions of BESS programs including enhancements to the Customer Connected Solar Program and launching a new Customer-Sited Solar Plus Storage Pilot. This pilot aims to secure an initial 50 MW of capacity, providing opportunities for residential and small commercial customers to add solar and storage resources. The goal is to encourage more customer-sited renewable generation by pairing dispatchable BESS with behind-the-meter solar systems.
To learn more about how Georgia Power is meeting the needs of customers through a diverse, balanced energy portfolio, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/IRP.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.8 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power offers rates below the national average, focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
SOURCE Georgia Power
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