Li-ion Battery for Solar Energy Storage

Solar energy is becoming more and more dependable in many places across the globe. From home applications to commercial use, solar has become a more reliable energy source. Whether you consider power production or the cost, you get the same quality results.

However, the biggest challenge comes in concerning storing the power. Many battery technologies have been invented to give users maximum benefit.

The best battery chemistry of all times is the lithium based tech. They are more powerful and last longer. That is why Li-ion batteries are popular even for solar energy storage.

In this guide, we are going to look at why these batteries are good,

What is the best battery for solar storage?

There are many solar storage options on the market today. But there are a few parameters every user should consider when picking a storage solution. You might come across a number of complicated products. The most important parameters to use include the following:

Capacity and Power

How much electricity can the solar battery store?  This is called capacity and is measure in kWh. For most solar batteries, you can stack them to get more capacity.

In simple terms, the capacity tells how big your battery is.  Note however, that capacity cannot tell you how much power is given at any given time. That is why you need to put in mind the power rating of your battery as well.

What amount of electricity does the battery give at a given moment? The battery power is measured in kW.

If you get a battery with high capacity but with a low power rating, it will give a low electricity count. Such can run on a limited number of appliances. On the other hand, low capacity and high power can give you more usage, though for a few hours only.

Depth of Discharge

Most solar batteries are designed to retain some power automatically. Deep discharge is dangerous for the overall life span of your battery.

DoD is represents the capacity of the battery that has been used. Manufacturers specify this number. This means, you can for instance you can only use 90% of a battery. If a battery is 10kWh, you can only use 9kWh.

Efficiency

This is perhaps the most important consideration of all. How much energy can be used as a percentage of the stored power?

Consider this, if a battery can store 10kWh of electricity and only 8kWh is useful, that battery has 80% efficiency. Consider a battery with a higher efficiency. Such will give you a better economic value for the whole life of your battery. You need to consider how helpful the battery is in the manner you are using it.

Life and warranty

The life cycle of your battery reduces with every charge and discharge. The more you use the battery, the more it uses its ability to hold power. Every user needs a battery that can last as much as possible.

Check the battery warranty as well. Every manufacturer promises a warranty of a certain number of cycles. Based on the fact that battery performance reduces over time, manufacturers guarantees your battery will sustain a specific capacity over time. But this depends on the battery brand.

Manufacturer

There are so many manufacturers on the market today. Go online for instance and you will not fail to get an overwhelming number of manufacturers.

However, some of them are not as good as they promise to be. Sometimes it does not even matter how much they have been on the market. The best way to go about it is to evaluate the warranties.

Are solar battery storage worth it?

For a number of years now, the whole world has been shifting towards renewable energy and in this case, solar. Home battery storage systems have been growing on a daily basis. But the question still remains, is it worth to invest in home batteries? Here are some things to consider:

· Interest in battery storage grows by the day. Energy self-sufficiency is the main reason batteries are growing in demand. You can never experience a power blackout if you have a sustainable solar energy storage system. The best part is, the prices for solar batteries are coming down rapidly, marking them a hot-cake.

· It can pay for itself. As discussed above, one needs to get the right battery for their needs. It is very easy to break even; the battery can pay for itself even before warranty expiry. And Li-ion batteries are taking lead in this. Most of them have a 10-year warranty and more. And it will continue working long after that.

· Numbers don’t lie. In Australia for instance, a research was conducted using EnergyMadeEasy.gov.au and Wattever.com.au, many households are taking advantage of solar energy, depending on the amount of sunlight in every city.

The fact that you are contributing to the safety of our environment, should be enough to convince you investing in solar storage systems is a good thing. It is a one-time investment that goes beyond serving your needs. And because everyone finds it a good way to keep green, why shouldn’t you invest?

How do you store solar power batteries?

Solar power batteries are not very different from those in your phone and laptop. It is important to keep in mind the safety of your battery, especially in terms of use. Here are some tips for storing the batteries:

· Do not store fully charged batteries. Because oxidation is highest in this state, the last thing you want is to affect the lifespan of your batteries.

· Consider original battery packaging. The packing you bought the battery in is the best way to keep them safe.

· Avoid high temperatures. All batteries hate high temperatures. They swell and even burst if constantly exposed to high temperatures. Store them in a cool dry place, away from flammable materials.

Solar energy is the future of our planet. Li-ion batteries are the most popular in the regard. With price reducing by the day, we are going to see more adoption of related technologies.