We are quickly moving towards a future where renewable energy will be the norm. It is excellent news for the environment but also creates new challenges for energy providers and consumers. One of the most pressing issues is storing large amounts of renewable energy so you can use it when needed. Can solar power batteries help with this? Or do we need to look for other residential energy storage solutions?
Energy storage systems are, quite simply, a way to store energy for later use. It is usually done by converting the energy into another form, such as heat or electricity, and then storing it in a battery or other device.
There are many different types of energy storage solutions, but the most common are:
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems transform sunlight into electricity that solar power batteries or other devices can store for later use. Solar PV is one of the most popular residential energy storage solutions. They require little maintenance and can last many years with proper care. Grid-tied, hybrid, and off-grid are the three most common types of solar PV systems.
You can also store solar energy in electrochemical batteries. Chemical reactions among the battery components store the energy when solar energy is fed into a battery. The reaction reverses when you use the battery, allowing electricity to exit the battery. Lithium-ion solar power batteries are widely utilized in solar technologies because they have a high capacity and discharge rate for small weight and low cost.
Thermal energy storage systems store heat energy by using it to raise the temperature of a “thermal mass” material, such as water or rocks. The heat energy is transferred to the thermal mass, which is stored until needed. When the power is required, it is moved back out of the thermal mass and used. Thermal energy storage allows heat energy to be stored during the daytime when the sun is shining and used at night or during cloudy weather.
The advantages of storing surplus solar energy are numerous. It may save you money, boost grid efficiency, and reduce fossil fuel emissions by holding it.
Here are a few other benefits of retaining solar energy:
Solar panels produce electricity when the sun shines. But at night or on cloudy days, they stop producing power. A residential energy storage system can store solar energy captured during sunny days to provide power at night or during cloudy weather. It helps stabilize your investment in solar by ensuring a more consistent electricity production.
If you have a time-of-use (TOU) rate plan from your utility company, you may be able to save even more money. TOU plans charge higher prices for energy used during peak periods. But with energy storage, you can use solar energy stored during off-peak hours to power your home, reducing your electric bills even further.
A residential energy storage system can provide backup power when the grid is down, i.e., if your area is prone to power outages. And since batteries store solar energy, you don’t have to worry about fuel shortages like you would with a generator.
To harness the sun’s power and save money, more and more homeowners are turning to energy storage solutions. Quest Solar Inc., serving Yonkers, offers a user-friendly and compatible with all energy storage systems.
