Solar panels can generate electricity for your home or business during daylight hours, but you may not always use all of the energy they produce at the time it is generated. Solar panel battery storage gives you a way to store this excess electricity and use it later when your solar panels are producing less or no power. If you are considering solar panels, understanding how battery storage works can help you decide whether adding a battery to your system could improve the way you use and benefit from your solar energy.
How Does Solar Panel Battery Storage Work?
A solar battery is designed to store electricity generated by your solar panels rather than allowing unused energy to go to the grid. During the day, your solar panels generate electricity, and your property will use the power it needs first, while any surplus electricity can be directed into the battery. Once the battery is sufficiently charged, additional unused electricity may be exported to the grid.
Later in the day, when your solar panels are producing less electricity, your battery can release the stored energy for you to use. This means you can make greater use of the electricity your solar panels generate, including outside the main daylight hours.
Why Do You Need Battery Storage With Solar Panels?
Without a battery, your solar panels will generally generate electricity when there is enough sunlight, which means production is usually highest during the middle of the day. However, you may personally use more electricity in the morning and evening when your solar panels are generating less.
For example, you might be out during the day while your solar panels are producing electricity, but then return home and use more energy for cooking, lighting, heating or appliances later in the evening.
A solar battery can help bridge this gap by storing some of the electricity produced earlier in the day.
What Are the Main Benefits of Solar Battery Storage?
Adding battery storage to your solar panel system can provide several potential benefits.
Make better use of your solar energy: Rather than relying on the grid when your panels are not producing enough power, you can use the electricity stored in your battery.
Reduce your reliance on grid electricity: Using stored solar energy can reduce the amount of electricity you need to purchase from your energy supplier. The potential savings will depend on your electricity usage, solar generation, battery capacity and energy prices.
Use solar energy in the evening: Solar panels do not normally generate significant amounts of electricity after sunset, but with a battery you can carry some of your daytime generation into the evening. This can be particularly useful if your electricity consumption is higher later in the day.
Potentially increase your energy savings: The more of your own solar electricity you can use, the less electricity you may need to buy from the grid. A battery can therefore form an important part of an energy-saving strategy alongside solar panels.
How big does a solar battery need to be?
Solar batteries are available in a range of capacities, so the right size for you will depend on your circumstances. You should be aware that a larger battery is not automatically better. In fact, if you have a relatively small solar panel system or low electricity consumption, installing a battery that is much larger than you need may not provide the best use of your investment.
As a result, when choosing a battery, you may need to consider:
- How much electricity your solar panels generate
- How much electricity you use each day
- When you use the most electricity
- The size of your solar panel system
- How much surplus electricity you typically generate
- Whether you may expand your solar system in the future
Can You Still Export Electricity With a Solar Battery?
Yes, having a solar battery does not necessarily mean you cannot export electricity to the grid. Instead, your system can be configured to use your solar generation in different ways. This means that electricity can be used directly by your property, stored in the battery, or exported when there is surplus generation. The exact setup will depend on your system and how it has been designed.
Can You Add a Battery to Existing Solar Panels?
Depending on your existing system, it may be possible to add battery storage later, though this will need to be assessed by a professional team. For example, the compatibility of your existing inverter and electrical equipment will need to be considered.
What Should You Look for in Solar Battery Storage?
When comparing battery systems, it is worth looking at the battery’s usable capacity, efficiency, expected lifespan, warranty, compatibility with your solar panel system and whether the system can be expanded in the future.
You should also consider the quality of the installation and the level of support available after installation.
Choosing a battery that works well with the rest of your solar system can help you get more value from your investment over the long term.
So What Is Solar Panel Battery Storage?
Solar panel battery storage allows you to store excess electricity generated by your solar panels and use it when you need it later.
For many homes and businesses, this can help increase the amount of usable solar energy available, while also reducing reliance on grid electricity, making solar power more useful outside daylight hours.
If you are considering solar panels with battery storage, speaking to a professional installation team can help you understand how much energy you could generate, how much you could store and what type of system is appropriate for your property.
For more information or advice, why not contact the experts today, here at the Eco Renewables Group? We work across the UK, from Oxford to Derby, to deliver high quality solar power solutions.
