Solar batteries store solar energy to allow your renewable energy system to provide electricity even on cloudy days, at night, or during power outages. They help smooth the electrical curve to lower electricity bills with net metering or feed-in tariffs or go completely grid-free with net-metering/feed-in tariffs.
Cost
As with any product, solar battery Adelaide costs vary based on the size and complexity of installation. However, local and federal incentives such as tax credits, rebates, and financing solutions make solar batteries an attractive investment choice for homeowners.
Battery chemistry and power rating also significantly affect your solar energy storage costs. Lithium-ion and lithium-iron phosphate batteries are popular for this application; both offer superior value. Lithium iron phosphate batteries may last as many as 6,500 discharge/charge cycles before any reduction in performance occurs.
Another critical consideration when purchasing batteries is their round-trip efficiency, which measures how much electricity can be utilised from stored power. A higher round-trip efficiency allows more energy input to be used, thus saving money over time.
Reminder: solar battery Adelaide will require you to forgo some feed-in tariff revenue you would otherwise collect for excess solar energy produced. For instance, charging 10kWh of power daily means giving up 10kWh of feed-in tariff revenue.
Energy Savings
Homeowners can save more money when their solar system is combined with a battery. By charging their battery instead of exporting excess energy to the grid under net metering programs such as utility net metering programs, additional electricity produced goes directly towards charging their home’s battery rather than exporting excess energy back out during evening peak usage hours when energy consumption is at its highest point.
Saving money on electricity bills by limiting how much power is drawn from the grid during peak hours depends on factors like battery size, energy use and round-trip efficiency (the percentage of current energy converted to stored energy).
Environmental Impact
Solar batteries allow for the efficient use of renewable energy sources while relieving strain from peak usage times on the grid and providing backup power during power outages. Furthermore, this system reduces greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging sustainable energy use.
Battery capacity, measured in Kilowatt-Hours (kWh), is essential in selecting a solar battery. The amount of energy stored determines how quickly your appliances can receive power from it – so the higher its storage capacity is, the more devices can run concurrently on it.
Lead is a highly toxic material responsible for soil and water contamination, and its production requires large amounts of energy, contributing to climate change. Lithium batteries may be less hazardous but still require significant resources. Production emits substantial carbon dioxide emissions and uses polytetrafluoroethylene chemicals linked to ozone depletion and eutrophication.
Solar battery production can be resource intensive. Many ingredients are found naturally but must be mined and refined into usable battery cells – an operation that may disrupt ecosystems or destroy habitats. Furthermore, solar facilities require large tracts of land to operate; this may put additional pressure on local communities in arid regions and contribute to air pollution.
Safety
Modern energy storage systems installed by licensed solar professionals are highly safe, as they do not pose the risk of thermal runaways that afflict lithium-ion technologies in other applications. Still, knowing that thermal runaway may occur and understanding its warning signs is essential.
Thermal runaway in batteries is easily identifiable by high internal temperatures and an unpleasant hydrogen sulphide smell emanating from battery cells. Overheated cells may begin overheating other cells until their outer casing eventually melts away or ruptures from too much heat.
Issues that threaten battery safety include the presence of cadmium. Cadmium is a harmful carcinogenic element that can potentially harm lung, kidney and liver tissues; most battery manufacturers don’t utilise this chemical but rely on tellurium compounds. Furthermore, batteries should be stored somewhere with proper ventilation – most manufacturers recommend keeping your battery away from direct sunlight or heaters to maintain optimal storage and performance conditions.