With prevalent issues regarding climate change and a much larger emphasis on protecting our planet more than ever before, renewable energy sources are all the rage. Solar panels are a common sight around the UK, on people’s homes and solar farms, which is a great way of mitigating the issues around energy consumption. While solar panels are an excellent way to produce clean solar energy, many people haven’t considered using solar batteries to enhance their clean energy source. To find out more about solar batteries and how they can benefit you, keep on reading!
What Is Solar Battery Storage?
Solar battery storage are units that are connected to your solar panels, collecting excess energy on sunny days. When the solar panels stop generating electricity, the solar battery can take over and use the stored energy to power your home and appliances.
Solar batteries are an excellent way of ensuring that the solar energy harnessed by solar panels is not wasted. You can use this stored energy on rainy or cloudy days, night time, or if there is a general power issue in your area. Because you have a store of solar energy, using solar batteries can massively reduce your reliance on the national grid and retail sources of energy.
Solar batteries come in a range of sizes depending on the size of your home and your energy consumption. In a one to two bedroom house, a 2-4 kWh capacity should be sufficient. In homes with four to five bedrooms, a 9.5 kWh solar battery should be adequate. If you feel unsure about what size battery you need for your home, you can contact a professional team for some advice and there is lots of information about solar batteries online that can guide you.
How Are Solar Batteries Different From Solar Panels?
Solar panels are units that are typically installed to the roof of your home and this energy can be used to directly power your home or appliances.
Solar batteries, on the other hand, store this energy to be used at a later date. They can be extremely useful when your solar panels aren’t generating as much energy as usual (when it’s cloudy, rainy or dark) or in emergency situations such as power cuts.
Solar battery storage units are approximately the size of a dishwasher or washing machine, typically fitted in conjunction with your solar panels. They can be stored in a garage, attic space, cupboard or anywhere out of the way inside your home.
Benefits Of Using Solar Batteries
There are a range of benefits that come with using solar battery storage! Keep reading to find out more.
● Saving You Money - Depending on the capacity of your solar battery, here in the UK, solar batteries can vary from £1,200 to £6,000. While that is a large investment, solar battery power can help you save money on your electricity bills in the long run. By using your own, clean, solar generated power you are less reliant on the national grid and your bills will be far less than they currently are. Solar energy appeals to lots of homes for this reason, especially with the increasing cost of living we have been experiencing here in the UK.
● Reducing Reliance On Fossil Fuels - The fossil fuels currently used to generate electricity that powers our homes are a finite resource. With fossil fuels depleting rapidly across the globe, and more emphasis on alternative energy sources, opting for solar power has never been better. Not only is the energy harnessed almost effortlessly through solar panels, it can be stored for later use. Additionally, it reduces the damage to the planet that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
● On Hand Power Source - Because solar batteries store the excess energy that is generated by your solar panels, when it comes to needing energy in an emergency or on a cloudy day, you have access to this store of energy whenever you need it. This can benefit homes and businesses in emergency situations.
● Long Lifespan - Considering the price of solar batteries, they are an investment. However, they have a lifespan of anywhere between 5 - 25 years. If properly operated and maintained, your solar battery will definitely be worth the investment, not to mention helping you with saving on your bills for up to 25 years!
● Convenient Energy Source - Despite the investment and installation process, solar batteries can be kept out of the way and battery storage units are completely safe. This is a huge benefit for family homes or homes with pets, as the solar battery is non-invasive and safe to have in the house.
So, Are Solar Batteries Really Worth It?
To summarise, if you can afford a solar battery storage unit, they are definitely worth the investment. Luckily, some installation companies may have finance plans to help you with payments for your solar battery.
While there are a range of benefits that come with having solar battery storage, there are also other factors that you should consider to evaluate whether they are the right option for your home.
The main disadvantage that comes with your solar battery storage is that they do have a pretty high upfront cost. While they are an investment, the initial price of these units can steer people away. However, if you can afford them, they are definitely worth having as a part of your solar system.
Another disadvantage is that they do require some level of maintenance. While this won’t bother some people, it can be a big off-put for others. To ensure that they are operating properly and effectively, regular checks will need to be carried out.
Overall, if you can afford solar batteries, then they are a definite must, for a plethora of reasons. By having a store of your solar energy, not only are you looking after your home and family, but also looking after our planet.
Things To Look Out For
These are just a few things to look out for when picking out your solar battery.
● Type of battery/Battery material - There are 4 main types of solar battery and finding the one that fits your home or complements your solar system is essential. If you want to get the most out of your investment, choosing the right solar battery will go a long way. Your provider or installer can help advise you on this.
● Efficiency - Some of the energy produced by your solar panels can be lost in the storage process. Depending on the amount of energy your solar panels are generating and how efficient your system is, you may not be getting the most out of your system. If this is the case, you may want to consider upgrading to a more efficient, newer system that can cope with the energy being produced.
● Battery Life - The lifespan of your solar battery will differ from unit to unit, but ideally you want to look for the ones most likely to last a long time, so you can get the most out of your investment and have a reliable system.
Sunflower Solar Solutions
Here at Sunflower Solar Solutions, our team of solar panel specialists are here to help you help the planet. We offer a range of different renewable energy solutions as well as EV charger installations and electrical contracting work.
Operating across Cornwall and Exeter, you can rely on us to handle your maintenance needs as quickly and professionally as possible. So, whether it’s a broken solar panel or you are in need of solar battery storage, we are here to help. Our experienced team have provided excellent service for homes across the UK.
For further enquiries about what we do or how we can help you, feel free to get in touch with us to find out more! Our team will be happy to answer any questions and help you find exactly what you are looking for.
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