With climate change, the rate of natural disasters is increasing (see chart below) and what comes with that increase in natural disasters is an increase in power outages. And to make matters worse, with the growing threat of wildfires some public utilities are cutting off power to homes and businesses at times of extreme fire danger to prevent wildfires from happening due to electrical equipment causing fires.
Whether it is to circumvent this problem, to go off grid, or to save energy, homeowners are increasingly turning to solar battery backup. In this article we’ll demystify solar battery backup systems so you have a better idea or what they are and how they operate.
What is a Solar Battery Backup System?
Like the name suggests, battery backups are storage batteries that hold excess power generated by a solar system. Once they’re installed, they allow the homeowner to store their own solar energy.
The energy in the batteries can be used when the solar system isn’t generating power like during the night or during a stormy day. Battery power can also be used to keep your electricity running when the grid is down.
Why Install Solar Battery Backup Systems?
Get the Green Building Project Checklist
Use this handy checklist on your next project to keep track of all the ways you can make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.
Those who are familiar with solar energy and how beneficial it is for our environment might either already have solar PV panels or plan on installing them in the near future. If you’re one of those people, then you should bear in mind that these batteries that are being utilized to store electricity are going to help you maximize the renewable energy you generate.
Having home energy storage is going to decrease the electricity you take from the grid and at the same time lower your bills. Moreover, if your household is off-grid, it’s going to help you decrease or eliminate your usage of fossil fuel backup generators.
And even if you are grid-tied, if the grid goes down, your solar battery will back you up to provide enough electricity to keep you going hopefully until the grid comes back on or until your solar panels start producing again (standard grid-tied solar PV systems automatically shut off when power lines are down to prevent electricity from going back into the grid that could endanger utility workers trying to repair the grid).
Solar Battery Installation
If you already have solar panels, one easy way to install a battery backup is to hire a reputable solar company to install them. When you already have a solar PV system, then it’s not too difficult to add this backup system to your installation, though it’s still a job best left to the professionals.
If you haven’t installed panels yet but plan to, consider having a solar battery fitted at the same time as the solar panels because then you’ll be able to get the best possible price.
When you install solar panels, you can choose a “storage ready,” or “battery ready” system if you’re on the fence about whether you’ll want battery storage in the future. These systems are designed to easily integrate solar batteries should you decide to add them later.
You can still add storage to systems that aren’t storage ready, but you’ll need an additional inverter (to turn the AC current back into DC). This adds some costs and complexities, but it’s still a viable option.
Another thing that’s worth mentioning is the fact that depending on which brand of battery system you choose, the batteries should be installed by an installer who’s certified in that technology (like Enphase or Tesla, for example).
What Are The Benefits Of Solar Battery Backup?
Getting More Money From Your Energy Company
If your energy company allows you to do net metering, then you can earn some extra credits by sending any unneeded energy that’s going into the solar battery to the grid at a time when electricity prices are high.
If you don’t need electricity, this is a perfect way to store up some credits to use during the winter, when you’ll need to draw more from the grid.
That said, before you decide to do anything, weigh your options to see if it makes more financial sense for you to conserve and employ your own electricity before selling it back to your utility company.
Power Throughout the Night
Depending on the province or territory you live in, your system might automatically be hooked up to a smart meter with a “time of day” feature on installation.
These smart meters show you when your electricity rates are not too high, as well as the time of day when they’re pricier. Electricity is most expensive during the early mornings and evenings, when the solar system is producing less. With a battery backup system, you can make use of the electricity that was generated during the day when electricity is affordable.
There are so many more things that you should know when it comes to solar battery backup systems, so make sure you do lots of research to help you decide whether you want to install one or not.
Resources:
- A Guide to Batteries for Solar Panels (The Eco Experts)
- Homeowners Guide to Going Solar (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)
- Whether you’re deciding on a particular brand of solar battery or are looking for specific advice tailored to your specific setup, going on forums like Solar Panel Talk and Reddit Solar are great places to read responses from other people and post your own questions.
- Once you’ve landed on a particular battery backup you’d like to get there’s no better source of information for that particular battery than the websites of battery manufacturers as they generally provide specifications, detailed information about compatibility with solar systems, and installation guides.
Feature image: Skitterphoto; Image 1: Erik van Dijk
