Over the last decade, rooftop solar panel installations have surged in popularity for environmentally conscious homeowners. Now more owners are taking their renewable energy investments a step further by pairing solar power generation with home solar battery storage systems. According to the folk at solar energy company Vivint Solar, the ability to store excess solar energy produced during the day for use at night is revolutionizing the concept of household energy independence.
With a solar array working hand-in-hand with a solar-charged battery bank, residences can maximize self-reliance on clean, renewable energy around the clock. Adding energy storage also provides backup power protection in the event of grid outages. As battery costs continue to fall, solar storage systems are becoming more affordable and popular.
How Solar Energy Storage Systems Work
Pairing solar panels with energy storage requires at least one more core component beyond the panels themselves. Lithium-ion batteries, which have become ubiquitous thanks to electric vehicles, are ideal for residential applications given their energy density, lighter weight, slower discharge rates, and decreasing costs. These large-format batteries store excess solar energy during peak generation times for use when the sun goes down or on cloudy days.
A charge controller, either standalone or built into a hybrid solar inverter, manages the flow of energy between the PV array, batteries, and electrical system. Sophisticated energy management software can optimize directing power to where it is needed and when to maintain efficient battery usage. This orchestration of generation, storage and consumption is key to maximizing solar energy independence.
Financial Benefits of Solar Storage
For homeowners considering solar power, one concern has always been production intermittency limiting how much the system can offset traditional grid electricity usage. That translates into less potential utility bill savings over time. Solar paired with storage provides a solution.
Storing excess daytime solar power in batteries for overnight usage means less electricity needs to be pulled from the grid. That increases the portion of a home’s annual energy needs met by the sun. With enough battery capacity, reliance on the grid can be reduced significantly or even cut altogether. That results in greater long-term savings on utility bills and shorter solar payback periods.
Batteries also allow solar system owners to take advantage of time-of-use rates and peak shaving strategies to further lower costs. Any extra power stored can also be fed back to the grid for profit during high-price periods if your local utility offers that capability. The economics of adding storage continue to become more appealing.
Backup Power Protection from Grid Outages
Severe weather, equipment failures, and other factors inevitably cause periodic power outages that leave non-solar homes in the dark. But the combination of solar panels and a well-sized battery bank provides continual power independent of utility grid stability. Critical loads like lights, refrigeration, and medical devices can remain online indefinitely.
Rather than polluting diesel generators, silent solar systems keep essentials running using only the sun’s clean energy. Energy resiliency and reliability continue driving more homeowners to embrace the solar storage solution. Particularly in storm-prone regions, the appeal of uninterrupted solar power in blackout scenarios is understandably strong.
Conclusion
Solar power coupled with ever-improving battery banks pave the road for households to declare their energy independence. Renewable solar energy generated onsite will power homes throughout the day while excess electricity gets stored for nighttime usage. This sustainable closed-loop system provides families control over their energy mix while insulating them from grid instability. Widespread rooftop solar paired with storage will ultimately revolutionize how the world is powered. The era of personalized energy has dawned.
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