Solar panel and battery storage is a powerful combination for switching the entire system to solar power. Batteries for solar energy are a great investment for homeowners who want to save money on their electricity bills and go green. A solar battery provides power when there is an outage.
What are Solar Batteries?
Solar batteries, also known as batteries for solar energy, are devices that can store energy generated by photovoltaic cells when the sun is shining brightly during the day. The solar PV cells generate DC electricity from sunlight, which is converted into AC power by the inverter. This AC power is used to power the various appliances at home. Unused electricity during the daytime is stored by the solar battery. At night or during a power outage, the batteries for solar energy can provide power to your home.
If the solar panel and battery storage installed at your home is sufficiently large, you can switch entirely to solar power without depending on grid electricity. With solar batteries, you can still use those appliances at home even during grid power outages.
Benefits of Batteries for Solar Energy
- Power backup during outages
- Reduce your energy bills
- Your energy independence will increase
- Environmental friendly energy
- Increase the home’s value
- Low operating costs
How Long Can a Solar Battery Provide Power During an Outage?
Most people who have invested in solar panels and battery storage wonder how long the battery will last in a blackout. For how long will the electricity stored in the solar battery last to power the appliances?
To find the answer to these questions, the following factors need to be considered.
- The size (storage capacity) of the solar battery
- The number of appliances that you need to run during the outage
- Names, energy efficiencies, and size of the appliances
- Amount of electricity in the solar battery when the grid supply went down
- Type of blackout protection – entire house or emergency
Typical batteries for solar energy can provide power for several hours during a blackout. However, if there are multiple appliances running, the duration for which a battery can keep the appliances running will reduce. The higher the battery capacity, the more power will be available and the longer you will be able to use it for the appliances. If during the blackout, the energy usage is kept to only the essentials (0.5 kW), a solar battery of 7.2 kWh can last for 14 hours or more.
Blackouts in Australia are few and far between. Even if there is an outages, it usually lasts for a short time. There are different brands of batteries for solar energy available in Australia. If you stay at a location that is less affected by blackouts, a small solar battery would be sufficient. However, if you have big appliances at home or have a large family, you should consider investing in a solar battery with a large storage capacity.
Read Next Blog: