Battery for Solar Energy Storage

Isolux is a reliable and trusted provider for all your solar battery needs in Australia. If you are looking out for the best and long-lasting solar system batteries, our experts are here to assist you.

What is a Solar Battery?

A solar battery is a battery that stores solar power (electricity) generated by the solar photovoltaic system for later use. This energy stored can be used to power homes and keep the appliances running in the event of power outages, blackouts, rainy days, etc. Solar energy storage batteries are a great investment for homes and commercial premises where grid electricity is unreliable. Solar system batteries are a key part of the solar systems. Choosing the right solar battery is equally important as selecting the perfect solar system.

The NSW Government has launched Solar Battery Incentives for homeowners and businesses to maximize solar energy usage. Get in touch with us to know about the incentive.

Types of Solar Battery

1. Lithium-ion (Li-ion)

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries have grown in popularity among owners of solar energy systems in recent years. Lithium-ion batteries are the newest energy storage technology. As electric vehicle popularity grew, EV makers recognized lithium ion’s potential as a power storage option. They immediately rose to prominence as one of the most extensively used solar system batteries. Lithium-ion chemistry is classified into various categories. Lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) is a typical kind used in household batteries. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO, or LFP) is another typical chemical.

Advantages

• Superior performance in cold temperatures
• Deeper discharges per cycle
• Superior quality
• Perfect balance between price and performance
• Lightweight and more efficient
• Higher battery energy density
• Longer life cycle of 10 years

Disadvantages

• Expensive than other solar system batteries
• Risk of fire due to flammable liquid electrolyte

2. Lead-Acid

The most popular solar battery types is lead-acid solar batteries. They are made up of lead plates immersed in a mixture of sulfuric acid and water, commonly known as an electrolyte. These are the most common types of deep-cycle solar system batteries. This battery stores electrical energy through chemical reactions involving lead, water, and sulfuric acid.

Advantages

• Most cost-effective solar energy storage batteries available in the market
• Reliable and relatively inexpensive
• Easy to dispose and recycle

Disadvantages

• Careful and regular maintenance is required
• Low depth of discharge
• Shorter lifespan of 5 to 10 years
• Sensitive to overcharging and high ambient temperatures
• Poor weight-to-energy ratio
• Not environment-friendly

3. Flow

It differs from other solar system batteries because it uses electrolytic fluids. Inside the battery, the electrolyte liquid circulates between two distinct compartments, or tanks. When charged, chemical reactions take place, allowing the energy to be stored and then released. These batteries are becoming increasingly popular. Among the most promising lithium-ion substitutes. These solar energy storage batteries are ideal for large-scale, off-grid systems.

Advantages

• 100% depth of discharge
• Low maintenance
• Long lifespan (30 years)
• Work well at high ambient temperatures
• Non-toxic and non-flammable

Disadvantages

• Highly expensive compared to other solar storage battery systems
• Relatively low storage capacity
• Low energy density
• Low charge and discharge rates
• Complex systems

Solar Battery Storage Cost Australia

The solar battery prices in Sydney, Australia, varied depending on various factors such as the size and type of the battery, brand, and retailer. However, the solar battery costs in Sydney could range from $5000 to $15000, including installation.

What is a Battery Cycle?

The number of cycles a battery can undergo a complete charge to a specific discharge level is referred to as its solar battery cycle. A battery cycle is the complete charge and discharge of a battery. Temporary charges and discharges do not constitute a whole battery cycle, even though they contribute to them. The total number of battery cycles can be used to calculate the battery’s warranty life. It is also critical to remember that you may receive more than one battery cycle each day.

Consider the following scenario:

The battery has completely discharged overnight. When the sun rises in the morning, the solar panel begins charging the battery.  The battery may be nearly fully charged by midday.

It becomes cloudy and starts raining. Solar power generation stops. The battery subsequently becomes the primary power source for the house and powers the appliances. The storm passes, the sun shines, and the battery recharges. It is evident that the battery can easily provide 1.5 cycles each day.

How Do Home Solar Batteries Work?

Step-by-step process for transforming sunlight into electricity and storing it in a battery for later use.

During the daytime:

• Photovoltaic cells capture the sun’s energy and convert it to direct current electricity.
• An inverter transforms direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).
• A switchboard distributes electricity to power electrical equipment when they are used.
• Surplus solar energy is routed from the inverter to the battery inverter and stored in a battery.

During the night-time:

(Solar energy storage batteries store DC electricity.)

• When triggered, the battery transfers electricity to the battery inverter.
• The battery inverter transforms it from direct current to alternating current for usage in the house.
• The switchboard is responsible for directing the stored energy to power the electrical appliances.
• If the battery runs out of power, you must get electricity from the grid.

How Does Solar Charge the Battery?

The roof-mounted solar system charges the solar battery. When the sun shines, the solar panels generate free solar power. During the day, this powers the home. Any power not utilised in the house is sent back to the grid in a conventional solar panel system devoid of battery storage. The exported electricity produces a minor feed-in-tariff that is paid by utility provider

When you have battery storage, the extra solar electricity is used to charge the battery. This electricity is then discharged by the battery to power the house at night. This helps you save money on electricity by not depending on the grid electricity.

What is the Right Size Solar Battery System?

There are two major key parameters to consider while determining the appropriate size of solar battery.

To start, figure about the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) of power you consume at night and how much of it you want to be delivered by the battery.

Second, you must examine the size of the solar system that is necessary. The solar panel must be big enough to provide sufficient electricity for the residence throughout the day. It must also generate enough surplus electricity each day to replenish the battery.

To estimate the average daily kWh output of a solar system in Australia, use CEC norms and multiply the solar system size by 3.9.

Thus, a 5kW solar system will generate 5×3.9 = 19.5kWh of power each day on average. This indicates that a 5kW solar system may supply 15kWh of power for residential consumption.  This would leave an extra 4.5kWh per day to charge a solar battery storage system,

Isolux considers all of these factors when developing a solar battery power solution for you.

What Happens in a Blackout?

Having a battery may not necessarily safeguard you in the case of a blackout for most grid-connected equipment. Despite having solar panels providing power and a fully charged battery set and waiting, you still might lose all power to your residence.

This is due to what is known as ‘anti-islanding protection’ in grid-connected solar battery systems. During a power outage, the grid as well as the engineers working on the cables must be safeguarded from ‘islands’ of power generation (such as your solar panels) unexpectedly injecting power into the cables. The easiest option to offer anti-islanding protection for most solar PV systems is to completely shut down. As a result, when it detects a grid outage, the PV system shuts down, and you lose all household electricity.

During a blackout, more advanced inverters may offer anti-islanding protection while still keeping the solar panels and the batteries running so that the home has some electricity. However, this requires a huge investment because the technology is more expensive and you may need more solar and battery capacity than you think to power the house during a blackout.

Only vital home circuits, such as the refrigerator and lighting, should probably be allowed to run in those circumstances (this may need additional wiring work). A storage battery is likely to be depleted rapidly if it also needs to power other items that may use a lot of power.