Solar and battery systems offer homeowners an unprecedented opportunity to own and control the production, storage, and consumption of their essential electricity needs. Contact online >>
Solar and battery systems offer homeowners an unprecedented opportunity to own and control the production, storage, and consumption of their essential electricity needs.
While installing solar panels is relatively straightforward, pairing them with battery storage is a little more nuanced given the various types of batteries available and what they''re able to do.
So, in this article, we''ll explore which batteries pair best with solar panels to accomplish the three most common energy goals: Cost savings, essential backup, and whole-home backup.
There are no fewer than five types of battery chemistries that could be used (theoretically or practically) for residential energy storage. However, Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) have emerged as the dominant chemistries today, as they provide an ideal balance of energy density and efficiency.
Compared to Lithium-ion, LFP batteries generally last longer, allow greater depth of discharge, handle a wider range of temperatures, and have a virtually non-existent risk of thermal runaway.
On the other hand, Lithium-ion batteries tend to cost less and are less affected by maintaining a high state of charge, which is common for essential backup systems.
Another distinguishing feature to consider is whether a battery is AC- or DC-coupled. Certain batteries can charge on Direct Current (DC) electricity while others charge on Alternating Current (AC) electricity.
The third distinction to consider is whether the battery is backup-enabled or configured for self-consumption only. While backup power is typically thought of as the primary benefit of battery storage, there is a growing demand for battery storage without the additional costs attributed to the equipment, labor, and programming required to enable backup power when the grid goes down. Given this smaller scope of work, consumption-only battery projects typically costs around two-thirds of comparable backup-enabled battery projects.
For example, under California''s NEM 3.0 solar billing policy, it''s much more cost-effective to store and use your own solar production in a consumption-only battery than to trade electricity back and forth with the utility grid.
If your primary goal is energy cost savings and you have no need for backup power, then the best battery to pair with solar panels is a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) consumption-only battery. Whether an AC- or DC-coupled battery is best depends on whether or not you already have solar panels.
Batteries used primarily for cost savings typically operate in solar self-consumption mode. This means that the battery will only charge on solar power and discharge as soon as the solar panels can''t meet household electricity demand.
In self-consumption mode, the battery is charged and discharged (aka "cycled") on a daily basis and carries a very low charge overnight (known as a low “state of charge").
Based on a 2020 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), LFP batteries are more resilient to daily cycling and actually prefer a low state of charge, which makes them particularly suited for self-consumption mode.
By leaving out the equipment, labor, and programming required to enable backup power, consumption-only batteries typically come at around two-thirds of the cost of a traditional backup battery. And if your primary goal is to save money, then a battery with a lower upfront cost provides a quicker return on investment.
While consumption-only batteries can provide greater energy cost savings, it''s worth emphasizing that they do not provide backup power during grid outages.
While DC batteries are more efficient – and thus provide more energy bill offset per kWh of solar production – they typically come with a greater upfront cost, especially if when adding a DC battery to an existing solar system.
If your primary goal is cost savings, it''s worth crunching the numbers for your specific situation to see whether an AC or DC battery provides the greatest return on investment.
If the primary goal is powering essential systems (lights, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, etc) during grid outages, the best battery to pair with solar panels is a backup-enabled Lithium-ion battery. Again, whether an AC- or DC-coupled battery is best depends on whether or not you already have solar panels.
Unlike LFP batteries, which prefer a low average state of charge, Lithium-ion batteries (particularly the NMC chemistry used by Tesla, LG, and Generac) tend to prefer maintaining a high state of charge – which aligns well with backup batteries.
In backup mode, batteries go through fewer charge/discharge cycles and maintain a high state of charge until the grid goes down. According to the NREL, Lithium-ion (NMC) batteries maintain their original capacity longer under these conditions than LFP batteries, as shown in the figure below.
If you have an existing system, then AC-coupled batteries will be easier (and less expensive) to add to the mix. If you don''t have solar panels, then DC-coupled batteries becoming a much more attractive option.
In an essential backup scenario, having a more efficient DC battery allows you to squeeze more power out of every kWh of solar production during the outage. That means more time with the lights on and, possibly, more systems to power with your backup battery!
If the primary goal is to power every system in your home – during outages or when the grid is online – then the best batteries to pair with solar panels are the ones that can be stacked together to provide enough peak and continuous power output for large loads like air conditioning and EV charger.
About Residential solar panel battery storage
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Residential solar panel battery storage have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Residential solar panel battery storage for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Residential solar panel battery storage featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
