How to Store Solar Energy at Home

If you’re considering installing solar energy at your home, you might be wondering what happens when the sun goes down, and you still need power. We typically use the most energy in the midmorning and early to midevening hours, so we need to access energy past sunset efficiently. 

One of the best ways to do so is by storing extra energy. This article will discuss the importance of renewable energy storage and how to use batteries to store solar energy at home.

Table of Contents

• How Solar Energy Storage Works
• Benefits of Storing Solar Energy
• Types of Solar Energy Storage Systems
• Using Batteries for Home Energy Storage

How to Store Solar Energy

The market for energy storage is growing rapidly and becoming more affordable for homeowners. Mordor Intelligence predicts the energy storage market will experience a compound annual growth rate of 19.9% through 2027. The reason for such positive growth is easy to see when considering the benefits of energy storage to homeowners and business owners. To understand the appeals of energy storage, let’s first consider how storing solar energy works. 

When your solar panels generate electricity, they send the power to any place in your home that needs it. If your panels produce a surplus of energy, the excess will go into your storage system or flow into the grid. If your home has an energy shortage, your electrical system will pull power from the grid or your stored reserves. A solar energy storage system at home reduces your reliance on the electrical grid and helps keep your energy usage self-sufficient.

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Benefits of Storing Solar Energy

Because the times the sun is at its peak don’t always align with the times we need the most energy, storing solar power is key to efficient energy usage. Storing solar energy allows you to capitalize on times of peak energy generation and carry any surplus over into high-demand but low-generation hours. With efficient storage options, you can use the energy produced by your solar panels whenever you need it. 

Some of the most appealing benefits of storing solar energy include:

• Cost savings: When you install home solar panels, you will usually tie your home energy system to the grid. Your system will send excess energy to and from the grid for energy production and demand fluctuations. A net-metered system charges you based on the net difference of energy you use from the grid. However, if you have a solar-plus-storage system, you store your excess energy yourself and can pull from it directly as needed, reducing the need to tap into the electric grid at all. 
• Energy distribution throughout the day: Use your solar power as needed, regardless of when the sun shines brightest. Clouds, storms and shorter days won’t impact your ability to utilize your solar panels. You can pull from your reserves whenever your solar panels generate less energy than you need.
• Backup energy: In the event of a big storm or power outage, you can still access power from your storage systems, even if the electrical grid is down. Use your solar energy reserves to keep your phone charged and stay connected to the news in an emergency.

Benefits of Solar Panels on Commercial Buildings

Installing solar panels allows commercial property owners to power their businesses while reducing the amount spent on utility bills. Additionally, solar panels are an effective way to make businesses more eco-friendly. Moreover, solar panels have dipped in cost over the years, making them incredibly affordable when combined with tax incentives.

Types of Solar Energy Storage Systems

Individuals and energy companies alike implement a solar energy storage system to take advantage of these benefits. Electricity storage systems transform the electricity into chemical, thermal or mechanical energy for storage, then convert it back to electricity when you need it. Based on the type of energy transformation, we can categorize storage systems into three primary types:

1. Thermal: Thermal energy storage systems store electricity as heat in a fluid. When you need more electricity, the system will use the heat to boil water, produce steam to power a turbine and generate electricity. 
2. Mechanical: Mechanical energy includes both kinetic energy — the energy of motion — and the potential energy of an object. Storage systems that use mechanical energy include a flywheel and pumped-storage hydropower. Flywheels transform electricity into mechanical energy to spin a wheel-and-shaft system connected to a generator. Pumped-storage hydropower converts the electricity into potential energy by pumping water uphill, later releasing it downhill into a turbine. 
3. Chemical: Chemical energy transformations use batteries to generate a chemical reaction and store energy from electricity. When you need electricity later, the battery reverses the chemical reaction to create an electric current and discharge the reserved energy. Batteries are the best way to store solar energy for home use.

Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Energy

Using Batteries for Home Energy Storage

Storing solar energy in batteries is the most practical, cost-effective solution for homeowners. Let’s dive deeper into how batteries store energy. 

How Batteries Work

A battery contains two metals or chemical compounds that form a negative electrode—or anode—and a positive electrode—or cathode—and an electrolyte solution in between. 

A chemical reaction between the electrolyte and anode frees electrons from an atom, causing them to gather at the anode. Meanwhile, another chemical reaction at the cathode preps it to receive this influx of electrons. For this transfer to occur, an electric circuit must connect both electrodes and produce an electric current in the process. 

Once the battery expels energy, it needs to be recharged. A power source like solar panels reverses the chemical reactions so the battery can once again produce electricity. 

What to Know About Using Solar Batteries

If you’re considering using a solar battery in your home, here are a few fast facts to keep in mind:

• Widespread use: The most common type of battery is a lithium-ion battery. You probably already have several of these batteries in your home to power smartphones, laptops and electric cars. 
• Rapid growth: Solar battery installations are growing rapidly, with the total number of installations growing 50% from 2019 to 2020. 
• Smart panels: As with any energy storage option, solar batteries have limits. Unless you pair your solar batteries with a smart panel that lets you seamlessly oversee your home’s electricity distribution, you’ll need to specify which rooms the solar battery provides energy for. 

A solar battery might be the perfect investment for making the most of your home’s solar power system. Install a solar battery and enjoy cost savings and consistent energy whenever you need it.

How Long Can You Store Solar Energy?

Solar energy storage capabilities have increased tenfold in recent years, and some systems can now store energy for 18 years. Usually, most standard home batteries last about 1-5 days.

What Is The Best Way To Store Solar Energy?

Many homeowners who go solar turn to batteries as a storage solution. Lithium-ion batteries seem to be the go-to option for home storage since they’re a cheaper, low-profile choice for people. Other batteries like nickel-cadmium and lead-acid options for people as well. Experts agree that a range of sources is the best option for long-term use.

Are you ready to install a solar energy system in your home or add a solar battery to your existing system? Lippolis Electric has over 30 years of experience meeting the electric needs of Westchester County. Our highly trained technicians can set you up with a solar-plus-storage system promptly and safely. If you’d like to learn more about how a solar battery can improve your home’s energy efficiency, contact Lippolis Electric today!