by EverBright
Solar panels are a great way to cut down on your electric bill and reduce your carbon footprint. To help maximize the value of your solar system, here are some reasons why you might consider adding a battery.
One of the biggest advantages of adding a battery to your solar system is that it helps you become less dependent on the electrical grid. Serving as your personal energy reservoir, your battery stores the excess solar energy generated during the day for use at a later time. How you use the stored energy is up to you. We've covered a few use cases and the key benefits below.
Don't be left in the dark again during power outages. Solar batteries can provide backup power during grid outages, ensuring that critical appliances in your home continue to operate. When the electrical grid goes down, a backup solar battery can keep your lights on when your neighborhood is in the dark.
Continue consuming clean energy even during the evening and overnight hours when your solar system isn't generating power. Utilizing a battery helps reduce your reliance on the grid, lower your electric bill, and shrink your carbon footprint. Without a battery system to store the excess solar energy, it would be sent back to the utility grid. Depending on your area's net-metering policies, you may receive credit at favorable rates or much lower rates. Adding a solar battery allows you to store and use more solar energy, improving your savings.
With a solar panel and battery combination, you can optimize your electricity usage for maximum savings. Program your system to export electricity to the grid only when compensation rates are high and pull from your battery when rates are low, to maximize your savings. If your local utility offers time-of-use rates, solar batteries can help you save money by storing energy when rates are low and using it when rates are high.
A solar-plus-battery system at your home is essentially a mini power plant. By aggregating multiple home systems using software, a “virtual” power plant (VPP) is created. VPPs assist in stabilizing the electrical grid by providing stored energy during high demand or grid stress periods. This reduces the need for additional grid infrastructure, offsets the utility company's electricity generation, and improves grid reliability. Participating in a VPP allows you to earn money for the stored energy your battery contributes.
Allowing for excess clean energy to be dispatched to the grid not only reduces your reliance on climate-damaging fossil fuels but also contributes to a greener and more sustainable future.
Solar battery storage offers significant benefits, including:
If you're considering installing a rooftop solar system, the best time to add a battery is during the initial design phase. Don't miss the numerous benefits of solar battery storage. Explore the possibilities and ask your installer to supercharge your solar system with battery storage.
*Power available from the battery varies depending on the loads connected, energy consumption, and battery configuration. You should never rely on your solar system, even if it includes a battery, to power life support or other medical devices.
From local and state-specific to federal and beyond: this is your guide to all solar incentives, tax exemptions, and rebates.
Solar energy is a wise investment for your home, from monthly energy cost savings to potentially increasing your home’s resale value by 4.1%.
Going solar is still new for most of us and can be a bit intimidating. In this article, we want to help you get familiar with some solar financing options available.
