What Should You Know When Adding Battery to Existing Solar Power System

Batteries have been a way to store extra power for solar power systems for many years. But until recent years, due to their high cost and low efficiency, they only made sense for mostly off-grid solar systems. However, as battery prices continue to decline and batteries themselves become more and more effective, they are growing into a viable option for many grid-tied solar systems as well.

If you installed your solar power system just a few years ago, batteries may not be meaningful. But as the market changes and technology advances, you may find yourself wishing you could take advantage of energy storage. If you’re wondering whether or not you can install batteries in your existing solar system, the answer is definitely yes!

Adding batteries to an existing solar power system is the best way to maximize the use of solar. There are a lot of benefits.

First, if you have a solar power system without a storage battery, you will not have power during a power outage, which is not convenient for your daily life. But if you adds battery to your system, things will change. During a grid outage, your solar battery acts as a substitute for the grid. You will be capable of pushing your extra solar power to charge your battery and then power your critical appliances.

Besides, adding battery helps you save electricity costs. Some utilities charge time-of-use (TOU) rates. These rates fluctuate depending on the time of day. When power demand is higher(often in the afternoon and early evening), you pay more per kWh than the time when fewer people use electricity, for example, at 4 a.m. If you have solar batteries on your solar power system, you can avoid paying these increased rates by using the stored energy in your batteries.

While it is possible to complement an existing solar power system with storage, the process requires more than simply purchase batteries and connect them. Before the installation, you should learn about the following factors.

Current Energy Consumption

The first thing to consider are your current consumption and production. If you use mostly of the electricity your system produce, there will be a very little power leftover to charge your solar batteries. Therefore, it is not worth adding storage battery to your existing solar power system. Instead, it might be worth considering expanding your solar power system.

Your Current Inverter

Once you have determined if adding batteries is a viable option or not, you need to consider your current inverter. With your current installation, your inverter is mostly likely a standard inverter. A standard solar inverter can only convert the DC power your solar system generates into AC power, which can be fed directly into the grid, or used to power your household appliances.

In this case, you will need to install a hybrid inverter for your system. A hybrid inverter, on the other hand, can perform the same functions as a standard inverter and also manage the input of the battery bank.

If you currently have a standard solar inverter, you have two choices:
(1)Replace your current inverter with a hybrid inverter.
(2)Install a second inverter that would work together with your existing one and will manage the batteries.

Your Feed-in Tariff

Solar batteries make fiscal sense for homeowners receiving just 7 cents per kWh for their feed-in tariff, if you are under the old feed-in tariff scheme and receive 20 to 40 cents, it might not be worth adding batteries. You may save more by exporting to the grid than using the excess energy to change the battery bank. If you are under the new feed-in tariff scheme, battery storage is definitely a good solution to help you save more.

Your Budget and Needs

Your budget and needs will determine the size and capacity needed. If you want to maximize your savings or reduce your carbon footprint even more, then adding batteries to your existing solar power system is the next step.

Conclusion

There are many benefits of adding batteries to the existing solar power system. You may purchase and install battery after careful consideration.