Photovoltaic solar cells, in other words, solar panels, have been around for many years and have been used to generate electricity from sunlight since the 1970s. The most recent development in the field is the solar brick, which was made popular by Sunrun and other distributors. These products let homeowners store energy from solar panels in a manner that’s safe and convenient. In this blog post, we will discuss the various ways in which you can store the energy harvested from your solar panels.
Deep Cycle Batteries
If you want to store a ton of energy, the obvious place to start is from a battery. Deep cycle batteries are just what they sound like: big batteries. They’re ideal for storing large amounts of energy. Their thick, spherical shape makes them lightweight and durable, and they have a high energy density. If your panels produce more electricity than you need, storing that energy in a battery is a no-brainer.
A deep cycle battery will charge and power your home for many hours, which makes it highly convenient for those occasions when the sun isn’t out and there’s no power available. Furthermore, deep cycle batteries can store energy for those occasional days when the sun is shining bright and hot, making them ideal for powering air-conditioners and other appliances that use large amounts of power.
Supercapacitors
Like deep cycle batteries, supercapacitors are another type of energy-storing device that’s been around for many years and gained popularity in the field due to their many advantages. First, they’re extremely lightweight and can store large amounts of energy. Second, they have a high charging rate and can therefore charge up in a short amount of time. Third, they can withstand high temperatures, so if your battery is overheating, you can remove it and replace it with a supercapacitor without risking damage to your home.
The main downside to supercapacitors is that they don’t store as much energy as deep cycle batteries or sodium-based flow batteries. However, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to store energy that can be used on a moment’s notice, supercapacitors are a perfectly viable option.
Sodium-Based Flow Batteries
Sodium-based flow batteries are a bit different from the other two types of storage batteries we mentioned so far. They use a fluid electrolyte that’s safe for the environment and doesn’t pose any threat of overheating. Furthermore, they have a very high energy density. They can store large amounts of energy and have a very high charging rate, which makes them ideal for charging up quickly in case of an emergency power outage.
The downside to these types of batteries is that they’re very expensive and, as a result, more difficult to maintain and repair. If your battery experiences a minor electrical issue, it can be very difficult to pinpoint the cause because there are so many moving parts inside. Furthermore, if your battery gets wet, it will no longer work and you’ll have to replace it immediately.
Wholesale
Wholesale is a term used when buying large quantities of a good or service in large quantities from a company or business without having to purchase personalized items. When you use this type of electricity, whether produced by solar or other means, you can be confident that your energy will be preserved and that you’ll be able to use it when you need it. This is a popular and cost-effective way to ensure you have enough energy during those unpredictable power outages and blackouts.
Off-Grid
If you’re living in an area where the power lines are frequently disrupted by severe weather conditions or harsh climate changes than you may want to consider going completely off-grid. The advantage of this option is that you can’t be affected by fluctuating electricity rates or frequent power outages caused by extreme weather conditions or solar flares (solar storms). Furthermore, you can use any form of energy you desire, whether generated by fossil fuels, nuclear power, or renewable sources like water, wind, or solar power. The disadvantage of this option, of course, is that it requires a large investment in either the renewable energy source itself (solar panels for photovoltaic systems, windmills, or water pumps) or in battery storage technology in order to ensure you have enough electricity to live comfortably.
Which type of storage battery do you prefer to use? Do you have a favorite among the four we described above? If you’ve read this far, we hope we’ve persuaded you that storing solar energy isn’t as difficult as you might think and that there are various, reliable ways to do it. Furthermore, we hope we’ve helped you find the right battery for the job. If you’ve decided that storing solar power might be right for your home, contact a reputable company like Advanced Solar Systems to learn more about the various ways they can help you make the most of your situation.