Exploring Solar Panel Installers Near You: Discover the Range of Installation Types Available

What is Solar Storage?

Solar and storage work together to create business opportunities. As solar power becomes more prevalent, states and solar companies are adopting storage solutions. Energy storage helps stabilize electricity prices, manage energy fluctuations during evenings, reduce the risk of curtailing solar power, provide backup power, and more.

It is possible to address concerns about power grid control, such as the "duck curve," by adding more storage. This creates additional opportunities for the expansion of solar power. While there are various approaches to integrating solar power at high levels (such as increasing the flexibility of other generators and demand response, storage empowers solar developers to facilitate integration directly.

How Solar Energy Storage Systems are Built

Let's understand how solar energy storage systems are built. First, we need to know how renewable energy can be stored. It can be stored chemically or mechanically based on the physical properties of matter.

The first way is by changing the temperature of a material. Bulk heating occurs when a material is heated or cooled, and the amount of energy stored relies on the medium's specific heat capacity. This is called sensible heating.

The second way is through a phase transition. When matter undergoes a phase change, it can absorb or release latent heat. The same heat can be stored and released if the matter remains in that phase.

The third way is through chemical reactions. Energy can be used to create chemical compounds with high-energy bonds; when those bonds are broken, the stored energy is released.

Energy storage can also happen by forming weak or strong chemical bonds. Weak bonds, like water molecules on silica gel, store less energy, while stronger bonds, like the oxidation of silicon into silicon oxide, store more energy. The system's storage capacity depends on the heat or free energy the reaction consumes.

The fourth way is through electrical energy storage devices like batteries. These devices use the dissociation of electron-hole pairs to store and release energy captured directly from the sun.

These principles guide the construction of different types of solar energy storage systems.

Types of Solar Energy Storage Systems

Now that we understand how solar energy storage systems are built let's explore the commonly used storage systems. These systems utilize various techniques to store and release energy, allowing for efficient utilization of solar power. We can learn more about the various methods and technologies used in solar energy storage by examining these types.

On-Grid System

The most common type of solar system used in homes and businesses is called an on-grid or grid-tie system. These systems don't require batteries and are connected to the public electricity grid. Instead of storing excess solar power, it is sent back to the grid, and you can receive payment or credits for the energy you contribute.

Unlike hybrid systems, on-grid solar systems cannot generate electricity during a blackout. This is because it's important to prevent sending power into a damaged grid while repairs are being made. On the other hand, hybrid solar systems with battery storage can automatically disconnect from the grid (known as islanding) and still provide some power during a blackout.

Off-Grid System

An off-grid system is not connected to the regular electricity grid and needs batteries to store power. It must be designed properly to ensure an off-grid solar system works well. It should generate enough power throughout the year and have sufficient battery capacity. This guarantees that it meets the home's energy needs, even with less sunlight.

Off-grid systems are more expensive than on-grid systems because of the higher costs of batteries and off-grid inverters. As a result, they are typically used in remote areas far from the regular electricity grid. However, the cost of batteries is decreasing quickly, so there is a fast-growing market for off-grid solar battery systems.

Hybrid System

Hybrid systems combine solar and battery storage and come in different types. They have become more affordable due to the decreasing cost of batteries. Your solar system can generate electricity during the day and store it for use at night by adding battery storage.

 In case the stored energy runs out, you can still rely on the grid for backup power, offering you the best of both worlds. Moreover, hybrid systems can charge the batteries using inexpensive electricity during off-peak hours, typically between midnight and 6 am.

Solar Batteries

These solar batteries come in four main types: lead acid, lithium ion, nickel cadmium, and flow batteries.

The first one is lead acid batteries. They have been around the longest and are known for their low cost and reliability, but they need regular upkeep.

Even though they are more expensive, lithium-ion batteries are becoming the most popular choice for home solar batteries because they last longer and don't need upkeep.

Nickel-cadmium batteries are more popular for big projects because they can handle extreme temperatures and don't require complicated management systems.

Flow batteries are large and very expensive, so they are mostly used for storing a lot of energy on a large scale.