Batteries help power large industrial establishments and run electrical appliances. Solar batteries that help store tapped energy from the Sun’s rays are transforming the renewable energy landscape all over the world. Several battery types can be used to store the energy tapped by a solar panel.
A Buyer’s Guide For Solar Cells
Several blogs discuss the different solar battery types and their advantages and disadvantages. In this particular blog post, you will get an idea of all the things that you must keep in mind when you wish to buy a solar storage battery.
Lifespan And Maintenance
Four types of batteries are used for solar energy storage. Some of them (based on lead and nickel-cadmium systems) have been used for ages, but modern ones(those based on Lithium) are being accepted for their long lifespan and low maintenance.
Lithium-based power-generating systems are expensive to begin with, but they last for about 5000 cycles.
Moreover, completely discharging the system does not affect the lifecycle. In comparison, other traditional battery setups run for 300 to 400 cycles. Also, they are affected by complete discharge. Thus, even though the initial cost of buying and setting up a Lithium-ion-based power-generating system is expensive, the cost of maintenance and the need for replacement is quite low.
Product Warranty
All electrical cells wear out with time. With repeated use, they lose their ability to store charge. However, most products come with a minimum guarantee, and if the unit does not last for a minimum number of cycles, you can claim the warranty. So, when you buy a solar power storage system do look out for the warranty card. In general, Lithium-based systems have the longest warranty; most suppliers offer a warranty period of as long as ten years. But lead-based setups have a warranty of only a year or two.
Ease Of Handling
A sealed battery unit is always easy to hand. Sealed ones have the electrolyte in a stable gel-like form. At the same time, the flow-based system has a cap on top that the user must remove to add the electrolyte from time to time. Moreover, the weight of the battery determines how easy it is to move around. Lead-based systems are the most commonly used power-generating setups, but they are quite heavy.
Efficiency
The efficiency with which the energy stored in the solar panels is transferred to the power-generating system is not the same. Lithium ion-based setups are good at transferring the solar energy trapped in the battery. So, if you are installing your renewable energy generating system in a location that receives less sunlight, it is best to invest in a lithium-ion-based system. Such setups transfer almost the enter solar energy trapped in the panels.
Conclusion
Establishing a renewable energy-based system is not easy. One has to consider many facets, like the cost of installation, the warranty, the ease of handling, and the efficiency with which energy gets transferred from the panels to the battery. Most of these batteries last for two to ten years, so it is important to know all the pros and cons before making a long-term investment.
