After some extensive research, you probably know a few things about solar battery storage installation in Texas. You might’ve looked into the cost of solar panels installation in Texas or whether or not Texas has any solar incentive programs and stumbled across the necessity of solar battery storage. Maybe you have a solar panel system and want to know how to keep all that excess electricity you’re generating.
No matter what sparked your interest in solar battery storage, you’re in the right place. We’re going to break solar battery storage down to a granular level and cover everything you need to know about solar battery storage in Texas. What are solar batteries? What are the different types of solar batteries? And how much does it cost?
Let’s break it down.
What are Solar Batteries?
Many experts believe that solar batteries are the latest and greatest innovation in the renewable energy market. When solar energy first hit the renewable market, it completely revolutionized the way people think about renewable energy. Solar batteries are poised to do the exact same thing – revolutionize the energy sector.
Solar batteries are pivotal in the movement to end our dependence on foreign oil and conventional electricity. Before batteries came along, many people were switching to solar energy. Texas alone has about 780,000 homes equipped with comprehensive solar panel systems, second only to California.
Unfortunately, solar energy doesn’t always generate enough electricity to cover a home’s electricity needs. Especially during those hot Texas summers, energy consumption may be higher than a family’s solar panel system can generate. As a result, many people are still connected to the grid system because they need their utility company to fill in the gaps when they run out of solar-generated power.
On days when your solar panel system generates too much electricity (i.e., more than you use), all that extra electricity gets sent back to the grid. You don’t get to keep it. With solar batteries, you do.
Solar battery storage enables people to completely break ties with their utility companies. When you produce more electricity than you consume, your solar battery will store all that extra energy. So, on those summer days when the electricity consumption goes through the roof, you will no longer be forced to pull electricity from the grid to compensate. Instead, your solar battery will kick in and supply your home with electricity.
This is also an excellent option for providing backup power to your home. Solar batteries can work even when the grid system is down. We all know what it’s like to experience an outage. Those times when your electricity turns off because something happened to a transformer five blocks away, and you’re just forced to sit in the dark with no end in sight.
If you have a solar battery stored in your home, that’ll kick in, and you won’t lose electricity like all of your neighbors. You’ll instead be sitting in a well-lit, air-conditioned house, counting yourself lucky because you made the smart choice and purchased a solar battery.
Essentially, solar batteries are devices that store the excess energy you produce with your solar panel system.
What to Consider When Shopping for Battery Storage in Texas
Before discussing the different types of batteries, we should talk about the specific things you’ll need to look for when purchasing your solar battery storage system. These are the specifications you should search for when shopping for a solar battery storage system in Texas.
Capacity and Output Power
Capacity describes the amount of energy a solar battery can store. This energy is measured in kilowatt-hours. The average solar battery can hold up to 10 kWh’s, which is roughly the third of the average family’s daily usage. Make sure you do the math in relation to your solar panel system when deciding on the capacity of your solar battery. Be sure to get enough between the two systems (1) to make buying a solar battery make sense in the first place and (2) to cover your electricity needs.
Output power refers to how much energy a solar battery can output. Some batteries are only strong enough to power a few appliances, while others can power an entire home. If you want a system that can power your whole house, make sure you ask your installer about output power.
Battery Life and Warranty
There are two ways to look at battery life. The first way to look at it is in relation to capacity and power. How long will it take for your battery to run out of energy from a full charge when it’s being used?
The second way to look at it is in relation to the entire lifespan of your solar battery. The average lifespan of your typical solar battery is between 5 and 15 years. Where would you like your battery to be on that spectrum? And how will that affect the cost? These are all critical questions to ask.
Another important question you should ask your solar battery installer or manufacturer is whether they offer a warranty. If your solar battery system malfunctions, you want to make sure you can get it replaced without a hassle.
Depth of Discharge (DOD)
Depth of discharge relates to how much battery can be used before it affects the performance and lifespan of the battery. Many batteries shouldn’t go below a certain fill level (much like the gas tank in your car) before it starts hurting the system as a whole. Be sure to ask what the depth of discharge is on the solar battery you’d like to buy.
Round-Trip Efficiency
This refers to how much usable energy a solar battery can generate. This may sound like a warped concept, but it’s an essential part of solar batteries. If your battery has a 10-kWh storage capacity, but can only output 8 kWh’s, then the solar battery’s round-trip efficiency is 80%. It’s in your best interest that the solar battery system you purchase is capable of producing enough energy to power your home, so this is an important consideration.
Manufacturer
There are many manufacturers to choose from. It’s always best practice to research the different companies that make these products before you buy them. We recommend that you purchase from companies that are reputable and have many positive reviews online.
Types of Solar Batteries
Now that you have a good grasp on the specifications you’re looking for, it’s a good time to cover the different solar batteries available on the market. The right battery for your system depends on your budget and your specific needs. Be sure to speak to your installer about the type of battery that would be perfect for your home.
Lithium-Ion Solar Batteries
Lithium-ion solar batteries are the batteries that get the most love on the market. These are the types of batteries you see all the time on the consumer market. They’re used for cell phones, laptops, car batteries, and more. If a product has a rechargeable battery, it’s likely a lithium-ion battery.
This type of solar battery is popular because it was embraced by the renewable energy titan Tesla when they launched the Powerwall in 2015. lithium-ion batteries have high energy densities, a long lifespan, and require less maintenance. They typically last at least ten years under warranty.
Lead-Acid Solar Batteries
Lead-acid solar batteries can be a bit bulky, but they’re a dependable battery type. They’ve been used for a long time, so there have been many improvements made to them over the years, making them a reliable choice for a solar battery. These are the same batteries that are used in cars. If you take care of your lead-acid battery, it can last up to 12 years.
Nickel-Based Solar Batteries
This one hasn’t become super popular in the mainstream market yet because it’s a relatively expensive option. This battery type is used by the aircraft industry. They are incredibly low maintenance but don’t work as well with standard chargers or inverters. As such, they’re best suited for large-scale solar battery systems.
Flow Solar Batteries
Flow solar batteries contain a water-based, zinc bromide solution. This model isn’t widely available, as it’s only being produced by a few companies right now. If you search the market for flow solar batteries, you’ll notice that they’re pretty large and relatively expensive compared to the other models we’ve discussed. This type of battery is increasing in popularity because it carries a 100% depth of discharge and a thirty-year average lifespan. While they are lacking in storage capacity, they may be a worthwhile option for some residential consumers.
Saltwater Solar Batteries
Saltwater solar batteries are relatively new to the industry. They don’t contain any heavy metals and rely on the electrolytes in saltwater. As a result, these types of batteries are much easier to recycle. However, these types of batteries are untested. They’re pretty expensive compared to other batteries we’ve discussed, and they have a lower energy density than the go-to option on the market (lithium-ion batteries).
How Much Does Solar Battery Storage Installation Cost in Texas?
Now that we’ve covered the specifications to look for in solar batteries and the different types of solar batteries on the market, we should take a minute to discuss the cost of installing a solar battery system.
A solar battery costs between $5,000 and $7,000, on average, but that’s just the battery. That doesn’t include the cost of getting the solar battery installed in your home or business.
The average cost of a solar battery storage system and integration is between $11,000 and $18,000, incentives and rebates included. That can be expensive for some, but when you look at the average cost of electricity in Texas, it might be an option worth considering.
Many installers have payment options available, so it’s best to check with your installer to see what kind of deals they may offer. Of course, your system could cost more or less than this average. It all depends on the size of your system and which solar battery model you choose.
Final Thoughts
Should you get a solar battery storage system installed in your Texas home or business? If you’re interested in getting a [solar panel system installed], you should definitely give it some thought. If you already have a solar panel system and want to take advantage of all that extra electricity you’re generating, then that’s another excellent reason to give solar batteries a good look.
Solar battery storage is a perfect solution for anyone who’s considering getting a solar panel system or already has one and wants to end their dependence on utility companies. They enable you to store all the extra electricity your solar panels create to use when you need it. Talk to a solar battery installer today and take one step closer to getting completely off the grid.
