When you think of solar panels, it is natural to assume that they work during the day and discharge energy at night. Unfortunately, it’s more than that. If you are thinking about installing solar panels, it is important to understand the various classes of solar batteries and how they work.
In this post, I will discuss the three classes of solar batteries, their advantages over each other, as well as their working principles.
What is a solar battery?
A solar battery is a device that can store energy from the sun in order to release it hours or even days later. Solar energy is naturally generated from the sun, but it is extremely unreliable. Since the sun does not shine all the time and clouds can easily block the rays, solar energy is often not available at the exact time we need it. Solar batteries are meant to address this inherent issue with solar energy by storing the energy during times of high output and releasing it during times of low output.
Solar batteries can be broken down into three distinct classes: Regenerative batteries, Absorptive batteries, and Lithium-Ion Batteries. The best option for your solar system depends on your specific needs and the amount of money you are willing to spend.
Regenerative Solar Battery
A regenerative solar battery is the most expensive option but also the best one. With these batteries, the solar panels feed excess energy into the battery, charging it and increasing its charge. When the battery is full, it then discharges the energy back into the panels, re-energizing them and allowing them to produce even more energy. Since the panels feed energy back into the battery, this type of solar battery is also the most durable. The only drawback is that it is more expensive upfront.
Absorptive Solar Battery
An absorptive solar battery is a low cost option for solar panels, but it is not great for long term use. This type of battery is meant to be fully discharged every night, which causes it to lose some of its charge each day. This is not ideal for solar panels that need to function 24/7. Since these batteries are not charged frequently, they can also lose some of their ability to hold a charge over time. However, they are good option if you do not have a lot of money to invest in solar panels.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
A lithium-ion solar battery is a best option for solar systems. They are more efficient than most other types of rechargeable batteries, which means you can store more energy in a smaller space and for a lower cost. There are two main types of lithium-ion systems: flooded and sealed. Flooded batteries have the advantage of being cheaper and having the ability to be repaired, but they also have the disadvantage of being more dangerous. Sealed batteries are more expensive, but they are less dangerous and more efficient.
Conclusion
Solar batteries are important component of solar power, but solar panels get the most attention. The panels generate the energy and are placed outside the home, but solar batteries are placed indoors and do not produce the same level of publicity. However, the batteries are just as important as the panels, especially since the panels only generate electricity during the day. Solar batteries store the energy that is generated during the day and release it at night when we actually need it.
