False: I need a battery back-up for my solar system
Let’s play a quick word association game. Ready? Go.
“Solar power.”
What comes to mind? A lovely, remote home – perhaps the place you’ll retire – whose inhabitants are striving to be self-sufficient and independent from most modern conveniences?
Now, try this one:
“Utility company.”
How’s your anger reflex? Did the dial on your Rage-O-Meter just max out?
If you answered “yes” and are considering solar power, you may have thought about a battery back-up for your system as well.
Am I right?
Many people I chat with about solar power are fed up with the utility; they rant about the “outrageous rip-off” and how the utility “practically steals money.” The next line in the conversation is usually an emphatic: “I can’t wait to go solar and disconnect from the grid completely!”
Others love the thought of the autonomy itself – what bliss it would be to install solar and get off the grid! Ah, energy independence and self-reliance.
But, a battery back-up is – in almost all cases – not recommended. Yes, it’s “cool” that with solar you can be off the grid. From a practical perspective, though, you’ll reap the same benefits of solar being hooked to the grid. And you won’t incur the additional cost and maintenance headaches that come with batteries.
Batteries are extremely expensive, reduce the efficiency of your solar system, and require ongoing maintenance. Plus, they only last 5-8 years, even when properly maintained, which means you’ll have to pay for a battery pack many times over throughout the life of your system.
The batteries used for solar systems are like car batteries – they require very careful handling, storage, and maintenance. The fluid in these batteries is highly corrosive and its level has to be checked, for example. And the batteries need ventilation and protection from cold weather.
Given their cost – both monetary and otherwise, battery back-ups just don’t make sense for homeowners with access to the power grid.
The better alternative is to use the grid itself as a battery. When your solar system produces more energy than your home needs, the extra power flows back out onto the grid so you can use it at a later time.
For more about how this works, stay tuned until next week when we talk about net metering…
