Solar Batteries - A Crash Course
If you have decided that adding solar batteries to your collection is a smart move, you might as well get up to speed on their ins and outs. Don’t worry, I’ll limit the technical terminology; the goal here is help you with the basics so you don’t feel lost during a consultation.
Types of Batteries
There are 3 types of solar batteries that are available to the consumer, but really only one that is feasible today.
Starting with the least practical is the flow battery, which uses a charged solution flowing across a porous membrane to store and release electricity. It has many moving parts and thus is unreliable. While it is interesting on paper, it might not be wise to invest in such a complicated device.
The current champion of the battery market is lithium-ion technology. It is not nearly as complicated as the flow battery, mostly due to the lack of moving parts. This makes it reliable and time-tested.
A more environmentally-friendly alternative to lithium-ion is the use of saltwater to transfer electricity. Unfortunately, this has been met with limited success. This has left saltwater batteries as more of a backburner idea than a viable option for a current day customer.
Other Variables
As far as what to look for in the lithium-ion battery market, there are several variables that are key: namely capacity, power, depth of discharge, and efficiency.
Capacity is simply the total amount of electricity the battery can hold. This is traditionally measured in kilowatt-hours, a term you should already be familiar with from your electric bill. Power is related, as this number is the most energy it can release at any given moment, measured in kilowatts.
Depth of discharge (or DoD) is the percentage of the total capacity that can be used before the manufacturer recommends recharging. Going beyond this number will result in decreased lifespan and should only be used for emergencies.
Finally, we come to efficiency, which tells you how much electricity it will take to charge your battery compared to how much you will be able to take back out later.
These are all variables which will likely factor into your purchasing decision. You are now familiar enough with the terminology to seek your own research and find the battery that is right for you.
