Welcome back to the West Coast Solar blog! Today we are discussing solar batteries and the benefits they can provide when you install a solar system. Batteries and other means of energy storage have been around for a long time. However, solar batteries are relatively new to the market. For many homeowners with solar panels, the additional investment of a solar battery makes sense. Stick around to learn why. 

If you are ready to install a solar panel system on your home or business, or simply want a free quote, visit our website. West Coast Solar serves Alameda, Contra Costa, El Dorado, San Joaquin, Brentwood, and beyond. 

The Benefits of a Solar Battery

A solar battery can become another component of your solar panel system. To understand a battery’s function, it is important to also understand when energy is normally consumed versus  when energy is generated:

• Typically, energy is consumed in the morning hours around 8:00 a.m. with a break in the middle of the day, and then again in the evening hours around 8:00 p.m.
• The peak of solar energy production is usually around the middle of the day when there is the most sunshine,and typically during the middle-day lull of consumption.
• Because the times of consumption and greatest energy generation aren’t at the same times of day, storage of the energy for later use is essential. 
• What’s more, with more people working from home, more energy is used which increases the need for energy storage. 

With this basic understanding of energy production and energy use, we can now look at the benefits of a solar battery for your home. 

Maximizes Solar Energy

A solar battery can maximize the benefits of solar energy because it allows you to store the energy generated and if yet unused. Because of the efficiency of solar systems, in many cases, more energy will be generated than can be used. Instead of losing this energy, a solar battery will store it and allow this excess amount of energy to be used when needed. 

Have Reliable Energy At Any Time

When the sun goes down or during times of less-sunny weather, there are times of the day and times of the year when the amount of solar energy that your system would normally generate is reduced. As a result, you must draw from the grid or from a battery. Because most solar panel systems generate more energy than can be used, instead of paying for energy from the grid, a system can tap into the stored energy in the battery. This can add to your energy savings that you are already experiencing with your solar panel system. 

Take Advantage of Net Metering

When you are using a battery with an on-grid system, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of net metering. Net metering allows you to take the greatest advantage of a solar battery because for every kilowatt-hour generated, you receive a credit from the energy company; these credits are then used whenever you need to draw power from the grid — providing you additional energy savings. 

To learn if a solar battery would provide benefits for your home, talk to a residential solar panel installation expert at West Coast Solar — California’s top rated Solar Company. We would love to provide you with a free quote and help you get the most out of your solar system. Visit our website.