In 2022, the average monthly electric bill in Texas was $140.88, which makes it one of the larger household bills for many families. Average monthly rates can even go up when the temperatures skyrocket in the summer months, with some families paying upwards of $300-$400 for their energy.
While solar panels can decrease your energy bills, they don’t typically store the excess energy you create for later use. Unless, that is, you add a battery system.
Today, installing a home solar system battery backup can go a long way to save you money and ensure your home’s energy security so that you never have to worry about being without power for extended periods again (yes, we all remember February 2021).
Here’s what you need to know.
How Batteries for Solar Panels Work
Wondering about uses of the solar battery today? What about how they work?
As solar panels become more popular, people who install energy storage systems are finding that these unique batteries allow them to make the most of their solar panels and save the energy produced for foggy, grey, or cloudy days, when panel output is reduced, or during power or grid outages. Some people simply turn to solar batteries to disconnect from the grid entirely.
Today’s solar batteries work like any rechargeable battery: they’re recharged by the sun’s power. When the weather is bad or the solar panels aren’t actively producing power, your home’s system draws on the power stored in the batteries.
Five Big Benefits of Batteries for Solar Storage
Wondering how solar batteries can benefit your home? Here are some of their biggest perks:
1. Make the Most of Your Power
With standard solar power setups, you install panels on your home and your system is plugged into the grid. If your panels, for whatever reason, don’t produce ample energy, your home draws on the grid to make up for the deficit.
You pay for this energy just like you would if you didn’t have any panels. If you produce more power than you need, you can sell it back to the grid, securing a discounted electric bill.
With batteries, though, your excess power is stored in the battery system. On cloudy days or days when your system doesn’t produce as much power as usual, you can pull from the batteries instead of the grid.
Likewise, you get to store your excess energy in batteries rather than selling it back to the grid. This gives you more control over how you use your energy and where your excess goes.
2. Greater Energy Security
Solar battery systems allow your home to be more resilient when it comes to energy.
Particularly useful if you live in an area where the grid is occasionally unstable, or you simply want to provide a greater level of certainty for your home’s power, battery systems can power key aspects of your home for hours, even if the grid goes down.
3. Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint
Installing solar batteries allows you to reduce your home’s carbon footprint and bring it closer to self-sufficiency. This is essential for anyone who wants to “go green” and reduce pollution. Today, solar energy systems create much less pollution than traditional fossil fuels, and can help a home consume fewer resources in the years to come.
4. No Noise Pollution
Unlike generators, solar panels and battery storage systems don’t create noise pollution that will bother your neighbors. This is a unique benefit, and is a great way for anyone who currently has a generator to update their system.
But wait... are you worried about extended periods of time when solar isn't available (again, we're looking at you, February 2021, when snow, ice an gray skies lasted for several days)? Want to make sure your home can still be powered if your panels get damaged in a severe storm, like a tornado or hurricane? Most solar batteries can be recharged with generators in emergency situations, so you can have an additional layer of security and confidence in poor weather conditions.
5. Reduced or Eliminated Electric Bills
One of the biggest benefits of energy storage systems is that they will help you save on your electricity costs. Back up your home with a battery system and you’ll avoid the fees associated with electricity retailers, create self-sufficiency, and save the electricity you generate. If you're in an area where you can completely disconnect and go off-grid, you'll be able to avoid your local energy company altogether!
Solar Battery Storage: A Winning Idea
If you’ve been wondering about the key benefits of solar battery backups, these five tips are a great place to start. For homeowners who have solar panels installed, solar batteries can be a fantastic way to stabilize the energy system and enjoy a more reliable system for years to come.
Ready to learn more about the benefits of solar battery storage? Contact the experts at ATX Solar for more info about storing your solar energy in the greater Austin and Central Texas area.