Battery Storage for Solar Energy: Backup or Grid-Tied? Both options offer peace of mind!
In today’s economy, we are all striving to find ways to reduce costs and increase efficiencies wherever we can. Our dependence on things like water, gas, and electricity seem like something we must live with. However, there are things you can do to help reduce your dependence, and with electricity, solar energy is one very efficient way to gain Energy Independence and save money at the same time.
Solar Energy
Solar Energy is a proven, cost-efficient energy generator and a step towards becoming self-reliant. When your panels provide more electricity than your home needs, the excess energy is sold back to the utility company at the Net Surplus Compensation (NSC) rate. When your needs are greater than the panels can provide, you are buying it back from the utility company at retail rates which are considerably higher than the NSC rates. Battery Storage is an excellent way to manage your energy usage so that you control how and when you use your stored energy!
Solar + Battery Storage Options = Energy Independence
There are options for storing the excess energy your panels generate depending on your energy needs. One of the options Clean Solar provides is battery backup. You can store excess energy for use at night and during peak energy use times, as well as back up some of the main breakers to support your home during an outage. For example, a normal use of battery backup may include the following:
- Your refrigerator will stay on
- Your wi-fi will be on
- Some lights are on
- The garage door will still open
- Critical medical devices continue working
Another option is to use the battery without the power outage backup. Instead, you can use the excess energy when you will get the greatest benefit – during peak times of the day when utility costs are higher. This way, you are sending much less energy back to the utility grid. Your battery, in this option, does not provide backup during an outage. However, it is an excellent way to further save utility costs by allowing you to store your excess energy, use it when you want, and not have to buy as much back from the utility company. We call this “Grid-Tied.”
Whichever way you choose to go, backup or grid-tied, battery storage is an excellent investment for your home! And an excellent way to be less dependent on your utility company!