As established, one of the main benefits of using solar capabilities are for its independence off-grid, especially in Costa Rica where some properties can be far up a mountain or the electric surges from the grid have fried one too many high-end appliances. Going with a solar home truly is a situation where the sooner you start, the quicker you will begin reaping the reward.
Panels tend to have a lifespan of about 25 years and 15 years for a battery in everyday use. When making the move to a solar home the battery will be of utmost importance as your home batteries are used to store energy from your solar panels to use overnight or at times when the weather is overcast. Herein, are but a few points worth mentioning about when considering batteries for your solar home and that is not to mention important aspects such as battery life and warranty!
Know Your Power Usage
The first thing you will want to make sure is that you are generating enough power to supply your home and charge the battery at the same time. You will need to know how much energy is required to power your home. The help of a professional is highly advised!
Capacity & Power
Next consider the capacity of a battery, which is the total amount of electricity that a
solar battery can store. Typically, battery capacity is expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh),
similar to the way your electricity is charged on your bill. Most home solar batteries are
designed to be “stackable,” which means that you can include multiple batteries with
your solar-plus-storage system to get extra capacity. While capacity tells you how big your battery is, it doesn’t tell you how much electricity a battery can provide at a given moment. To get the full picture, you also need to consider the battery’s power rating. In the context of solar batteries, a power rating is the amount of electricity that a battery can deliver at one time. It is measured in kilowatts (kW). A battery with a high capacity and a low power rating would deliver a low amount of electricity (enough to run a few crucial appliances) for a long time. A battery with low capacity and a high power-rating could run your entire home, but only for a few hours.
Depth of discharge (DoD)
Most solar batteries need to retain some charge at all times due to their chemical composition. If you use 100 percent of a battery’s charge, it’s useful life will be significantly shortened. The depth of discharge (DoD) of a battery refers to the amount of a battery’s capacity that has been used. Most manufacturers will specify a maximum
DoD for optimal performance
For example, if a 10 kWh battery has a DoD of 90
percent, you shouldn’t use more than 9 kWh of the battery before recharging it.
Going solar is a calculated science, professional advice makes this process much
easier.
Plaza Tangara in Ojochal will host an electric car charging station as of 2020!
Efficiency
An efficient battery charger harnesses the solar energy quickly, so you don’t have to worry even if there is not enough sun. Hence, they are useful during days when you have comparatively less sun. Round-trip efficiency is a battery’s round-trip efficiency represents the amount of energy that can be used as a percentage of the amount of energy that it took to store it.
Battery Life & Warranty
Your battery will “cycle” (charge and drain) daily. The battery’s ability to hold a charge will gradually decrease the more you use it. Your solar battery will have a warranty that guarantees a certain number of cycles and/or years of useful life. Because battery performance naturally degrades over time, most manufacturers will also guarantee that the battery keeps a certain amount of its capacity over the course of the warranty.
