Did you know that a little over 3% of single-family homes in the US have solar panels installed? That translates to approximately 2.7 million residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems!
That’s fantastic news, but many PV system owners aren’t aware they can store solar power. So if you’re one of them or plan to go solar yourself, it’s best to learn more about solar battery banks.
Don’t worry, as that’s what this guide covers. Keep reading to learn more about what a solar battery bank is, how it works, and why you’d want one, too.
What Is a Solar Battery Bank?
Also called a solar power battery bank, a solar battery bank is a storage device for solar energy. It consists of one or more batteries connected to a single solar panel or an entire solar array. That design allows it to store solar electrical power for later use.
How Does It Work?
A battery bank for solar power can only store energy if it connects to one or more solar panels. After all, the panels are the ones that absorb the sun’s photons (light particles). They’re also responsible for converting it into electricity.
Once the panels generate electricity, they can direct it to the bank’s batteries. The batteries then keep the energy stored until you need to use it.
Why Invest in Solar Battery Banks?
A home solar battery bank lets you store excess energy your solar power system generates. You can then use that at night or during days wherein your panels don’t produce as much energy (i.e., on cloudy days). By using that saved energy, you can further reduce your energy bills.
A battery bank for solar panels also provides you with backup energy in a power outage. That’s especially helpful since such incidents are becoming longer in the US. For instance, compared to the 770 million outage hours in 2019, there were 1.33 billion in 2020.
Many battery banks also give you a way to “bring” solar power anywhere, such as on your vehicle or if you go camping. These models are lightweight and portable enough to take with you on your travels. You can check out this page to find out more about these products.
As long as the panels connected to the bank receive sunlight, they will keep generating power. As a result, you can expect your batteries to fill up with solar energy you can use later or for emergencies.
Also, don’t forget that there are incentives for owning solar storage devices. The federal solar ITC is one of them, providing a 26% tax credit for owned solar batteries this 2022.
There are also state-wide programs that help increase your solar-related savings. A perfect example is California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). Qualifying for this can give you a rebate of $850 to $1,000 per kilowatt-hour.
Save More with Solar Battery Banks
And there you have it, the brief but concise guide on what a solar battery bank is, how it works, and its benefits. Now you know it lets you store solar energy for later or emergency use. You’ve also learned that some models are portable enough to take with you on your travels.
So, why not consider investing in one today? That way, you can save more money and even enjoy clean energy on the go.
Are you ready for other interesting facts? Then check out more of our blog now!
