Last Updated on June 6, 2024 by Our Editors
Aiming to live a more sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyle can mean making big changes, whether it’s swapping out your favorite brands or adopting new technologies. One of the best ways we can all improve our impact on the environment however, is to address our energy consumption, and more importantly, where our energy comes from.
We all know that fossil fuels are damaging our planet at an increasing rate, so what are the alternatives? Solar power is one of the most important renewable energy options we have today.
Solar does a great deal to counteract the harmful emissions of fossil fuels. Many homes across the world now use solar panels to help power their buildings and reduce their carbon footprint. However, there is one key player we don’t often hear about – solar batteries.
These clever devices work alongside solar panels to help store excess energy. This can completely transform how we use renewable energy, giving us supply and backup options.
In this article, we’ll look more closely at solar energy and how solar batteries could be the key to helping us live an even more sustainable, green lifestyle starting at home.
Why Install Solar Panels?
Solar energy it produced through capturing the sun’s rays, making it a renewable and sustainable energy source. It is harnessed through various technologies, most commonly solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems.
Using solar panels on your home has a range of benefits, including reducing your carbon footprint and improving air quality, as you reduce reliance on fossil fuels. They can also help conserve water, which would otherwise be used in traditional electricity generation.
Aside from the environmental benefits, you can also make a significant improvement to your finances. Depending on the size of your home, a typical household could save between €170 to €580 a year by switching to solar according to Energy Saving Trust.
To get even more from solar panels, however, it’s worth considering installing a solar battery. These can help you power your entire household, from appliances to lightbulbs on completely free energy, from morning till night.
5 Benefits of Solar Batteries
Solar batteries, also known as solar energy storage systems or solar battery storage, are devices that store excess energy generated by your solar panels. This allows you to access this additional energy for late use – for example, when there is no sunlight to produce energy or during a power outage.
Solar batteries play a crucial role in maximizing the efficiency and reliability of solar panel systems by also addressing the intermittent nature of sunlight.
Below are some other examples of the many benefits of installing solar batteries.
1. Off-grid Independence
By using a solar battery homeowners can become less dependent on using their national power grid for energy. The energy can primarily be sourced from fossil fuels, therefore contributing to their carbon footprint and emissions output.
Installing a solar battery allows users not only to generate their electricity from renewable solar rays but also to store any excess energy they generate as well. This excess energy can support a household even when there is no sunlight.
2. Cost Savings
Upfront installation costs for solar panel systems can seem very expensive, with the average 3.5kW PV system costing around €8,000. In addition, solar battery costs can range anywhere from €265 – €14,000 depending on the number and the capacity you choose.
However, if you use solar panels alongside a battery you will get far more energy for your investment than you would without one. This is because solar panels are often capable of producing more energy than our homes can use, and this potential energy could be wasted. With a solar battery, you can capture this additional energy and make use of it.
3. Earn Money
In many areas, homeowners can benefit from solar net metering schemes. This is when energy suppliers reward small energy generators for sending their excess energy back to the grid.
These schemes are usually backed by government bodies, and can often reward homeowners with payment or energy credits for them to recoup when they need it. These added benefits can really boost the return on your investment and are a great way to utilize a solar battery.
4. Future energy security
In recent years, we’ve seen how global events can impact the price of energy. As supplies continue depleting and scarcity around fossil fuels drives energy prices higher, having a solar panel system and solar battery can protect your home from any unexpected costs.
Having an energy generator on your house can keep you powered up even in the toughest economic climates.
5. Run a clean, sustainable home
If you’re looking for ways to improve the sustainability of your home and lifestyle, solar power is an incredible step towards this. The energy from our sun is a never-ending, natural, and nonharmful source of energy.
You can power anything in your home with solar power, from your home heating system to your chosen voice-activated assistant! There are many ways to adapt solar power to home needs, for example, using solar thermal panels to heat your water.
By capturing solar energy in a battery you can make your solar power go further and feel even better about the impact you’re having on your planet (or not having!).
Solar energy, and solar batteries, can play a critical role in keeping your home running. Through power outages, dark skies, or economic turbulence, a solar battery can help keep everything running so you can worry less.
In addition, they will maintain a sustainable and long-lasting energy efficiency home that’s ready for the future. By enhancing your solar supply, a solar battery can even offer you financial benefits, such as lower bills or net metering income!
If you own a solar panel system, installing a solar battery is one the best ways to enhance your entire home’s sustainability and make your clean, renewable power go even further.
