A solar battery is a battery that stores energy generated by a solar panel system. It is an additional component to a solar panel system that allows you to use energy later such as at night, or when your solar panel systems are no longer producing electricity.

First, a solar panel system converts solar energy into electricity which then passes through an inverter. The inverter converts the electricity from DC electricity (direct current electricity which is when electrons flow in a single direction around the circuit) to AC electricity (alternating current electricity which is when electrons can flow in different directions). The solar battery takes the excess electricity that is not used right away and stores it for later use.  

When it gets dark or when your solar panel system is not generating electricity, the solar system panel will draw upon the electricity stored in the solar battery.  

Typically, a solar panel system is connected to the electricity grid and this is where excess electricity is stored. However, with a solar battery, excess energy will only be sent to the grid when the battery is fully charged and will only be drawn from the grid when the battery is depleted. With a solar batter, you can be fully independent and go off the grid. 

There are two common solar battery types: 

• Lithium Ion 
• Lead Acid 

When considering which type of battery to use, you should consider battery lifespan and warranty, power capacity, and depth of discharge (DoD). Battery lifespan can range from 5 to 15 years. This range is expected to increase as technology improves. Warranty is measured in either years or cycles. Power capacity is the amount of energy a battery can hold at one time. DoD measures the degree to which how much energy you can use of the battery’s total power capacity. 

Lithium ion batteries are more compact than lead acid batteries. They have a higher lifespan and higher DoD. However, they are less affordable than lead acid batteries.  

Lead acid batteries are more expensive and have a lower DoD compared to lithium ion batteries. They have been used for decades but are now becoming outdated as a result of rising technology.  

There are many benefits to having solar batteries installed in your home or business along with solar panel systems. One of these benefits include maximizing the use of electricity that you generate. Solar batteries can allow you to use 100% of the electricity you generate around the clock. A solar battery can also help you reduce your electricity bills. With a solar battery, you will not have to rely on the grid for electricity during the night or when your solar panel system is no longer generating electricity. You will also not have to pay the more expensive energy prices during peak hours since you can use the energy stored in the solar battery instead. This will lower the energy costs that you would have incurred relying on the grid and during peak hours. Another benefit of a solar battery is that it will allow you to become completely independent of the grid. This significantly decreases your carbon footprint and allows you to become 100% energy independent.