Many homeowners install solar panels for one reason: to achieve some degree of energy independence. The idea of keeping your home off-grid is appealing, and it can, in theory, help your family prepare for a range of disasters. Even when you aren't facing potential power outages, true energy independence can mean drastically lower energy bills and freedom from utility price hikes.
Unfortunately, reality doesn't always live up to these expectations. Without some form of storage, it's impossible to take your home off-grid. However, battery banks can help you get closer to these goals. Keep reading to learn three ways that installing a solar battery bank can improve your home's independence from the electrical grid.
1. More Available Power
One key issue with solar power is that it's not always there when you need it. If you don't work from home, then there's a good chance you aren't using much electricity during the brightest parts of the day. Although you aren't genuinely wasting this energy with a grid system, selling that power back to the utility company can certainly feel like a waste.
A battery bank can help you smooth over these supply and demand issues. Your batteries can charge while your home remains empty during the day, providing you with power for later in the evening. This smoothing effect means you and your family can enjoy the benefits of your home's solar panels instead of using them to supply energy back to the grid.
2. More Resiliency
Another downside to traditional grid-backed solar systems becomes obvious during blackouts. If the grid goes down, you won't be able to use your solar panels. This approach is critical to protect lineworkers, but it can feel like an inconvenience when it happens to you. Some homeowners choose to buy generators for these situations, ultimately reducing the environmental benefits of solar power.
Batteries let you work around this problem and provide you with more resiliency. If you choose a battery-backed off-grid system, you'll be able to continue to use your home's stored power even during a blackout.
3. More Control
Batteries also give you more control over the design and operation of your solar power system. You can install a large bank if you want the ability to power your home for long periods or a smaller bank if you only intend to smooth over fluctuations in usage and availability. You can also expand your system in the future if your needs or goals change.
Ultimately, installing a battery-backed solar system gives you the tools you need to make your dreams of genuine energy independence a reality.
For more information, contact a company like Tier 1 Solar