Can Solar Power Be Stored?
Solar power can be stored in batteries for later use. Looked at another way, solar energy can also be used to offset electricity bills when the solar system is hooked into the grid. Does this Spark an idea?
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Batteries
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The amount of solar energy to be stored is limited only by the number of deep-cycle batteries the household has hooked up.
Battery Types
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RVs generally use "house batteries," which are standard deep-cycle automotive batteries. These are designed to be discharged up to 80%. House systems generally use a larger industrial size of deep-cycle battery, known as 4D or 8D.
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Excess Energy
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Energy that is not used as the solar power is being generated is stored in batteries. If there are not enough batteries to store all unused energy, the excess energy is wasted.
Grid-Tie Systems
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Grid systems take unused energy and make the electricity meter go backward, offsetting the bill. Here, the utility company "stores" the energy in a form of credit system.
Hybrid Systems
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Some grid-tie systems also include batteries. These come into play when there are power cuts, especially at night when you would normally be getting your energy from the grid.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Dominic Alves
