What's the reason we need storage batteries in our homes?

Seems like today "batteries" is a huge buzz word and everyone is talking about in California. What do they do and why do we need them? It's a great question.

Batteries store energy that our solar panels produce during the daytime, effectively turning sunlight power into stored energy. This is vital in California because utility companies charge customers on what they call "Time of Use" plans, which adds significant cost to a client without solar or storage during the 4:00pm to 9:00pm evening "peak hours." This is why storing solar energy in batteries on site and discharging the batteries at night to help mitigate the peak hour rates, is vital.

"Solar load shifting," also known as "solar shifting" or "peak shaving," refers to the practice of adjusting the usage of electricity generated by solar panels to align with peak demand times or specific needs. It involves storing excess solar energy produced during daylight hours in batteries or other storage systems to be used later during times when solar energy production is lower or when energy demand is higher, typically during evenings or periods of increased consumption. This approach helps optimize the use of solar energy and reduces reliance on the grid during peak demand periods.

How can batteries help?

Batteries play a crucial role in assisting with time-of-use by storing excess energy generated during periods of low demand (such as daytime when solar energy production is high) and supplying it during periods of high demand or when solar energy production is lower (like evenings or cloudy days).

During times when electricity rates are higher due to increased demand, batteries can discharge the stored energy, allowing consumers to rely less on grid-supplied electricity and thereby avoid higher utility costs. This capability enables users to maximize their use of stored solar power and manage their energy consumption more efficiently according to peak demand periods and pricing structures.

Want to learn more?

If you have questions about installing solar batteries and load shifting, the experts here at Cosmic Solar and Roofing are here to help! Please contact us at 760-749-1111 or visit us at cosmicsolar.com for more information.