During the day, solar systems rely on the electricity generated by solar panels for production and operation. On nights or cloudy days, a form of energy storage is needed, therefore batteries are needed.
A battery is just a device for storing energy. There are two main types of batteries available for storing solar energy, namely lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries.
lithium battery
Lithium ion batteries are widely used in electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops. They have started to gain market share in the solar energy industry. Some advantages of this type of battery are:
Low self-discharge rate.
They have high efficiency and energy density.
High battery voltage
The disadvantages are:
High manufacturing costs.
Due to mechanical, thermal, or chemical stress, they are prone to explosion
Lead acid battery
Lead acid batteries are the oldest rechargeable batteries. And the most commonly used batteries in the Nigerian solar industry. In lead-acid batteries, the gate and electrode are made of lead. In order to improve mechanical strength, additives such as calcium were added. There are different types of lead-acid batteries. They can be classified based on the application or electrolyte used.
According to their application, we have two types, start-up batteries and deep cycle batteries. Start the battery for use in the car. Deep cycle batteries are used for storage in renewable energy systems.
According to the type of electrolyte, we have rich liquid lead-acid batteries, also known as wet batteries and valve regulated lead-acid batteries, also known as sealed or dry batteries. Rich liquid batteries require topping up with distilled water, while VRLA batteries (valve regulated sealed lead-acid batteries) do not, as their electrolytes are essentially semi solid.
There are two types of sealed or dry batteries: gel batteries and adsorption glass mat (AGM) batteries. The service life of colloidal batteries is longer than that of AGM batteries.
Generally speaking, some advantages of lead-acid batteries are:
They are cost-effective and more economical.
They are reliable.
They are recyclable.
Some drawbacks are:
They are very heavy.
They have low cycle and deep discharge stability.
matters needing attention
Although the battery itself is safe, attention should still be paid.
Ensure that the surface and surroundings of the battery are always clean and free of dirt.
Please have professional personnel regularly inspect and maintain the battery.
Immediately charge the battery after discharge. Even when the battery is not in use, it should be charged at least once a month to maintain its efficiency.
Ensure the use of wires of sufficient size and rating recommended for the battery during installation.
Ensure proper disposal of used batteries.
Do not mix old and new batteries in the system, as this will have a negative impact on the performance of the new battery.
Do not use any type of water to charge the battery. Use only distilled water to avoid contaminating the electrolyte.
Do not combine batteries of different types and sizes in a single system.
If you want to know more about solar panels, please contact us, the solar panel manufacturer – Huanqi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.