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, there are 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’re recyclable.
Some of the disadvantages are:
They’re heavy.
They have low cycle and deep discharge stability.
Matters needing attention.
Although the battery itself is safe, it should be paid attention to.
Ensure that the surface and surroundings of the battery are always clean and dirt-free.
Ask professionals to check and maintain the battery regularly.
Charge the battery immediately after discharge.
Even when the battery is not in use, it should be recharged at least once a month to maintain its efficiency.
Be sure to use the recommended wires of sufficient size and rating for the battery during installation.
Ensure that used batteries are disposed of properly.
Do not mix the new and old batteries in the system, as this will have a negative impact on the performance of the new batteries.
Do not use any type of water to charge the battery.
Use only distilled water to avoid contaminating the electrolyte.
Do not combine different types and sizes of batteries in one system.
If you want to know more about solar panels, please contact us, the solar panel manufacturer – Huanqi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.