What is a solar battery?
A solar battery allows you to use more of the energy being generated by your
solar panels. Adding solar panel battery storage to your solar system will
further reduce your reliance on an energy supplier, taking your energy savings
even further. A solar battery allows you to continue powering your home with
renewable solar energy during the evening and at night when the solar panels
aren’t able to generate energy. Solar PV panels convert solar energy into
usable electricity and, more often than not, they’re producing more electricity
than can be used.
Without a solar battery, this excess is delivered to the National Grid, this means
that you’ll miss out on using the energy yourself and will have to rely on your
energy supplier once the sun has set.
Where back-up electricity supply would be one less worry
you need to be looking at an AC coupled system. At the time of writing, we were
only able to find 3 battery systems available in the UK that will keep the lights
on during a power cut.
The Tesla Powerwall 2.0 with the Back-up Gateway.
This updated version of the Powerwall 2.0 comes with a separate unit which looks
like a smaller version of the battery itself and completely islands your home in the
event of a power cut.
The second and much cost effective option is the PureStorage battery system
from Puredrive. Finally, the Samsung SDI can also provide emergency power.
Always check on the manufacturers data sheets ahead of the installation as
power-cut back-up may not be fitted as standard, or just give us a call
Built in back up
You need to be looking at an AC coupled system.
At the time of writing, we were only able to find 3 battery systems
available in the UK that will keep the lights on during a power cut.
The top quality two are, Tesla or PowerDrive Energy
2 - Examples of Solar Batteries with Back-up Power
1- Tesla Powerwall with Back-up Gateway 2
The 13.4 kWh Tesla Powerwall 2.0 has been leading the
international solar battery market for many years but until
recently it did not have the back-up power supply feature.
The company has now released the Tesla Powerwall 2.0
with Back-up Gateway in the UK and Germany.
The new gateway component looks like a small version
of the Powerwall battery and will island the battery from
the grid in the event of a power cut.
In addition to this
New feature, Tesla claims that the battery now has faster
connectivity stronger connection to the monitoring system.
The Powerwall has a 5 kW inverter which could cover a
significant (if not all) of the electrical load in the average
home during a power cut.
Puredrive Energy - Pure Storage
2nd Example of Solar Batteries with Back-up Power
Puredrive Energy PureStorage
Pure Drive is a British designer and manufacturer of
innovative solar storage systems. PureStorage residential
battery is a Hi-Rate 5 or 10kWh LiFePo4 battery which
can both store excess solar energy and provide back
up power in the event of a power cut.
When the system detects a power cut the battery
will automatically power your appliances through a
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply)which begins in
less than under 20 milliseconds.
The PureStorage battery is a smart battery and can be
monitored and controlled using a free app or the
website via a mobile device with an internet connection.
PureStorage battery installed inside or outside
If you would prefer to keep the battery outside your
home you can choose to include a weatherproof
outside enclosure.
The PureStorage has options of 3 or 5 kW inverters
with a Purdrive battery of 5 KWh or a 10 KWh,
both options include a 10 year warranty with 6,000 cycles
for your peace of mind.
Send us an enquiry today for a free no-obligation quote
How much do the best solar batteries cost?
Solar battery prices can range from £500 to over £7,000, before installation which
is likely to cost around £500-£2,000.
Select your Emergency Power Supply circuits “EPS”
It is possible to separate your appliances onto different electricity circuits so that
only the low-energy appliances are powered by the battery.
This is usually a straightforward process which is not costly or complex.
Solar batteries with back-up power
Which is not the same as built into the Solar Batteries
all in one systems such as Tesla Powerwall or PowerDrive
How they work > Switch over switch
Solar batteries with back-up power require the installation electrician install
into a additional consumer unit a relay “switch over switch”, this relay switch
when it detects a power cut would then automatically connect your electricity
supply to your own EPS circuits
“EPS” circuits
This relay is installed between your main fuse board
and the incoming electricity incoming electricity supply
allowing you to continue to use your appliances which
have been selected “EPS” for your emergency power
supply circuits such as lights /computer / TV / fridge / during the power cut.
Example Storage packages as at November 2020
First Battery installed July 2016 Battery Storage installed October 2020
For more on Battery Storage > visit our sister site :- www.batterysolarstorage.co.uk
