Solar power is a renewable energy source that is clean and sustainable. It has become a major player in the global energy market as it helps to bring about a cleaner, healthier environment. If you wish to switch to this eco-friendly source of energy, be sure to visit www.newjerseysolarinitiative.com/trenton. That being said, solar energy systems are designed to have various components such as solar panels, inverters, and others. Solar panels are the component responsible for absorbing and generating solar electricity. However, they can only absorb and generate electricity when the sun is out in the mornings and afternoons. During this period, the electricity generated is often in excess but thankfully, it can be stored for later use.
There are three main ways to store solar energy: batteries, mechanical, and thermal storage. Whichever solar storage system you choose, you’ll still enjoy the numerous benefits of storing solar energy. Read on to learn more about how to store solar energy and the benefits of storing solar energy.
Benefits Of Storing Solar Energy.
Consistent Power Supply
The sun shines during the day and not at night; as a result, solar panels can only generate energy during the day. Interestingly, the peak energy use period is usually in the evenings. So, how do you bridge this gap? The solution to this is found in solar energy storage systems. They help keep your electricity supply consistent both day and night. Solar energy storage systems are designed to serve as energy reservoirs that’ll keep your power on when the electricity generated by the solar panels is low.
Reliable Energy
Power outages due to unexpected disruptions in the energy grid can cause a major challenge in the smooth running of the home or business. Fortunately, if you install a solar energy system along with a solar storage system in your home, you’ll be protected during unexpected power outages.
Reduces Energy Bills
If you’ve installed a grid-tied solar system in a region with no solar net energy metering system, one major issue you could experience is improper compensation for your excess solar energy storage in the energy grid. It could cause you to pay some money on your electricity bill while the grid supplies power to cover your energy needs on cloudy days and at night. But, if you have backup battery storage alongside your solar energy system, you’ll have more control over your excess solar energy and your electricity bills will be significantly reduced.
How To Store Solar Energy
There are many ways you can store solar energy, but it’s important to know how each system works before deciding which one is best for you. In light of this, here are the common ways to store solar energy.
Battery Storage
Battery solar energy storage is the most common way of storing solar power. There are various types of batteries built for storing solar energy; some of them include; lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and several others. However, the most commonly used type is lithium-ion batteries. All these batteries are built to hold different capacities of energy.
Nevertheless, they all work by receiving excess solar energy and converting the electric power into chemical energy and thereafter storing it for later. To release the energy when needed, the battery components reconvert the stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
Thermal Storage
Thermal energy storage is also effective in capturing excess solar energy for further use. The system ensures that your solar electricity supply is not limited to the time the power was generated by the solar panel. Thermal solar energy is either stored in the form of sensible heat or latent heat. Sensible heat storage involves storing solar energy as it is without phase change while latent heat storage changes the phase of the excess energy before storage. They both involve the use of a storage medium which could be liquid or solid and the heat is usually stored in an insulated container.
Mechanical Storage
Mechanical storage involves the use of the potential energy of an object to produce electricity. This storage system converts excess solar electricity into mechanical energy and it reverses the process when the electricity is needed for later use. In general, there are various types of mechanical energy storage some of which include; compressed air, flywheel, and pumped hydro. Each of these mechanical storage systems is effective in regenerating stored solar energy.
Solar storage makes the solar energy system function optimally both day and night as well as in seasons with low amounts of daily sunlight.
