Adding a Battery to Your Solar Energy System as a Retrofit: What You Need to Know

Batteries have long been used to store additional power for solar systems. However, owing to their high cost and low effectiveness, they were only feasible for a few solar systems, mainly off-grid, until recently. However, batteries have also begun to look like an appealing option for many grid-tied solar systems as the prices keep falling and their effectiveness increases.

Batteries may not have been required if your system was put in a few years ago. However, as technology develops and the market shifts, you might wish your power had helped from energy storage.

The answer to the question of whether or not you can add batteries to your current solar system is yes! Solar battery installation can recover your existing solar setup to yield energy savings and improve your system’s effectiveness.

How Are Solar Batteries Operational?

We want to briefly discuss how batteries work before discussing the options for solar battery installation in your system.

Your solar panels collect sunlight and convert it into electric power. After that, the power is directed to an inverter, which changes it into AC energy, which you can use in your home or business. Your applications, lights, and devices are powered by the energy your system makes. What occurs if your system generates more electricity than you consume?

If you install a battery, this is where it comes in. When your electricity use exceeds what your solar system generates, you can use battery-stored energy instead of getting power from the grid.

Solar Battery Installation of Your Existing Solar System

Adding a battery to a current grid-tied solar array is generally possible; however, the level of complexity depends on whether the system was designed to do so. Here’s how to add a battery to your current solar setup.

Solar System Ready for Storage
In the best scenario, you expected a must to install batteries when you got your system installed. Maybe you wanted to minimize the initial cost of installation or were waiting for costs to drop. In any case, you prepared yourself for what lay ahead. When it makes financial sense, your inverter is set up for a battery installation. With fewer work and supplies needed than the other two alternatives, this is the most inexpensive and simple choice.
Two main options exist for connecting your battery to your system if you did not install a storage-ready system_ DC coupling and AC coupling.

DC-Connected System
The inverter will be replaced with one that utilizes a solar system and a battery in a DC Coupled System. We name these hybrid inverters. The battery gets charged using DC power generated by your solar panels. After entering the hybrid inverter, the power is converted into AC electricity. After that, you may utilize the AC electricity at your house or place of business or feed it into the grid.

In this case, less energy your panels produce will be lost during conversion. This is why electricity only flows from DC to AC, but in an AC Coupled System (outlined below), all of the battery’s stored energy moves from AC to DC (for battery recharging) and back to AC. However, since the inverter is more costly and takes tremendous effort, the other option will likely cost more upfront.

If your inverter is nearing the end of its expected life and you’ve had your solar system for some time, DC coupling can be an excellent option. Switching out your string inverter sooner with one that runs on a battery may be beneficial since most of them last fifteen years.

AC-Connected System
The third option, an AC Coupled System, charges the battery with a second inverter, sometimes called a “storage inverter,” in addition to the usual inverter. As always, the inverter takes the DC power produced by your panels and converts it into AC power. If you’re consuming power, the inverter transmits it to your building; if you’re creating more electricity than you’re using, it sends it to your battery; and if your battery is ultimately charged, it sends it to the grid.

AC coupling may be more straightforward to install, offer location flexibility, be suitable with an array of inverters, and probably be less expensive. However, it is slightly less efficient. Batteries hold DC power, while the electricity you use in the home is AC and stored on the grid. The battery needs to be converted into AC power to supply electricity for your house or place of business. Compared to DC coupling, this additional step leads to more significant energy loss.

How To Install Battery Storage: A Detailed Guide

Adding battery storage to the present solar panel installation requires several steps, including professional installation and meticulous planning.

Here is an in-depth manual to assist you in completing the procedure:

• Research on battery systems, installers, and brands- To get familiar with their many opportunities and features, start with extensive research on battery brands, systems, and nearby companies. Having at least a basic grasp is usually beneficial.
• Consult and obtain quotations – For a more thorough discussion of your unique needs and home layout, contact the companies you prefer. Make plans for them to come to your house and provide costs and, particular to the situation, professional advice.
• Select the correct battery type- Battery type, parameters, and integration method: Pick the kind of battery system you want, the capacity that best suits your needs, and your chosen integration strategy based on your research and discussions. Generally speaking, depending on your energy needs, you may add two or three batteries to your solar panel setup.
• Analyze the costs- Calculate how much the chosen battery system will cost to buy and install. It ranges typically between £2,500 and £10k+, based on the size, brand, and type of battery.
• Review your energy supplier agreement - To receive the best bargain, find out from your energy provider if you need to renew or modify your agreement. Selling extra energy back to the grid is very suitable. Here, current suppliers often have the most incredible rates.
• Choose the ideal spot- Most houses don’t have numerous options here, but your installer may offer qualified guidance. Your battery storage system should be placed in a well-ventilated area away from temperature extremes. Ensure sufficient room for the equipment and that it is simple to reach for maintenance. Learn about the size of battery storage systems.
• Installation- Make plans for an authorized technician to attach the battery system to your current solar panels and integrate it into your primary energy system.
• Set up the parameters. Work with your installer to set up the system settings and monitoring software. This will help you optimize the functioning of your system and measure the energy you generate, use, and store.

To maximize efficiency, this final item is essential. You can be sure that everything is working as efficiently as possible and that you’re saving the most money by keeping an eye on the performance of your system.

In the end, each energy storage project is unique. Working with a trained installation is the most effective way to understand the options and associated expenses. To get the ideal solution for your house, share the details of your system, power use, and storage objectives.