Solar Systems

Solar power solutions convert renewable energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination of the two. Photovoltaic cells convert the light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect, which in turn is either used immediately or stored in batteries.

A solar battery allows you to continue powering your devices (home or mobile) with renewable solar energy during night-time hours when the solar panels no longer generate energy. Solar panels convert solar energy into usable electricity and, often produce more electricity than can be used, hence the need to store it for when you need it. In domestic applications, it is also possible to ‘sell’ excess power back to the national power suppliers.

Solar Batteries

Battery Capacity:

This means the maximum amount of energy that can be stored in a battery at any time. The average household uses around 8-10 kWh of electricity every day, and the maximum capacity of many batteries is approx. 20 kWh. Some batteries are stackable which means that it is possible to add more units to your battery storage system to increase the capacity as required.

Battery Technology:

Lead acid batteries still perform strongly in this market as they are a tried and tested method of storing and releasing energy. Lithium-ion batteries are starting to replace them, however, as they have a lower lifetime cost, higher efficiency, and better cycles (see below).

Life Cycles:

A battery cycle is the number of times a battery can be fully recharged from empty. Batteries come with warranties that guarantee a performance level after a certain number of cycles – the greater the warrantied number of cycles, the longer the expected life and performance of that battery.

Power cut Backup:

Another great feature of a solar battery system is your own personal power store can continue supplying your home/mobile even in the event of a power cut from the mains supply. This can be extremely beneficial as a backup or to help give you time to power sensitive equipment down.