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By Will Shippee | 5 min read
What to look for in a home battery backup
Find your best solution for clean, reliable backup power during outages
With climate change increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, power outages are impacting us more than ever.
According to the nonprofit research group, Climate Central, 83% of all reported power outages from 2000 to 2021 were caused by weather-related events, from drought-fueled wildfires to damaging tornadoes and hurricanes. And climate experts say many of these events will become more frequent and more intense as global temperatures rise.
While losing power at home has always been an inconvenience, the stakes are getting higher. Working from home is more commonplace, and data shows that 77% of adults age 50 and older want to remain in their homes, with dependable access to necessary health services and technology, including oxygen machines and remote monitoring devices. So for many, backup power is more than a convenience; it’s critical.
The sustainable choice for home backup power
For years, the darkness and quiet that accompany a power outage has been punctuated by the sound of a gas or propane generator kicking on (outside your neighbor’s house or, if you’re lucky, your own). But now there is a cleaner (and quieter) option: a home battery backup system.
Backup batteries store reserve energy that is generated in one of two ways: via a home’s solar panels or from the power grid. Ideally, and more commonly, a battery is powered by clean renewable energy from a home’s rooftop solar panels. Not only does the system give you clean power, it also continues to charge your battery as long as the sun is out, helping to extend the length of time you can stay powered during an outage. Furthermore, pairing a backup battery with a smart panel allows you to you choose what to power and when during an outage, making your battery-supplied power last even longer.
Even when grid-supplied power is available, backup batteries deliver benefits, allowing you to save on your monthly electric bills. Instead of paying the highest electricity rates during peak-demand periods, you can switch to using the stored power in your backup battery. A backup battery also helps you make the most of your rooftop solar system, enabling you to store and use the excess energy that it produces.
Types of backup batteries to consider
Homeowners have two main backup battery types to choose from:
Lithium-ion batteries are most common in home solar applications. While more expensive, lithium-ion batteries are more efficient, with 100% usable capacity. They also last longer. That means their higher initial cost over a lead-acid battery evens out over the lifetime of the battery. In addition, lithium-ion batteries are smaller, lighter, and virtually maintenance-free. Based on their price point, longevity, and efficiency, they are the preferred choice for home solar storage.
Lead-acid batteries, which you find in most cars, flashlights, and other small devices, are a low-cost solution, but much less preferable for home solar storage applications. Not only do they have a much lower usable capacity limit of 50% (compared to roughly 100% for lithium-ion batteries), they also are less efficient. Lead-acid batteries have significant environmental impacts, as well.
What to consider before purchasing a backup battery
As you review the backup battery options available to you, ask these questions:
- How much capacity do you need? A backup battery’s capacity is gauged in watt-hours (Wh). Usually, higher capacity translates into higher output, but not always, so be sure to confirm. To determine the battery capacity that is right for you, consider your backup power goals. Are you looking to keep the lights on during an outage for a few hours? For a few days? If you want longer power availability and greater resiliency, you’ll want to invest in more battery storage. If you’re looking to save on your electric bills, a solar-plus-storage system will equip you to do so. And if want to have total energy independence, i.e., the ability to go off the grid, you likely need to consider a combination of solar, backup batteries, and a generator.
- How will you recharge your battery? Will you use grid power or a home solar system? The answer to this question may affect your decision on the battery’s capacity since outlet charging, unlike solar, is not available during power outages.
- Will the battery work with my existing solar system? If your home is already equipped with solar panels, be sure the battery you are purchasing is compatible with the system that you have in place. While most home solar batteries are compatible with most solar panel systems, every project is unique. By sharing the specifics of your solar system, electricity use, and storage objectives with your installer, you can determine what kind of system is the best fit for your home.
- What is the lifetime cost of the battery? While lithium-ion batteries have a higher up-front cost, they deliver savings over their service life through longevity and energy efficiency, which may more than offset the initial larger investment.
Essential equipment in the new electric world
As we all become more dependent on electricity in our everyday lives and power outages increase in frequency and duration, home backup power is evolving from a nice-to-have to a good-to-have (on its way to becoming a must-have).
Easy to use and maintain. And as an investment, they pay off by helping to reduce electricity bills and maximizing the investment in a home solar system.
That will make it easier for you to sleep at night, storm or no storm.
With climate change increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, power outages are impacting us more than ever.
According to the nonprofit research group, Climate Central, 83% of all reported power outages from 2000 to 2021 were caused by weather-related events, from drought-fueled wildfires to damaging tornadoes and hurricanes. And climate experts say many of these events will become more frequent and more intense as global temperatures rise.
While losing power at home has always been an inconvenience, the stakes are getting higher. Working from home is more commonplace, and data shows that 77% of adults age 50 and older want to remain in their homes, with dependable access to necessary health services and technology, including oxygen machines and remote monitoring devices. So for many, backup power is more than a convenience; it’s critical.
The sustainable choice for home backup power
For years, the darkness and quiet that accompany a power outage has been punctuated by the sound of a gas or propane generator kicking on (outside your neighbor’s house or, if you’re lucky, your own). But now there is a cleaner (and quieter) option: a home battery backup system.
Backup batteries store reserve energy that is generated in one of two ways: via a home’s solar panels or from the power grid. Ideally, and more commonly, a battery is powered by clean renewable energy from a home’s rooftop solar panels. Not only does the system give you clean power, it also continues to charge your battery as long as the sun is out, helping to extend the length of time you can stay powered during an outage. Furthermore, pairing a backup battery with a smart panel allows you to you choose what to power and when during an outage, making your battery-supplied power last even longer.
Even when grid-supplied power is available, backup batteries deliver benefits, allowing you to save on your monthly electric bills. Instead of paying the highest electricity rates during peak-demand periods, you can switch to using the stored power in your backup battery. A backup battery also helps you make the most of your rooftop solar system, enabling you to store and use the excess energy that it produces.
Types of backup batteries to consider
Homeowners have two main backup battery types to choose from:
Lithium-ion batteries are most common in home solar applications. While more expensive, lithium-ion batteries are more efficient, with 100% usable capacity. They also last longer. That means their higher initial cost over a lead-acid battery evens out over the lifetime of the battery. In addition, lithium-ion batteries are smaller, lighter, and virtually maintenance-free. Based on their price point, longevity, and efficiency, they are the preferred choice for home solar storage.
Lead-acid batteries, which you find in most cars, flashlights, and other small devices, are a low-cost solution, but much less preferable for home solar storage applications. Not only do they have a much lower usable capacity limit of 50% (compared to roughly 100% for lithium-ion batteries), they also are less efficient. Lead-acid batteries have significant environmental impacts, as well.
What to consider before purchasing a backup battery
As you review the backup battery options available to you, ask these questions:
- How much capacity do you need? A backup battery’s capacity is gauged in watt-hours (Wh). Usually, higher capacity translates into higher output, but not always, so be sure to confirm. To determine the battery capacity that is right for you, consider your backup power goals. Are you looking to keep the lights on during an outage for a few hours? For a few days? If you want longer power availability and greater resiliency, you’ll want to invest in more battery storage. If you’re looking to save on your electric bills, a solar-plus-storage system will equip you to do so. And if want to have total energy independence, i.e., the ability to go off the grid, you likely need to consider a combination of solar, backup batteries, and a generator.
- How will you recharge your battery? Will you use grid power or a home solar system? The answer to this question may affect your decision on the battery’s capacity since outlet charging, unlike solar, is not available during power outages.
- Will the battery work with my existing solar system? If your home is already equipped with solar panels, be sure the battery you are purchasing is compatible with the system that you have in place. While most home solar batteries are compatible with most solar panel systems, every project is unique. By sharing the specifics of your solar system, electricity use, and storage objectives with your installer, you can determine what kind of system is the best fit for your home.
- What is the lifetime cost of the battery? While lithium-ion batteries have a higher up-front cost, they deliver savings over their service life through longevity and energy efficiency, which may more than offset the initial larger investment.
Essential equipment in the new electric world
As we all become more dependent on electricity in our everyday lives and power outages increase in frequency and duration, home backup power is evolving from a nice-to-have to a good-to-have (on its way to becoming a must-have).
Easy to use and maintain. And as an investment, they pay off by helping to reduce electricity bills and maximizing the investment in a home solar system.
That will make it easier for you to sleep at night, storm or no storm.