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Can you use Home Battery Storage without solar panels?

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Even if you don’t have a solar power system, you may still be able to increase your energy independence — and protect yourself during power outages — with battery storage.

We will explain how that’s possible, looking at the benefits and disadvantages of having a battery without solar panels, and outline how you can add a solar array later.

Does a battery work without solar panels?

A battery can absolutely work without solar panels. You can use a storage battery to store electricity from the grid.

You can use power from the grid when it’s cost-effective but then switch to battery power during times of peak demand when electricity costs more. Over time, this can help reduce energy costs and keep utility expenses as low as possible.

 

What are the benefits of a lone battery?

  • You can avoid the higher costs of electricity during peak times — by charging your storage battery when demand is lower, you can use this electricity in the evening and avoid paying peak demand prices.
  • Reduces strain on the grid — using stored electricity during peak demand not only saves you money but also puts less pressure on the grid, which means fewer power outages for everyone.
  • Increases energy independence — not all homes can have solar panels, but you can still get a storage battery to give you more control over the energy you use.

 

Can you add solar panels to your battery later on?

Yes, you can add solar panels to an existing battery system. It isn’t even that difficult — it’s just a matter of hooking up your new solar panels to the battery.

We recommend using a professional to install and connect your solar panels to your battery system, because of the risk of damage to yourself or the products.

 

3 FAQs About Home Battery Storage

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ZRGP energy storage system can reduce your fuel bills and carbon emissions, especially if you already have home solar panels. Residential Energy Storage Systems offer considerable energy and cost-saving benefits such as solar battery storage， peak shifting， grid services， and battery storage backup.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about energy storage.

 

 1、How do batteries differ?

There are four main types of batteries namely lithium-ion, lead-acid, flow, and saltwater. Lithium-ion batteries are generally the most suitable for homeowners, as they’re lightweight, compact, and typically have a longer shelf life than other battery technologies. They also have a higher depth of discharge, meaning you can tap into more of your battery’s capacity.

All of ZRGP’s BESS, modules use lithium iron phosphate to ensure the safest, most efficient, and cleanest product to power your life.

 

 2、What are the benefits of energy storage systems?

Coupled with your home solar system, the ZRGP PowerBase Max-X energy storage system gives you greater control over your energy usage and bills and helps you get the most from your solar investment.

  • Reduce Electricity Bills

Adding an energy storage system to your home can effectively reduce the electricity bill. Installing an energy storage system will keep the total power consumption below a specified value. With on-site storage, you can charge your batteries whenever electricity rates are at their lowest (during off-peak hours or with your free solar energy).

  • Maximize Self-Consumption

The energy storage system can perfectly suit commercial and residential uses. During the daytime, the system can collect and store energy, which can be used at night whenever needed. Property owners are provided with the most efficient use of solar energy at home, including grid independence, increased self-consumption, and reduced electricity bills.

  • Emergency Power Backup

Don’t worry about the sudden power failure. Residential energy storage solutions integrated with solar panels can ensure energy backup. The backup power system is used to provide energy when the primary source fails for the 24/7 power supply.

 

 3、Can I Go off-grid?

Installing battery storage in your home does not necessarily mean that you can disconnect completely from the electrical grid. While it’s possible to go off the grid, the number of solar panels and the amount of battery storage you may need to invest in could mean it’s not financially viable.

Generally speaking, going off-grid is not practical for the average urban consumer because:

  • It might be difficult to store enough energy to reliably cover your use during cloudy days in winter;
  • You would not be able to sell any surplus energy back to the grid;
  • There are likely to be significant extra costs (e.g. special additional equipment like the installation of an air-conditioning system) for the battery.

AC vs. DC Coupling: Which is Best for Your Application

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​Energy storage has grown increasingly popular in recent years, and with good reason. Batteries represent the next step toward grid independence, effectively expanding the capabilities of your solar panels around the clock by allowing you to store and use your excess solar energy, both day and night.

A hotly debated topic among solar installers today is whether AC or DC coupling is the best approach for solar+storage installations and retrofits. The truth is there really is no right or wrong answer. Both approaches have their merits, and the optimal approach depends entirely upon the application.

 

AC-coupled vs. DC-coupled – What’s the Difference?

AC or DC coupling refers to the way in which solar panels are coupled with and interact with a battery system.

AC coupled systems require two inverters: a common grid-tied solar inverter and a battery-based inverter. This means that the energy used by the batteries may be inverted as many as three times before being used in the home — i.e., from DC (PV array) to AC (load center) through the solar inverter, then back to DC (batteries) through the battery-based inverter, and then back to AC again (home loads).

DC coupled systems use a charge controller to directly charge batteries with solar generation and a battery-based inverter to power home loads (AC).

As a result, DC coupled systems are slightly more efficient than AC coupled systems because the power is not inverted multiple times.

 

AC Coupled: Best for Those Who Already Have Solar

AC coupled systems can be much more convenient for retrofits in which customers want to add batteries to existing residential grid-tied solar systems. One only needs to purchase an additional battery-based inverter to connect the batteries.

Because of the ease of installation, AC coupling can be ideal for grid-tied residential battery backup systems as well as large commercial systems, especially for retrofits where solar panels have already been installed.

While AC coupled systems may be easier to install, using battery storage to cover AC loads is likely to result in a marginal decrease in efficiency.

 

DC Coupled: Best for Those Installing Solar and Storage Together

DC coupling is ideal for new on- and off-grid solar+storage system installations in residential and small commercial applications, but not retrofits with existing solar panels, because the existing grid-tied solar inverter must be removed entirely and replaced with a battery-based inverter. In most cases, the existing PV array wiring must be reconfigured.

The ZRGP PowerBase Mate (minimum capacity 10.24 kWh, expandable to 40.96 kWh) is a great choice for DC-coupled systems. It is a low-voltage battery system with an acquired flexible modular design with no extra cables, which provides optimized safety, life span, and performance. They are perfect batteries for all applications.

The PowerBase Mate has the flexibility to be combined with any type of energy generator, including photovoltaic, bioenergy, wind, and diesel generators. This makes it a more viable option for achieving energy independence.