Solar Storage: How Batteries are Changing the Game

The increasing popularity of solar in India is creating a revolutionary change in the country’s energy dependence strategy. The growth in installed capacity, technological advancements, rural electrification, and government initiative have become the primary drivers of this change.

As of August 2024, 89,431.98 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity has been installed within India contributing to 58.58% of the renewable energy capacity in the country. In the third quarter of 2024 19.6% of total installed power capacity of India was taken up by solar energy.

However, this growth faces a few challenges due to dependence on factors like weather and grid stability. As solar energy relies on sunlight the production varies during cloudy days and at nights. During outages solar does not work as it is connected to grid supply which undermines the benefits of solar energy to consumers.

The combination of solar power and energy storage systems has become an effective solution to tolerate the intermittent nature of solar energy systems leading to enhanced reliability.

What is a Solar Battery?

A solar battery is a rechargeable energy storage system that charges through energy produced from solar panels. The energy that is stored in these batteries is utilised when the solar generation is low or zero during night or on cloudy days. This helps homeowners with solar panels to maximize their renewable energy usage by storing excess energy instead of sending it to the grid.

How do these batteries work?

Energy is generated through solar panels on the rooftop as DC electricity. This is utilised by the household that is connected to the solar energy system. Traditional/ On-grid solar energy system sends any excess energy generated back to the grid for which you can earn based on the set tariff by the DISCOM provider.

A hybrid solar energy system utilises batteries that store the excess energy generated. This energy is converted into AC electricity using a hybrid inverted and can be utilised by the household during outages and nights helping homeowners become truly energy independent. Any excess energy generated beyond after charging the batteries is then sent to the grid.

What are the types of batteries?

Lead Acid Batteries:  These batteries are reliable and cost-effective but have a short lifespan compared to other new technologies. These batteries have been majorly used in off-grid applications.

Lithium-Ion batteries:  These batteries are highly popular because their compact size, high efficiency, and low maintenance. They are also known for their long lifespan of over 10 yeas and fast charging capabilities.

Lithium-ion batteries are usually preferred over Lead-Acid Batteries as they have around 95% efficiency and last longer while lead-acid batteries only have round 80% efficiency. Lead-acid batteries also require regular maintenance while lithium-ion are maintenance-free.

Benefits of Hybrid Solar Energy Systems

1.     Energy Independence

Hybrid solar energy systems help homeowners store excess energy generated during the day for utilising it later during night, cloudy periods or power outages. This helps in reducing dependence on grid and promotes energy independence as well as lower electricity bills.

2.     Cost Savings

Solar allows homeowners to significantly reduce their bills up to 90%. Using Hybrid systems helps you fully utilise all the energy generated through your solar.

3.     Energy Management

Hybrid systems use load shifting mechanisms by storing energy generated in peak hours and discharging during low production and higher demand periods. Advanced hybrid inverter technologies also ensure optimal charging and discharging cycles.

4.     System Efficiency

Lithium-ion batteries allow stored energy to be retrieved and used with 90-95% efficiency which is significantly more than 80-85% efficiency exhibited by lead-acid batteries. Batteries also allow you to minimize losses by escaping lower tariff rates for sending it back to the grid.

5.     Demand Management

Hybrid systems flatten the load curve by flattening the load curve by discharging stored energy at peak performance hours. This allows in reducing charges at peak demand hours especially for commercial users.

6.     Environmental Impact

Maximizing use of renewable energy allows reduced reliance on fossil fuels also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Lithium-ion phosphate batteries offer longer lifespans and reduce the environmental impact.

Challenges and Considerations

High Initial Cost

Definition: Investment upfront for solar storage batteries can be very high. The most effective batteries for solar applications, say lithium-ion batteries, are normally highly priced.

Impact: The high initial standard of commitment required to install solar storage will dissuade individuals and organizations from investing in solar energy systems and make it even more difficult to compete with traditional energy sources like coal or natural gas.

Scalability Issues

Description: Most of the available energy systems were not meant to accommodate large storage. Integrating such systems with solar batteries would require massive upgrading and modifications.

Impact: Because of this, adoption would become narrower, since investments and resources will be needed to improve infrastructure.

Regulatory and Policy Challenges

Description: Current regulations are outdated and would thus either not support new renewable sources or complicate the installation of solar storage systems.

Impact: All these literally put legal hurdles on their way which leads to a slow pace of taking up solar storage technologies.

Technological Limitations

Description: Limitations must also be recognized in all of the present battery technology in terms of energy capacity, cumulative age, and performance efficiency. Indeed, even though lithium-ion batteries have now become widespread in application, they are still not having a life everlasting and performance- degrading over time.

Impact: All limitations impede the scalability of solar energy storage solutions and can even increase their price in the long-term due to frequent replacements.

6. Integration with Existing Grids

Description: Historically, electricity grids were not designed for energy storage, which poses technical challenges when integrating large-scale storage systems with existing power grids.

Impact: This can complicate efforts to ensure a stable power supply and may require extensive grid redesigns or upgrades.

7. Public Perception and Acceptance

Description: Despite the growing popularity of solar energy, some people still view it as unreliable or unproven. This perception can hinder support for integrating solar storage batteries into existing systems.

Impact: Resistance to change or investment in new technologies can slow down the adoption of hybrid solutions.

Conclusion

Packaging solar energy along with storage systems alters India's energy landscape significantly because it facilitates more energy independence and efficiency. Hybrid solar systems keep dependence on the grid to a minimum, contribute to lower costs, and maximize renewable energy use. High upfront costs and issues of scalability still remain a barrier, but the perks of solar storage are clear. Technological advancements, together with policies that support this goal, will ensure that energy storage powered by sunlight takes a central position in India's sustainable future.

Unlock the future of energy storage with cutting-edge solar batteries that enhance efficiency and reliability. Atria utilized top-notch lithium-ion batteries from Lithium-Valley with a 10-year manufacturing warranty. Take the leap towards energy independence today with Atria’s advanced solar storage solutions. Contact us at 080 62680000 and learn how to power your home or business with sustainable, stored solar energy!