Types of Solar Batteries for Home

2024-06-25

The world has evolved so much, and along with it the technologies that make our daily lives easy. One example of such technologies is solar batteries. The rising popularity of these batteries influenced many companies to make better types of solar batteries for homes, raising the competition quite high.


Many efficient batteries are available on the market, but not all are suitable for residential use. Before we discuss different types of solar batteries for homes, let’s first see how solar batteries work.


How Do Solar Batteries Work?


Solar batteries are connected to solar panels and store energy generated by those panels, which is the simple answer to the question. The following is a step-by-step explanation of how solar batteries work.


1.The solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. These panels are made of photovoltaic (PV) cells.


2.An inverter installed in the solar battery storage system converts this DC electricity to alternative current (AC) electricity, which is compatible with almost all building circuits.


3.The AC electricity power appliances and other electric devices. The energy these appliances and devices do not use is stored in energy storage batteries.


4.The excess energy sent to solar batteries is converted into chemical energy. For example, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode to store energy in lithium-ion batteries.


5.When there is a power outage or solar panels, generate energy, the chemical energy stored in solar batteries is again converted to electric energy in the form of AC to power the required appliances.


6.Battery Management System (BMS) monitors the charging and discharging of the solar battery to ensure that the battery operates efficiently.


Types of Solar Batteries for Home


The difference between storage batteries is mainly due to their chemical composition. Various types of solar batteries for home are available, but we will only mention the most popular and efficient ones.


  • Lead-acid batteries
  • Lithium-ion batteries
  • Nickle-cadmium batteries
  • Flow batteries


Note: Innotinum offers the best types of batteries.


Lead-Acid Battery


Lead-acid batteries are the oldest and most popular batteries, and they are still in demand. Lead-acid batteries are known for their recyclability, and the industry boasts one of the most successful recycling programs globally.


These batteries are low in cost but require routine maintenance. The lead-acid batteries have two types:


Flooded Lead-Acid Battery


Flooded lead-acid batteries are rechargeable and store energy in solar and grid systems. They contain an electrolyte solution that fills the electrolyte plates, hence the name “flooded” lead-acid batteries.


The electrolyte solution used in these batteries is sulphuric acid. They require routine maintenance and ventilation.


Sealed Lead-Acid Battery


Sealed lead-acid batteries, or SLA batteries, also use an electrolyte solution of sulphuric acid, but they are completely sealed, unlike flooded lead-acid batteries. They do not require routine maintenance, like checking the water level periodically or cleaning, as done for FLA batteries.


There is another type of SLA battery—the gel solar battery. It is the most efficient type of lead-acid battery. Silica gel is suspended in a sulphuric acid solution in deep-cycle batteries to give them more stability and a longer lifespan.


Lithium-Ion Battery


Lithium-ion batteries gain popularity overnight because of their compact size, high energy density, and lightweight. These are commonly used in electric vehicles but are the best types of solar batteries for home.


These batteries require little to no maintenance and have a longer lifespan. The Depth-of-Discharge (DoD)ratio of lithium-ion batteries is 80-95%. The only downside to these batteries is their cost, but again, they are worth the cost.


The six main types of lithium-ion batteries are as follows:


1.Lithium Iron Phosphate


LFP batteries are known for their high stability, lower safety risks, high storage capacity, long lifespan, and ability to handle harsh temperatures. However, their energy density is comparatively lower than that of other lithium-ion batteries.


2.Lithium Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)


NMC lithium-ion batteries contain varying percentages of nickel, manganese, and cobalt (nickel 80%, cobalt 10%, and manganese 10%). They have higher energy density than LFP batteries but have lower temperature tolerance than LFPs.


3.Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA)


As the name suggests, these batteries have nickel, cobalt, and aluminum proportions. The use of aluminum instead of manganese is to increase the stability. Their energy density is also higher than that of LFP batteries. They are typically used in electric vehicles and are comparatively less safe and expensive.


4.Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO)


LCO batteries are compatible with low-load appliances like mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. They have the highest energy density among all the six lithium-ion batteries. The downside to these batteries is that they have a shorter lifespan and are less stable than other types.


5.Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO)


LMO batteries are more suitable for electric vehicles. They have enhanced safety and fast charge/discharge capabilities. For a longer driving range, LMO cathode material is blended with NMCs.


6.Lithium Titanate (LTO)


LTO batteries work exceptionally well in extreme temperatures and have excellent safety ratings. However, they have low energy capacity and are comparatively expensive compared to other batteries, which limits their scope of use.


Nickle-Cadmium Battery


Ni-Cd batteries come in various sizes and capacities, from portable sealed types to large ventilated cells used for standby and motive power. They offer good cycle life, performance at low temperatures, and the ability to deliver practically their full rated capacity at high discharge rates.


These batteries can endure harsh and abusive environments and are maintenance-free. However, a highly toxic element, cadmium has raised concerns, so these batteries are not used in residential settings and are even banned in some countries.


Flow Battery


Flow batteries are rechargeable, and their chemical composition does not rely on heavy elements, gaining them quick popularity. These eco-friendly batteries store energy in liquid electrolyte solutions pumped through electrochemical cells available in separate tanks.


Flow batteries are highly efficient, with a DoD (Depth-of-Discharge) ratio of 100%. Their lifespan is a whopping 30 years. The downside to these batteries is their bigger size and are relatively expensive.


The most common types of flow batteries are:


  • Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
  • Zinc-Bromide Flow Batteries


The vanadium redox flow battery is a commercial option. On the other hand, Zinc-bromide is most commonly used in residential settings.


People Also Ask


Which type of battery is used in homes?


Lithium-ion batteries have recently gained popularity because of their higher safety ratings, low maintenance, higher capacity, and lightweight and compact size. These factors have made these batteries an excellent choice for storage batteries in homes.


How to choose a solar battery?


You should consider the most important factors when choosing a solar battery, such as:


  • Battery Capacity
  • Power Rating
  • Lifespan
  • Battery Type
  • Round-trip efficiency
  • Brand/ Company
  • Safety rate
  • Cost and warranty
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