Installing a solar battery is vital to your self-sustaining household energy system. A solar battery allows you to store the energy generated by the sun during the day and use it when needed. Most households consume most of their energy during the evening when families come home from work, and the sun starts to sink below the horizon. Choosing the right solar battery size is crucial to maximising your solar energy system, saving yourself money, and reducing your environmental impact.
Why is Choosing The Right Solar Battery Size Important?
When it comes to solar batteries, size does matter. If you choose a battery that is too small for your household needs, you must constantly rely on the grid to increase your energy consumption. Not only this, but you also need a solar battery that is size-compatible with your solar panels. The more solar panels you have, the more energy they will generate. So, if you have too many solar panels to the size of your battery storage, you will lose energy. If you only have a few solar panels and a substantial solar battery, you will constantly undercharge your battery, which is bad for the battery’s health. The first step is understanding your household energy consumption to know how much energy you aim to generate. Secondly, assess how many solar panels you can install and how much energy this is anticipated to create. Then, you can choose the solar battery of the right size to store this energy.
How Are Solar Battery Sizes Measured?
The best way to measure a solar battery is to concentrate on its capacity. The average household in the UK will need a battery that can store between 10kWh and 20kWh. This refers to the amount of energy that the battery can hold. Remember that a 10kWh battery cannot discharge the entire 10kWh of energy. All batteries have a Depth of Discharge (DoD), usually around 90% to 95%.
Solar Battery Sizing: Size vs Dimensions for Different Sized Houses
The size of the battery is only sometimes indicative of its capacity. Modern lithium batteries can store more energy to volume than the older lead battery. A lithium battery is the best choice in a domestic household, as it takes up less space, and for many families, space is a premium. It is not only the size of your house to consider but the number of people living there. One person in an average 3-bed house will use less power than a couple with two children living in the same house. So, calculating your energy consumption as a household is very important to help determine the best-sized battery for your home.
Large Solar Batteries vs Small Solar Batteries
A small solar battery doesn’t necessarily store less energy. It is essential to choose a battery based on the storage capacity rather than on the physical size of the battery. Lithium batteries can store far more power per cubic measurement than lead batteries. Your solar battery is part of your house’s overall solar power system. It must be chosen to fit with the other elements, namely the number of solar panels in your home and household energy consumption. Selecting a battery that is too big or too small for your set-up will result in a less efficient system.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Solar Battery
Investing in a solar battery is an important financial decision. Choosing wisely and ensuring you have set your home up to run effectively will benefit your pocket and the environment. The first consideration is whether you have existing solar panels and if your roof is suitable for installing solar panels. A solar battery might be less beneficial if you only have a limited space for solar panels and are at home during the day. However, if you have ample roof space for solar panels and are out of the house all day, a solar battery will be worth the investment. A total solar setup will be a good choice if you want an electric car.
Where Can I Buy a Solar Battery?
We have designed and developed premium, high-quality solar storage batteries to meet the needs of the future. Our online quote calculator will help you choose the best home set-up. Our range also includes a home EV charging point and our smart app, which gives you complete control over the power in your home. Our customer service team is on hand to provide you with professional and experienced after-sales support so you can rely on us for many years.
FAQs
How long does a solar battery last? Our home batteries all come with a 10-year guarantee so that you can be confident in the longevity of your investment. Solar batteries need to be replaced, as their efficiency diminishes over time, but choosing a good-quality battery will ensure your investment lasts for many years.
How do I know what size solar battery I need? Via the Duracell Energy DEPS software, you can use our online quote calculator to help you determine the best-size battery for your home. It can help calculate your current energy consumption. A smart meter will help with this, or you can manually calculate your usage from your bill. If you have an electric vehicle or plan to have one, it is worth factoring this into your decision.
How big a battery do I need to go off-grid? To go off-grid, you need a larger battery than a standard domestic property connected to the grid. In general, it is recommended that you choose a battery that can store twice the amount of your daily energy usage. This gives you enough stored energy for backup during the shorter days in mid-winter or inclement weather.
Can a solar battery be too big? If you generate only a tiny amount of energy from your solar panels and do not fully charge your battery, it will underperform and degrade more quickly.
Is a 5kW solar battery enough? A 5kW solar battery is tiny. This capacity is only half the recommended minimum battery capacity for an average home. However, if your energy usage is shallow, and you only have a small solar panel, this might be sufficient for your needs.
How long does a 5kW battery system last? If you don’t use power-hungry appliances, a 5kW battery will give you at most 10 hours of power. If you have higher energy consumption, this will only last for a couple of hours.
Is a 10kW solar battery enough? A 10kW is the recommended lower limit for an average household.
How long does a 10kW battery system last? In an average household, a 10kW battery should provide around 10 hours of power without requiring a reduction in standard energy usage.