Advice / TipsThe 6 Best Home Battery Power Options in 2021 (with Prices)
By Tobias Roberts, Rise Writer
When contemplating installing a photovoltaic system, many of us might dream of achieving complete energy independence and going wholly off-grid. The problem, of course, is that unless you live in Tucson, Arizona, or some area with a steady and constant supply of sunlight, the climatic variations that characterize the changing of the seasons might leave you with electricity on a freezing winter night in the middle of January.
The average person who installs a solar energy system in their home offsets around 86% of the energy their home uses. While this is a considerable amount, the remaining 14% that you don’t cover could leave you in an uncomfortable spot during the long, cold, overcast days of winter.
Connecting to the grid, however, isn’t always the best option either. Your solar panels will be giving back to the grid during the daylight hours when most of us are at work and when electricity is cheapest. Many electric companies charge premium prices during peak hours, usually during the evenings and early nighttime hours when you’re at home. This means that the electricity from the grid you use will most likely be charged to you at a higher rate.
Improvements in battery technology have made hybrid systems much more appealing to folks searching for the best PV system for their homes. With a hybrid system, you can choose when to send the excess electricity produced by your panels to your batteries. For example, during the peak summer months, your panels will be producing maximum amounts of electricity, and you can send that energy to your batteries so that you can then draw that energy during the peak pricing hours. This strategy could save you hundreds of dollars over the long term.
Hybrid systems and battery power also protect you and your household in the event of extended power outages. The increase in severe weather events (think Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico) makes this a desirable alternative for people looking to increase their resiliency in the face of global climate change.
Whether you have a PV system already installed in your home or are considering investing in solar power soon, opting for a hybrid system that incorporates battery backup power makes a lot of sense. Below we offer a complete review of the six best battery power options for hybrid solar systems.
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