Everything You Need To Know About Solar Batteries in Zimbabwe

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Solar Batteries are the way to go for your home in Zimbabwe. Batteries Store Energy availing it for use at night or when it is cloudy when electricity production reduces.

Whether you are new to the world of solar power and searching for the best system for your building or have had your home in Zimbabwe bedecked with solar panels for years, a solar battery can make a tremendous difference in the efficiency and versatility of your solar setup. 

Solar batteries store the excess energy generated by your solar panels, which can then be used to power your home during gloomy, rainy days, or after the sun sets.

Our guide to solar batteries can help answer your questions about solar batteries and assist in selecting the best option to meet the needs of your facility or household. But note not all solar installation or sales companies offer solar panels.

What Are Solar Batteries, and How Do They Work?

Without somewhere to send energy produced by your solar panels, solar would be fairly inefficient—your appliances would only work when the sun is shining and your panels are working. If you don’t use the energy, it’d be wasted—and you wouldn’t be able to use it at night. Enter solar batteries, which store energy generated by your panels for use when you actually need it. 

Solar Batteries are an alternative (or addition to) feeding energy back to the grid and can help you make your house or facility somewhat immune from power outages and even help take it off-grid entirely.

Solar Battery Types:

The four main types of batteries used in the world of solar power are lead-acid, lithium ion, nickel cadmium and flow batteries.

1. Lead-Acid: Lead-acid batteries have been in use for decades and are one of the most common types of battery used in automotive and industrial applications. They have a low energy density (meaning they cannot hold much energy per kg of weight), but remain both cost-effective and reliable and thus have become a common choice for use in a home solar setup. Lead-acid batteries come in both flooded and sealed varieties and can be classified as either shallow cycle or deep cycle depending on the intended function and safe depth of discharge (DOD). Recent technological advancements have improved the lifespan of these batteries and lead-acid continues to be a viable option for many homeowners.
2. Lithium-Ion: The technology behind lithium-ion batteries is much newer than that of other battery types. Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density and offer a smaller, lighter and more efficient option. They allow the user to access more of the energy stored within the battery before needing to be recharged, making them great for use in laptops and phones—and in your home. The major drawback of lithium-ion batteries is the significantly higher cost to the consumer. If improperly installed lithium-ion batteries also have the potential to catch fire due to an effect called thermal runaway.
3. Nickel-Cadmium: Nickel-cadmium batteries are rarely used in residential settings and are most popular in airline and industrial applications due to their high durability and unique ability to function at extreme temperatures. Nickel-cadmium batteries also require relatively low amounts of maintenance when compared to other battery types. Unfortunately, cadmium is a highly toxic element that, if not disposed of properly, can have a significant negative impact on our environment.
4. Flow: Flow batteries depend on chemical reactions. Energy is reproduced by liquid-containing electrolytes flowing between two chambers within the battery. Though flow batteries offer high efficiency, with a depth of discharge of 100%, they have a low energy density, meaning the tanks containing the electrolyte liquid must be quite large in order to store a significant amount of energy. This size makes them a costly and impractical option for most household use. Flow batteries are much better suited to larger spaces and applications.

Solar Battery Costs:

The cost of a solar battery or battery system will depend on the type and size of the battery chosen. Generally, lead-acid batteries will incur a lower up-front cost to the consumer than lithium-ion batteries, but depending on how the batteries are used, investing in a lithium-ion battery could save money long-term.

A single lead-acid battery can cost between $200 and $800 or even more depending on the size/power of the battery. Multiple lead-acid batteries may be needed to keep a household powered completely. 

Everything You Need To Know About Solar Batteries in Zimbabwe

The average cost of a residential lithium-ion solar battery system with installation falls in the $3,000 to $14,000 range.

The prices of nickel-cadmium and flow batteries vary widely and depend on the size and scale of the installation. These batteries are not commonly used in residential dwellings and are better suited to commercial/industrial settings due to cost, durability, size, stability in extreme temperatures and requirements for disposal upon replacement.

Things to Look for When You Are Picking a Solar Battery

Several factors contribute to the performance of your solar battery. Before choosing your battery system, consider the following:

1. Type or Material: Among the types of batteries to choose from, each type offers a different major advantage. Weighing these pros and cons can help you decide which style is right for you. If you’re looking for something compact and longer-lasting, lithium-ion may be right for you. Lead-acid might be better for those conscious of more immediate budget constraints.
2. Battery Life: The “lifespan” of any battery is multifaceted; the age, type, quality and depth of discharge of the battery all contribute to its longevity. Referring to the manufacturer’s specifications for a battery can help you determine how long it’s likely to last. In general, lead-acid batteries can last anywhere from one to 10 years depending on how they’re used. Lithium-ion batteries typically last seven to 15 years.
3. Depth of Discharge: Depth of discharge refers to how much of a battery’s stored energy is used before the battery is recharged. Typically, the deeper the battery is discharged, the shorter its lifespan will be. Batteries often come with both a cycle life estimate (indicating how many cycles it will last given a particular depth of discharge) and a recommended maximum depth of discharge. Both lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries will decay more quickly when deeply discharged, but lead-acid batteries tend to offer a lower tolerance for deep discharges than lithium-ion batteries, significantly reducing life expectancy if deeply discharged on a regular basis.
4. Efficiency: Solar systems and batteries are not 100% efficient when transferring and storing the collected solar energy from panels to batteries, as some amount of energy is lost in the process. Depending on the amount of energy you’re able to generate from your panels and how your system is configured, it may be worth investing in a more expensive, more efficient battery. This can help save money long-term. Your solar panel efficiency and battery capacities will be calculated and your system explained to you by any competent sales and installation team, but our solar resources can help you understand exactly how your system works, too.

How to Select the Best Solar Battery for Your Needs

When selecting a solar battery for your setup, you may want to consider how you’ll use the batteries and what your need actually is, how safe each system might be and the overall cost of the system.

Use and Need Considerations

Do you need the battery or battery bank to provide only short bursts of emergency power when the power goes out, or do you need it to maintain the combined electrical needs of your entire household/facility for extended periods of time? How much sun exposure do you expect to have on a daily basis? Consider the recommended depth of discharge for your batteries and how this will affect their lifespans.

Safety Considerations

How does the battery need to be stored to maintain it safely? What kind of maintenance does the battery require? What is the safe temperature range for your battery and is the storage location going to maintain that temperature? When the time comes, how do you plan to dispose of/recycle the battery?

Cost

Does it make more sense for you to spend less up front for lead-acid batteries, or invest in the efficiency and longevity of lithium-ion batteries? How many batteries will you need to purchase to provide for your needs? What’s the expected lifespan of the battery and will you be prepared to replace it when it dies?

Benefits of Using A Solar Battery:

The best thing about solar battery storage is that it lets you store the excess energy you produce. One of the most important benefits of solar batteries is that they don’t just provide backup power; they also produce energy after hours when you don’t want to send excess solar electricity back to your local utility company.

Energy Independence

A solar battery is an essential component of a home reliant entirely on solar power. The battery can store power during the day, so it’s available at night to keep the lights on for an entire evening. A solar battery system can also turn your off-grid solar system into an emergency backup during power outages.

Electric Bill Savings

Solar power batteries can help consumers power their homes by harnessing the sun. This will allow them to purchase less from the grid and save money on their electric bill.

Reduce Carbon Footprint

Solar energy can minimize our use of fossil fuels and protect our environment. Solar batteries generate solar energy when exposed to sunlight, which can then be used to power devices or recharge a laptop or phone battery.

Are Solar Batteries Worth It?

Solar batteries represent a significant upfront financial investment, but can ultimately help save you money on energy costs after sundown or during an emergency. If you’re living off-grid, they may be critical components of your energy system.

Solar batteries provide your home with clean, fairly green, renewable energy that would otherwise need to come from an outside source. Ultimately, only you can decide if the investment in a solar battery and its rewards is worth the cost and upkeep requirements.