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Battery Education

From Size to Science: Mastering the Art of Home Batteries

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Not all Home Batteries are Created Equal

Size Matters

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Battery size, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), is crucial because it determines how much energy your home battery can store and for how long it can power your home during outages or peak times.

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Real-World Application: Choosing the right battery size depends on your household's energy consumption, the energy demands of your appliances, and your backup energy goals (e.g., full vs. partial home power).

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  • Small Batteries (1-5 kWh): Suitable for smaller homes or those with lower energy needs. These can handle essential loads like lights and small appliances.

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  • Medium Batteries (6-15 kWh): Ideal for average-sized homes, capable of running the household comfortably but may not cover heavy appliances for more than very short periods.

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  • Large Batteries (15+ kWh): Best for large homes or high energy usage, capable of running the entire home, including heavy appliances like air conditioners, for several hours.​

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Importance of Charge and Discharge Rates

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The charge and discharge rates, measured in kilowatts (kW), affect how quickly a battery can be charged or depleted. High rates can handle more instantaneous power needs.

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  • Charge Rate: Determines how quickly the battery can convert AC power from the grid or DC power from solar panels to stored energy.

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  • Discharge Rate: Indicates how fast the battery can deliver power to your home.

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  • Faster rates are crucial during sudden power needs or emergencies.

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  • They determine the efficiency and performance of your energy management during peak and off-peak times.

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State of Charge (SoC)

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SoC is a percentage that shows how much charge your battery has left compared to its total capacity.

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Importance:

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  • Essential for managing battery health and understanding when to charge or discharge.​

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  • Helps prevent overcharging and deep discharging, which can affect battery lifespan.

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Depth of Discharge (DoD)

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DoD refers to how much of the battery’s capacity has been used.

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Importance:

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  • Directly impacts the battery's operational lifespan. Regularly using a high DoD can shorten a battery's overall life.

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  • Important to understand for maintaining optimal battery health and efficiency.

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Batteries with a high allowable DoD can offer more usable energy per cycle, enhancing the system's utility and often reducing the cost per cycle.

Pro's and Con's of Different Backup Power Options

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Natural Gas Backup Generator

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Cost:  $12,500 installed

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Pro's:

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  • Always ready when you need it

  • Can run the entire home.  No need to pick and choose appliances​

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Con's:

  • ​Sunk cost with no monthly payback

  • Higher cost per kWh produced

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Cost per kWh produced:    $0.154 cents 

Batteries tied to Grid 

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Cost:  $15,000 - $21,000 installed

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Pro's:

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  • Stable charging from the grid

  • Charge when rates are lowest and use when rates are highest

  • Savings every month for highest ROI

  • Rebates available from Federal Govt

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Con's:

  • ​Finite power if grid down long-term.

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Cost per kWh produced:    $0.025 cents 

Batteries tied to Solar System 

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Cost:  $45,000 - $70,000 installed

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Pro's:

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  • Can produce and charge when grid is down

  • Rebates available from Federal Govt.

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Con's:

  • ​Heavy up-front cost.

  • Limited home energy use due to smaller battery and inverter setup

  • Ever-changing weather creates unstable solar production

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Cost per kWh produced:    $0.102 cents 

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