Photo courtesy of Panasonic Eco Systems
As more homeowners look for ways to protect themselves from power outages and maximize the energy from their solar panels, home battery storage systems are growing in popularity. A home battery system can help you save money on energy and increase your energy independence by reducing your exposure to fluctuating power prices and grid failures.
A home battery system (also known as battery storage or energy storage) allows you to store power, either from your solar panels or from the electric grid, to use at a later time. Put simply, they give you more flexibility in how and when you use energy, especially if you combine them with solar panels.
Let’s take a look at why home battery systems can be such a valuable investment.
Power outages are becoming more common in the U.S. From 2011 to 2021, there were 64% more major power outages than in the decade before. Home batteries provide a backup source of power you can draw from when the grid goes down, enabling you to keep major appliances running.
If you have solar panels, your battery will continue to charge, allowing you to power your home even longer.
Batteries give you more control over when you draw energy from the electric grid. By storing electricity, you can unlock big energy savings depending on your utility rate plan:
If you’re on a time-of-use (TOU) plan, you pay more for electricity during peak hours (such as in the evening). You can charge your battery when grid rates are low, then draw on that stored power when grid prices rise to avoid peak prices.
If you pay demand charges, your monthly energy bill is based on the highest amount of power you used in a given window (e.g., one hour or even 15 minutes). If you use a lot of electricity for a short time, your entire bill will go up because of that demand charge. With a battery, you can switch from grid power to stored energy, keeping the overall amount of power you draw from the grid low. That will keep your demand charge lower, too.
EVERVOLT Home Battery Storage System installed in homeowner's garage. Photo courtesy of Panasonic Eco Systems.
Installing a battery storage system — particularly with solar panels — reduces your reliance on the electricity grid. You can store any solar power you don’t use during the day, then draw on that stored power when your solar panels aren’t generating as much electricity.
Increasing your energy independence lowers your exposure to volatile energy prices and unexpected outages. With a home battery, you have more control over how much you pay for your power and peace of mind that you’ll be able to run your critical appliances even if the grid goes down.
To help balance the electric grid, utilities have started introducing new programs that incentivize homeowners to reduce their electricity usage during times of high demand. This helps utilities ensure there’s enough power to meet all the demand, meaning they don’t have to turn on expensive backup power stations — or risk a grid failure.
Batteries are a huge asset in these types of demand response programs (sometimes called “bring your own battery” programs). For example, the EverSource ConnectedSolutions Demand Response program rewards battery customers in Connecticut for allowing the utility to use their stored energy during times of high demand. The reward can be about $225 per kilowatt of power used. The National Grid ConnectedSolutions program pays homeowners about $275 per kilowatt every summer based on the performance of their battery.
Batteries, with or without solar panels, make your home more sustainable. Whether they use energy from the sun or electric grid, batteries create no harmful emissions or fumes, making your home more eco-friendly and resilient. If you do have solar panels, a home battery system lets you use that clean solar energy throughout the day, not just when your panels are producing electricity.
As a bonus, batteries don’t even need regular maintenance.
To enjoy even more control over your energy usage, you can connect your battery to a home energy management system (HEMS). A HEMS will monitor your household energy data, including how much energy you use and when. It combines that data with external factors such as utility rates and the weather to make forecasts and recommendations it will use to adjust your energy usage.
If you already have solar panels or are planning to install solar on your property, a battery ensures you get the most from your investment. A battery allows you to store surplus power from your solar panels so you can use it whenever you choose. Solar panels are most efficient in the middle of the day, when many people tend to be away from the home. With an energy storage system, you won’t waste that free, renewable power. Your battery will store it for you to use when the sun goes down or when cloudy weather rolls in.
It’s easy to understand why more homeowners are adding home battery systems as part of their total energy solutions. Learn more about how Panasonic’s EVERVOLT® home battery can help you gain more energy independence and save money on energy.