Why quality matters for home battery storage
Adding a battery storage system to your home solar setup is a great way to always have backup power when you need it. While a solar power system provides your home with power while the sun is shining, battery storage guarantees you’ll also be able to use your solar power if the grid goes down and during the evening hours.
However, as you shop for a battery storage system, it’s important to remember that not all systems are created equal. You want to find a high-quality battery storage option from a reputable company with a long track record. “If you’re trying to save money on your solar power system, the battery storage is not the place to cut corners,” says Dan Glaser, a Panasonic sales engineer.
A quality battery storage system is more likely to be safer, last longer, work more efficiently, and integrate easily with your current solar power system. As you evaluate your home battery options consider these five factors that Panasonic emphasizes when developing its Total Home Energy System.
A homeowner checklist for battery storage quality
Company longevity
There’s no third-party certification or verification of battery storage providers. But how long a company has been active in the market is a good indicator of product quality. They’re maintaining customers and garnering new ones, all the while improving on their battery technology.
Panasonic has been researching, developing, and producing solar panels and battery systems for nearly 50 years. Starting with their success providing batteries for electric vehicles, Panasonic took learnings from that industry and applied them to their residential battery storage technology. “If you’ve been around a long time, then the product has been proven in the field,” Glaser says.
The product price
You don’t necessarily need the most expensive battery storage option. But you do want to consider the price and be wary of a system that costs significantly less than others on the market. “There’s a cost to making batteries, and if another product is far lower in price, than it may be because they’re using lesser grade materials,” Glaser notes. “It’s a bit like buying a car; you get what you pay for.”
Ease of integration
Your battery storage will be part of your overall solar power system—and you want to ensure that all the components work well together. Look for companies that also create solar panels and other aspects of a solar PV setup; their battery storage systems will dovetail nicely with the other pieces of the solar power puzzle. If you are using different brands and companies, talk with your installer about how battery storage works with what you have.
Depth of discharge
This is a slightly more technical aspect of battery storage systems, but Glaser notes it’s one that merits attention. The depth of discharge refers to how much charge the batteries retain—and whether you can discharge the battery 100% (that means you use all the power the battery has stored).
A high-quality battery storage system will have a limited depth of discharge so that the batteries never entirely run out of power. For instance, Panasonic sets its systems to maintain at least 16% of their charge. Glaser says that doing so extends the life and performance of the batteries. “It also maintains a good amount of reserve so that you know you can always start the battery up again,” he says.
Product safety
A battery is a concentrated source of fuel. As such, there are safety concerns that consumers should consider as they shop. First, investigate whether the company you’re purchasing the battery and storage system from conducts all the appropriate testing regarding batteries overheating, toxic fume leaks, and potential hazards. Panasonic, for instance, tests all of its batteries and mandates that they not only meet but also exceed prescribed safety requirements.
Another way to check for safety is to consider the manufacturer’s experience and reputation in the battery industry. Look for companies like Panasonic, for example, which provide large-scale battery storage for commercial projects in addition to residential. That way, you can rest assured that you’re working with a company that understands the importance of safety, and has a track record to prove it.
Battery storage systems offer a way to optimize your solar panels and extend the use of your solar power. Keep these factors in mind to ensure you invest in a reliable, high-quality battery storage system that you can trust. And with quality assurance as a cornerstone of the manufacturing process, Panasonic's EverVolt provides homeowners with a complete home battery system manufactured and warrantied by one of the world’s true battery pioneers. Click here to learn more about how EverVolt can help you meet your energy efficiency goals.
