Solar power storage has risen in popularity over the last decade, and more homeowners than ever are adding solar batteries to their solar power systems. Doing so can improve the efficiency and reliability of your system, allowing you to cut the city’s power grid almost completely out of your life. But what energy storage options are available to you? Keep reading to learn about the specific pieces of equipment Schneider Electric offers to help you start storing solar power.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Naturally solar batteries are at the heart of any solar power storage solution. Schneider Electric specializes in a type of battery known as lithium-ion batteries. These tried and true batteries are highly reliable, providing high energy density, a long life cycle, and fast charging capabilities. They’re an excellent balance of affordability and performance, which is why they’ve been the most popular battery choice for years. This type of battery is suitable for both residential and commercial applications; just make sure that you’re purchasing enough batteries to meet your property’s energy storage needs.
Inverters
While batteries are the core of an energy storage solution, they can’t store power without the right inverter. Standard grid-tie inverters actually won’t allow you to tie in a battery bank at all, so it’s important to review the type of inverter you have, if you already have a solar power system, and ensure it’s compatible with energy storage. And, if you’re currently designing a system, ensure that you’re purchasing a hybrid inverter instead of a grid-tie inverter.
Schneider Electric offers 2 primary models of hybrid inverters: the Conext XW Pro and the Conext SW. These are both designed to allow for both grid-tie and off-grid operation; this means that they’ll funnel excess solar power to your batteries when it’s available, then pull from those batteries when the sun goes down. If necessary, they’ll use power from the grid to meet your home’s electrical needs, but so long as your system is appropriately sized, this should happen rarely.
Conext SmartGen
Again, in and of itself, the Conext SmartGen is not a power storage system; however, this cloud-connected energy management platform can be used to monitor and control your solar power system, including its energy storage components. It provides insights into energy production, consumption and storage, so you can make informed energy management decisions.
By combining lithium-ion batteries, a hybrid inverter, and this energy management platform, you can get the most from your Schnedier Electric energy storage solution.
