Benefit from the power of the sun! With your solar system, you not only protect the climate but also save on electricity costs and gain independence. If you then connect a solar power storage unit, you maximize the yield of your PV system and your degree of self-sufficiency.
However, a few things to consider before buying a lithium ion solar battery. We give you the complete overview here.
Photovoltaic system with or without storage?
Photovoltaic systems are an excellent solution for more sustainability and independence. The individual solar cells in the modules convert the sun's rays into electricity, which you can use 100% yourself.
But because the solar power supply depends on the weather, there is a complication: Sun-intensive summer days are followed by unexpected rain or cloud cover. In addition, the winter days have greatly reduced hours of sunshine.
Scenario 1: Solar system without storage
Without storing solar power, power generation and use must occur simultaneously. If more electricity is generated than is used (e.g. midday), the excess electricity is fed into the public grid. This way, the electricity is not wasted, and you receive a feed-in tariff. External electricity must then be drawn from the grid in the mornings and evenings to cover the electricity requirements.
Scenario 2: Solar system with storage
With your electricity storage, you can store excess electricity generated during the day and use it in the morning, evening or on days with less sun. On the one hand, this reduces the amount of electricity fed into the grid and, simultaneously, the need for external mains electricity. Thus, the remuneration for the feed-in decreases and the degree of self-sufficiency increases.
Did you know that using the electricity yourself is often more profitable than feeding it into the grid? Since the feed-in tariff is less than 7 ct/kWh and external electricity costs more than 37 ct/kWh, each kilowatt hour you save and use yourself saves you 30 cents (as of July 2022).
On the other hand, there are high acquisition costs. Storage tanks for single-family homes usually cost between $5,000 and $10,000.
Our tip: Solar systems, including electricity storage, without acquisition costs.
There are two options for the storage system:
Option 1: A DC (Direct Current) storage consists of an inverter and a 12v lithium ion battery. This draws the direct current directly from the solar panels. The efficiency is slightly higher.
Option 2: An AC storage (alternating current) is connected behind a battery inverter and has a charge controller. It stores the electricity that the inverter has already converted and is somewhat more flexible in terms of storage capacity and photovoltaic system.
What types of solar power storage are there?
While traditional rechargeable batteries were made from lead, lithium-ion batteries are now on the rise. This is because lithium batteries deliver better results in terms of memory size, efficiency and service life.
Lead storage is still a lot cheaper. Furthermore, you do not have to be afraid of possible overheating with them. In the event of overcharging some lithium storage devices, an undesired temperature rise has occurred in individual cases.
Although both types of storage have advantages, almost all solar power storage devices are LiFePO4 batteries. Their technology has improved so much in recent years that the security aspect and the price hardly play a role anymore.
How much does a solar system with battery storage cost?
A single-family household pays an average of $8,000 - $10,000 to purchase a complete photovoltaic system. Then there are the running costs for insurance, maintenance, repairs and cleaning. These are between $200 and $500 per year.
An average storage system with a storage volume of 4 kWh costs an additional $5,000 – 6,000. The costs of battery storage thus make up a significant part of the total costs.
Inexpensive power storage units with a storage capacity of up to 6 kWh cost between $900 and $1,900 per kWh. Larger devices with a storage volume of up to 14-kilowatt hours are significantly cheaper at around $600 per kWh based on the output.
These prices are for conventional solar power storage, which is manufactured in the form of batteries or rechargeable batteries, especially for PV systems.
However, one must not forget that the performance of your PV system and the amount of excess electricity are the main factors determining your solar battery's price. In other words, capacity matters. The higher this is, the more expensive the battery is. The following rule of thumb will help you choose the right capacity:
1) Your PV system should have at least 1 to 1.2 times the output of your annual electricity consumption.
This power is given in units of kilowatt. In short, kW is the maximum energy output the plant can produce. The larger the PV system and the higher the efficiency of the individual solar cells, the higher their performance.
So if you consume around 4,000 kWh per year, we recommend purchasing a 5 kW system.
Don't you know your electricity consumption? No problem. Our power consumption calculator will help you!
When is it worth buying a memory?
As you may have already noticed, a solar battery is unsuitable for every household.
The comparatively high acquisition costs are only amortized when the storage capacity is fully utilized, no constant maintenance is required, and at the same time, a long service life is given.
A typical PV system today has a service life of 25 - 35 years, while solar batteries only last 10 - 15 years, depending on the type. As a result, power storage devices need to be replaced more frequently. Under no circumstances should you underestimate this recurring cost, and before making a purchase, be sure to look at the price and the service life.
When choosing a PV storage system, you should keep the following aspects in mind:
Ø Storage capacity
Ø Efficiency
Ø Maximum depth of discharge
Ø Service life and number of charging cycles
Ø Battery docking
Funding opportunities for PV systems and solar storage
The federal and state governments are greatly interested in promoting the installation of renewable energy sources. Therefore, there are some funding programs and financing options that may be of importance to you.
You can also take advantage of tax benefits by operating PV systems. If your solar system is connected to the public grid, you will receive a full refund of the sales tax on the purchase price from the tax office.
If the annual turnover you generate through the solar powered generator system is less than $22,000 per year, you benefit from the small business regulation and do not have to pay sales tax to the tax office. The state thus waives tax revenues, which are made available to you as an investment incentive for green electricity concepts.
However, the specific subsidies of the individual federal states are of particular interest to you. Depending on where you live, you can recover a large portion of the total cost. However, the application is usually only possible before the start of the installation.
The conclusion
Generally speaking, electricity storage devices are expensive to buy and only worthwhile when generating more electricity.
For households with low power consumption and small solar systems (often single or 2-person households), it must be checked whether storage pays off or 100 per cent feed-in is more profitable.
Here you can find out whether a PV system including solar storage is worthwhile for you: Get non-binding advice.
For most households, however, electricity storage is the better alternative regarding profitability and flexibility. In this case, lithium batteries impress with their efficiency advantages.
With a wide range of attractive funding options, you can greatly reduce the amortization period for your PV system's acquisition and operating costs and the associated electricity storage. In the rental model, you can even avoid acquisition costs completely.
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