The rising star in renewable energy is energy storage. This popularity brings up a common question: Should I add a battery to my solar panel system right away? Should I wait to add one? We'll be discussing the most important aspects to consider when making this decision.

Why would you need a solar battery?

Before you decide whether to install a new battery shortly or now, think about why. Am I going to need one? A battery is an expensive purchase. It can cost more than $10,000 to go solar. In some parts of the country, there may not be a return on your initial investment.

 

If your utility charges demand or time of use for electricity, a solar battery could help you save money. By storing solar electricity on-site, you can avoid paying high electricity rates from the grid if your solar panel system doesn't generate enough power (like at night).

 

A battery can also be used to provide resilience to your solar panels. A battery is a great option if you are frequently experiencing power outages or want to keep your lights on in the event of a blackout. Although installing a solar battery with the help of solar company Tallahassee to provide home backup might not be financially beneficial in the long term, it is still worth it.

 

It's fine if none of these reasons seem compelling enough to you to buy a battery. This is probably a sign that you shouldn't add one now. If you are certain that you need a battery, but just need to know when it should be installed, keep reading.

Pricing and incentives

The cost of battery packs continues to drop rapidly and quickly. In fact, between 2010-2019, the price of a lithium-ion pack for storage systems will be higher than one made in the future. But that doesn't mean you should wait. There are incentives available that will make it worthwhile to delay.

The federal ITC and solar batteries

The federal tax credit (ITC ) is perhaps the best argument for purchasing a battery today. You can get a credit of up to 26 percent on your federal taxes if you buy a battery for your solar panel system. This is approximately $4,000 for an average battery system. The ITC will be reduced to 22 percent by 2023 and end for homeowners in 2024.

 

If you wait too long to install your battery, you will miss out on this lucrative incentive and could end up paying more for it than you would have if the credit was in place. 

 

Note: You cannot claim the ITC for standalone storage systems. To get this credit, you must charge your battery using an on-site renewable energy resource like solar. )

When considering incentives, don't forget about the ITC. Many states and utility companies have limited-time incentive programs to encourage solar-plus storage adoption. 

Costs of solar battery installation

You pay more for a solar-plus-storage system than hardware. You also have to pay for the labor and permits. Our solar company Tallahassee will be more efficient if you install your solar panel system and battery simultaneously. This is because it takes fewer trucks and saves time. This is why installing your solar-plus-storage system simultaneously rather than in separate stages can often be less costly from a labor standpoint.

 

Another cost-saving tip? Interconnection and permit costs. Most local jurisdictions now require that installers obtain electrical and/or solar-specific permits before working on your property. This cost is included in the final price of your Solar company's tallahassee. 

 

Interconnection to the grid is also required. Your installer will contact your utility company to apply for interconnection and add that fee to your total system price.

There are different permit requirements for each area. However, your installer might only require one permit and an interconnection application to conduct their electrical work on a sun-plus-storage system. 

 

A permit for a solar-plus-storage system is likely to be cheaper and take less time if that's the case. It is cheaper than getting a permit for solar-plus-storage and then going back later to get another one for your battery installation. While we are on the subject of installation fees, there is more to think about than just truck rolls, permits, or interconnection fees.

Retrofit system integration

Although it doesn't need to be difficult, adding a battery to an existing solar panel system is not impossible. Connecting a battery to an existing solar panel system is not difficult. However, it can be costly. This will depend on your configuration and the hardware you have.

 

It's not always easy to go back and add a battery at a later time. Depending on the circumstances, upgrading to a sun-plus-storage system might involve replacing certain components of a panel system with more battery-friendly options. Some batteries are easier to retrofit onto solar panel systems than others.

 

This complexity can be attributed to the inverter configuration and whether your battery is an AC-coupled solution or DC-coupled. Most retrofit batteries are AC-coupled. This is because most solar panel systems already have an inverter. It's cheaper to install a separate inverter that handles the alternating current (AC), direct current (DC), and inversion.

 

However, DC-coupled systems, which only require one inverter to charge the battery or solar panel system, are more efficient and provide more energy output for your energy input.

 

We recommend that you install your DC-coupled battery system and solar panels simultaneously. It will save you the hassle of adding a DC storage system to an already existing solar array. If you are more interested in AC-coupled battery solutions, your timeline is more flexible.

The bottom line when it comes to getting a solar cell now or later

It comes down to whether or not you should put in a solar battery right away. This will depend on your priorities, budget, and particular situation. We know it's not an easy decision. If you are tempted to wait and see, ask your installer for a storage-ready, solar panel system. This will save you a lot of hassles later.