How much can you store from solar panels?

[Say Rosezelle]

I am thinking of using solar panels on top of our grid system to lessen our electricity bill. But I am wondering how much energy can you store from a panel? Since a panel is there to catch the sun's light and transform it to energy, can't you just buy more batteries to store the energy and use it as you please? Does a solar panel system works that way?

[Joe Blake]

Household batteries can certainly be used to capture excess power. However you should have a balance between generation capacity and storage capacity. If you have too large a battery capacity compared to your solar panels, then over time the battery will not be fully recharged, which could damage it. On the other hand, if you have too small a battery then you will have power going to waste.

There are numerous ways to "store" this excess power other than sending it to the grid. A couple that I use are, living as I do in dry (in summer at least) old Western Australia, running a small (1,200 watts) refrigerated air cooler which (a) helps keep the house cool when the temperature reaches 44 degrees C for days on end, (b) condenses water out of the atmosphere, and (c) putting the condensate through a filter/steriliser for either my own use or to put into my hydroponic garden. I have a camping freezer (12/24/240 volt AC), and the water can also be stored in appropriate containers (eg 3 litre fruit juice bottles), frozen and put into my 240 volt refrigerator to reduce the running cost of the fridge. My figures indicated this has reduced power consumption by about 30% with the extra cooling supplied.

I also have a medium sized electric scooter which I power off my solar panels. By doing this I don't use my petrol powered motorcycle as much and save roughly $15-20 per fortnight, and don't take much (ANY!) power from the grid so I virtually have free transport.

Use an electric grass trimmer to keep my "lawn" under control.

Maybe talk to your neighbours and push your local authorities to create a "microgrid" with a common storage battery for everybody in your suburb(s) to use.

https://www.synergy.net.au/Our-energy/Alkimos-Beach-energy-trial


A little imagination will I'm sure give other ways of harnessing your excess solar power.

Have fun.

[Rob Beckers]

Hi Say,

If your location allows for net-metering you may be able to use the grid itself as a form of 'storage'. Over here we have annual net-metering: It means we can overproduce in summer, make more solar energy than the house needs. The excess is 'banked' as a credit on the bill, and can be used up in the winter. As long as we zero out our credits within 12 months. In effect the grid acts as a giant battery, storing excess, and giving it back when there is a shortfall.

That would be the easiest way to 'store' solar energy.

-RoB-

[Say Rosezelle]

I also have a medium sized electric scooter which I power off my solar panels. By doing this I don't use my petrol powered motorcycle as much and save roughly $15-20 per fortnight, and don't take much (ANY!) power from the grid so I virtually have free transport.

Use an electric grass trimmer to keep my "lawn" under control.


Wow! Must be great if more and more household be doing the things that you've done, maximizing the use of solar power. I really envied people with the same initiative and expertise. If I am to do the system you have been using then I have to pay a lot first. Nobody in our household had the same expertise in dealing with this kind of innovation. I really like to go green living but I guess that would only be possible if i have enough budget for the initial cost. I know it's all worth it in the long run aside from the fact that I'm helping preserve mother earth for the future generations to come. I'll start a little bit at a time though, well do a bit more research locally to go exploit solar power. Thanks Joe for the tips. I'll keep it noted. And here I thought you can just store solar energy like in a piggy bank, the bigger the battery the better. Didn't know that not being able to fully charge can actually damage it.

Also, thanks to @Rob for sharing his ideas. I'll try to learn more about our local net metering if what you suggest is possible. :)

[John M White]

I am thinking of using solar panels on top of our grid system to lessen our electricity bill. But I am wondering how much energy can you store from a panel? Since a panel is there to catch the sun's light and transform it to energy, can't you just buy more batteries to store the energy and use it as you please? Does a solar panel system works that way?

Hi, I agree with @joeblake you should have a balance between generation capacity and storage capacity. Please read more about that and call to your local solar energy company :) (https://solar-lighting.net).

[Steve Beck]

To appreciate why you might choose to install a solar-plus-storage system for your home, you first need to understand how a standard home solar PV system functions.

The typical solar energy system includes solar panels, an inverter, equipment to mount the panels on your roof, and a performance monitoring system that tracks electricity production. The solar panels collect energy from the sun and turn it into electricity, which is passed through the inverter and converted into a form that you can use to power your home.