Winter 2023

SOLAR PV BATTERY STORAGE
>>> Continued from page 28
1
Audit & analysis. Establish
your power usage and plan.
Start with an open and honest
evaluation of current and future
energy needs. With accurate energy
audits and predictive modelling
the most appropriate solutions to
improve energy generation and longterm
security can be put in place. A
professional will help with this and it’s
the most important planning tool to
get the install right.
2
How
it works. Solar battery
systems monitor usage and
store the excess energy from
your PV system, automatically
diverting excess energy to your
battery, rather than back to the
grid. The battery system distributes
the stored energy when it detects
a demand greater than the PV
system can provide, or when there
is no PV generation, assuming there
is sufficient energy stored in the
battery. New battery systems allow
you to prioritise this.
3
Lithium
ion or lead acid.
Lithium ion technology can be
more expensive as an upfront
investment, however the life span
of lithium ion outweighs the cost of
installing lead acid. These batteries
are constantly developing and come
in various sizes.
4
Battery
management
system. The Battery
management system (BMS)
provides oversight to the battery
pack. It keeps the battery within the
safety operation region in terms of
voltage, current and temperature
during the charge, the discharge and
in certain cases at open circuit.
5
Battery
size, storage &
warranty. This should be
matched to your electricity
usage and size of the PV system.
Warranties will be dependent on the
manufacturer, typically 5-10 years.
6
Inverter
size. The PV inverter
converts the variable direct
current (DC) output from a
PV panel into alternating current
(AC). Its size dictates the push-pull
capabilities and size of the battery,
and should be matched to the
usage pattern of your building / site
demand.
7
Safety.
Follow the
manufacturers’ instructions
and both lithium ion and acid
batteries are equally safe. Batteries
do need to be taken care of and
protected from damage, operating
in extremely hot conditions and
over charging. As long as you have
a battery management system
installed, there’s little to worry about.
One of the frequent questions we get
asked is, “When is the right time to
consider solar energy?”. We’ve not
had one customer say, “I went for it
too soon”, more likely the response
is “I wish I had made the change
sooner”. So have confidence in your
own green ambitions, stand by them
and reap the benefits. The solutions
are much more affordable than they
have ever been and the experts will
lead you through the process.
Contact
Aztec Solar Energy
www.aztecsolarenergy.co.uk
T: 0845 467 5058
30 GREENSCAPE WINTER 2023 • www.greenscapemag.co.uk