Battery storage paired with solar panels is a great way to save money on electricity bills in the long term, especially with new rate plans like time-of-use becoming more prevalent. But does adding a battery mean you’ll be able to produce, store, and use electricity with solar when the grid is down? Do you even need a battery? In this article, we’ll dissect how solar and storage can make for an effective grid resiliency technique.
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An overview of Lumin’s energy management system
When thinking about installing a solar or a solar-plus-storage system at your home or business, there’s one piece of information that is of the utmost importance: how much electricity do you use, and which of your home appliances use that electricity. That’s exactly where Lumin can help: the three-year-old, Charlottesville, Virginia-based company is joining the relatively nascent field of creating smart circuits, allowing you to dynamically choose or automate what to power with your solar and storage, which is especially useful in the event of an outage.
Continue readingSolar news: September 5th, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, Sunrun lands another virtual power plant deal and Connecticut sets its sights on eliminating fossil fuels by 2040.
Continue readingAC vs. DC solar battery coupling: what you need to know
Solar batteries are becoming popular additions to solar energy projects of all scales. When it comes to the way your solar panels, batteries, and inverters are all wired together on your property, there are two main options: alternating current (AC) coupling and direct current (DC) coupling. Both AC and DC coupling have advantages and drawbacks that are dependent on the specifics of your solar plus storage installation.
Continue readingUtility-scale battery storage: what you need to know
With the declining cost of energy storage technology, solar batteries are becoming an increasingly popular addition to solar installations. However, it’s not just residential and commercial solar shoppers who benefit from installing energy storage. In fact, utility-scale battery storage is increasingly playing a major role in the operation of the electric grid, providing cost savings, environmental benefits and new flexibility for the grid.
Continue readingSolar islanding with batteries: what you need to know
Battery storage is becoming increasingly popular throughout the US. This is particularly true in parts of the country that are impacted by frequent electrical outages, whether due to natural disasters or otherwise. A big reason why storage is popular in these areas is due to storage’s ability to “island”.
Continue readingSolar panels for boats
Owning a boat can be an expensive proposition; not only do you have to pay an upfront cost to purchase it, but you’ll also have to spend money on maintenance and fuel charges. If you’re looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to power your boat, solar panels may be the answer.
Continue readingSolar power systems: what are your options in 2019?
Solar energy is not a “one size fits all” investment. Depending on your needs, you’ll have to choose between several types of solar power systems for your property – grid-tied, grid-tied with storage, and off-grid solar systems.
Continue readingBest solar battery chargers: marine, RV and car battery chargers
Among today’s many uses for solar energy, one increasingly popular way to harness sunlight is with battery chargers that can power common home products. Outside of rooftop and utility-scale photovoltaics (PV), battery chargers might be the next best use for solar energy in terms of efficiency and practicality. A small panel can easily be placed next to a window to charge a phone, and a portable charger can be an easy way to power your car’s battery through the sunroof. In this article, we’ll discuss the many ways a solar battery charger can be useful, including how solar works with cars, boats, RVs and small devices.
Continue readingSolar news: February 8th, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, Massachusetts moves forward with a new incentive structure for battery storage, and SunPower begins operations at an old SolarWorld facility.
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