Improving your home’s solar efficiency
Solar batteries can play an important role in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of your solar energy system.
Improving your home’s solar efficiency
Solar batteries can play an important role in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of your solar energy system. Installing a battery into your home solar energy system will improve your energy independence, provide you with backup energy, save you money, and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Choosing the right solar battery
There are several different types of solar batteries, including lead-acid batteries, flow batteries, nickel-based batteries and lithium-ion batteries. At sonnen, we use lithium iron phosphate batteries to provide our customers with the most reliable, durable, and environmentally friendly option.
We offer two types of batteries at sonnen; the sonnenBatterie hybrid 9.53, and the sonnenBatterie Evo. The sonnenBatterie hybrid 9.53 is a single-phase battery, which is expandable up to 15kWh. The sonnenBatterie Evo is a fully integrated AC-coupled storage system, with a usable capacity of 10kWh.
Optimising your home’s solar efficiency
To improve your solar system’s efficiency, it is important to understand solar battery drain. Solar battery drain is a common issue that occurs in many battery systems, and several factors contribute to this. To improve the efficiency of your system, it is essential to implement strategies to minimise the effects of these external factors.
Standby Power Consumption
One factor that contributes to battery drain is standby power consumption. This occurs when devices are using power when they are not being used, causing unnecessary energy to be drawn from the battery. To reduce this, there are strategies that can be implemented, including:
- Unplugging chargers that are not in use
- Switching electronics and appliances off, rather than leaving them in standby mode
- Using smart power strips
Load Shifting
Solar battery efficiency can also be increased by load shifting. This means shifting the majority of your solar energy usage from nighttime to daylight hours. By shifting your energy-intensive tasks to daylight hours, you will maximise your solar savings, and rely on the grid less.
Energy Usage & Net Metering
Timing your energy usage is another way to improve energy efficiency. This means timing the use of your most energy-intensive tasks, such as using the washing machine or dishwasher, for periods of peak solar generation. Net metering allows you to keep track of the seasonal differences in solar electricity consumption. From this, you can credit the excess electricity that is generated on the sunnier days and use it later.
Devices & Smart Appliances
In addition to changing how and when you use your energy, there are usually large energy efficiency opportunities in what’s actually using your energy. By optimising your device settings, you can limit how often you need to use and recharge your batteries - which can reduce the battery drain. As an example, some ways of optimising your device settings include:
- Conserving charge by lowering screen brightness
- Adjusting the automatic sleep settings on devices
- Turning off unnecessary background app refresh and notifications
- Turning on a battery-saving mode if available
By minimising battery drain, the health of your solar battery system will be optimised, resulting in an overall improvement in battery efficiency. In addition to standard electronic device settings, the use of smart home technology can unlock further savings.
Smart home technology allows your devices to communicate with each other in order to identify and take advantage of more energy efficiency opportunities. The usage of smart home technology will also allow you to more effectively monitor your energy usage and solar performance.
Depth of discharge
Depth of discharge is another significant factor which can negatively impact the efficiency of your solar battery and broader solar system. This occurs when your battery goes through a ‘deep discharge’, which is when your battery module’s charge drops to such a low level that it can damage the battery. To avoid deep discharges and prolong the life of your battery it is recommended that you:
- Recharge your battery before it becomes low.
- Set battery charge thresholds
- Utilise advanced battery management systems
sonnen batteries have been tested at a depth of discharge of 100% over a period of 8 years. This found that the battery withstood 28,000 charging cycles¹, with the test being significantly more demanding than the use of a battery in a residential storage system.
Regular battery performance monitoring
It’s also essential to monitor the performance of your solar battery in order to optimise its efficiency. By monitoring the performance of your battery, you can see how you are using your energy, and if there are any issues with your system.
Customers using the sonnenBatterie can use the sonnen App to measure the performance of their solar energy system. The app allows users to analyse their usage with real-time data visualisation, customise and manage their energy system to suit personal preferences and avoid blackouts by setting a battery buffer.
Proper installation and placement of battery
The installation and placement of your solar battery can also impact battery efficiency. The battery should be installed in a location where exposure to extremely low or high temperatures is avoided. Extreme temperatures can result in the battery malfunctioning, which over time will impact the lifespan of the battery.
Batteries should also be installed in a location with proper ventilation. Without proper ventilation, you run the risk of your battery overheating, which will also impact its overall lifespan.
Another important factor to consider when installing your battery is whether it will be installed indoors or outdoors. The sonnenBatterie is designed for both indoor and outdoor installations, meaning it is suitable for whatever the needs of your home may be. However, if you are looking to install your battery outdoors, it is important to ensure it is protected from the elements, as factors such as sun or moisture can impact the battery’s life span. It is also important to consider that the further from your
Regular cleaning and inspections of your unit
Regular care and maintenance of your battery will also improve its efficiency. It is important to periodically clean your solar panels, as well as check for any damage. Accumulation of dust, dirt and debris can impact your panel’s ability to absorb energy, resulting in an increased strain on the battery.
Improving the home's energy efficiency is the best way to get the most out of your solar energy system. If you are looking to begin your solar energy storage journey, explore the sonnen product range, or get a free quote from one of our experts.
¹ Sonnen battery still running after 28,000 full charge cycles
