Will plug-in solar plus batteries solve your power problem? I did the math
It can't be just about harvesting solar power - it's also about storage, and time-shifting cheap, off-peak power to times when it's more expensive.
Plug-in solar systems paired with batteries can be an effective solution for managing power costs, but they come with certain limitations. Batteries enable the storage and utilization of stored solar energy or off-peak electricity, but a time-of-use (TOU) tariff with a significant difference between peak and off-peak rates is necessary.
In a recent visit to London, I learned about new EcoFlow products that are now legal in the UK. Pure plug-in solar systems, which directly connect solar panels to a microinverter, are less effective due to the mismatch between household energy consumption and solar generation. Solar power peaks during the day when most people are away, while household energy use peaks twice daily.
Time-shifting power through batteries is a more viable solution, especially when coupled with a TOU or time-of-day (TOD) tariff, allowing users to take advantage of cheaper off-peak rates. However, the efficiency of transferring power through the battery system results in losses, so it is essential to store power when rates are low and use it when rates are high.
Based on Con Edison's pricing, using a 12 kWh battery charged during off-peak hours can save around $0.78 to $3.34 per day, depending on the season. While the initial investment in solar panels and batteries may be substantial, careful consideration of energy tariffs, system expansion, and potential savings can make this a worthwhile investment for those seeking energy independence and cost savings.
Written by urgent.news from ZDNet's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
