Keep your Savings in Store with Solar Battery Energy Storage

When a solar energy system is paired with a smart home battery, you can store the excess power generated by your solar panels during the day to consume at night when sunlight is low, and electricity prices may be higher. A home battery also offers reliable backup power in the event of a grid outage. By managing the power flow between your solar system, batteries, and home, an intelligent battery solution can oversee energy production and consumption and seamlessly source energy from your battery whenever the grid is down. Homeowners with a solar energy system can gain peace of mind, cleaner living, and greater control over their energy with the addition of battery energy storage. Solar + Storage = Energy Independence

It depends on how utilities are structured in your area. If you’re in an area with full net metering, every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy produced by your solar power system counts as a credit towards your energy bill. When your panels produce more energy than you use, the excess power is fed into the grid for use in your community. When your panels produce less energy than you use, you can draw power from the grid. Your bill will be calculated based on the total energy you use relative to the total energy you produce. If, however, you’re in an area with time-of-use rates, your utility fees are structured to increase during peak usage hours and decrease during low usage or off-peak hours. In this case, a solar power storage system may be an easy way to save money on your monthly utility costs by allowing you to tap into stored energy when rates go up, and rely on grid power when rates are low.

With 10 years of experience in designing and engineering smart energy management technology and over 65,000 home batteries installed around the world, sonnen is a global leader focused on clean, reliable, and affordable energy for all. Their innovative, long-lasting, and high-quality home battery solutions use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries that seamlessly and safely power homes and protect consumer investments in renewable energy for the long run. As of March 2019, sonnen is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shell within its Renewables and Energy Solutions division.

With residential solar energy storage, any excess energy that is produced and not immediately used by your household will function to charge your battery. This, in turn, allows you to access stored energy any time your energy usage exceeds production. Homeowners not connected to the grid often choose to increase their solar energy storage capacity to enable uninterrupted power regardless of weather or time of day.

Depending on the home battery selected for your solar power system, there are key placement and installation precautions to consider. Sonnen batteries are usually installed in basements or garages, depending on customer preferences and local permitting requirements. Our certified installers will work with you to determine the best location for your needs and preferences.

Once installed, sonnen home batteries require little to no maintenance. For optimal airflow and efficiency, homeowners should keep a two-foot radius around the battery clear of items, providing easy access to the battery when needed.

Unlike a generator, a home battery is remarkably quiet. For example, the sonnenCore emits less than 25 dB when operating - as quiet as a whisper. Note: In the event of a power outage, the battery will make a momentary loud noise when it disconnects from the grid, and again when it reconnects.

When properly installed by a certified sonnen installer, a sonnen home battery is safe and produces little noise and zero harmful exhaust. However, there may be safety precautions to consider, especially in the case of natural hazards such as flooding and fire. Sonnen battery owners should read the product manual carefully to be aware of key precautions and safety recommendations. Since safety and quality are critical to sonnen, their battery systems use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology, which is the safest and longest-lasting technology on the market. All sonnen batteries are certified and listed to UL 9540 and 9540A standards for fire safety and are suitable for multiple applications, including time-of-use load shifting, solar self-consumption, and emergency backup power. Sonnen's LFP batteries are also 100% recyclable through their headquarters in Atlanta, which has an established program with a local R2 recycling facility. Palmetto’s dedicated customer care team is on-call to address any questions or concerns.

The total costs for your solar energy system will depend on the size and complexity of your solar array and the amount of energy storage you require. During the initial consultation, survey, and design process, we’ll work with you to outline your overall costs as well as financing options and any incentives you may be eligible for.

Yes, there are several financing options available. Two of the more common options are 1) a solar energy loan, which functions like a home improvement loan, and 2) an energy efficiency mortgage designed to help homeowners fund updates on fixtures and features. If you’re interested in financing a solar energy system, Palmetto’s dedicated customer care team is available to help clarify your options and identify which solution might work best for your needs.

Most homeowners can anticipate a break-even point or payback period between two and seven years. This is when your total energy savings will exceed your total installation costs, and varies based on a number of factors including the cost of utilities in your area, the amount of energy you use relative to the amount of energy you produce, the size and complexity of your solar energy system, your solar energy storage capacity, your eligibility for local and federal incentives, and your preferred financing method. That said, while utility rates continue to rise, clean technologies have never been more affordable or efficient. As a result, homeowners are seeing a faster return on their investment.

A home that functions “off the grid” is not dependent on public utilities, namely power and water. That said, wherever public utilities are available, we recommend maintaining a connection. This allows you to source power from both public utilities and solar panels depending on your usage needs relative to the power generated by your solar array. Homeowners who wish to function “off the grid”, whether by location/necessity or choice, typically require a larger solar array and the addition of a solar energy storage system (also known as a battery storage system).

Unlike generators, batteries are an easy way to boost the efficiency of your home and reduce or eliminate your reliance on fossil fuels. When connected to a solar panel system, batteries store power generated from sunlight and are recharged with clean energy every time the sun hits your solar array. By contrast, most generators rely on natural gas or gasoline and must be supplied with a steady stream of fossil fuel. Solar batteries are small, quiet, and produce no exhaust while generators are often quite noisy and release harmful pollutants into the environment, including high levels of carbon monoxide. As for cost: While solar battery storage may cost you more on the front end, batteries require little to no maintenance, run on energy generated by the sun, and are often eligible for federal, state and local incentives. Generators require ongoing fuel costs and maintenance to remain operational and safe.

The data collected from a solar panel monitoring system allows you to track energy production and consumption across time. Production data, or the amount of energy your solar panels produce, is a measure of efficiency, and while production will vary based on weather, season, and time of day, extreme variations may indicate a need for repair. Consumption data is a measure of energy usage in your household and can help you to make informed choices that reduce your energy usage and save you money.