Solar battery storage guide: How do they work and what benefits do they bring?
Key takeaways
- A battery energy storage system integrates solar panels, solar inverters, microinverters, energy storage inverters, and batteries to enhance energy efficiency for both home energy storage systems and commercial energy storage systems.
- A solar battery storage system not only saves money but also enhances energy security, supports environmental sustainability, provides peace of mind during emergencies, and even adds value to your property.
- Hoymiles LB-G2 battery is stackable solar battery packs built for residential energy storage projects and commercial settings such as hotels and restaurants.
- The LB-G2 battery completes Hoymiles’ PV-ESS-EV solution, where users can generate, convert, store, and manage solar power seamlessly within a single system.
- As the demand for clean energy continues to grow, investing in renewable energy storage solutions like solar battery backups is becoming more attractive for both homeowners and business owners.
Table of Contents
Solar battery storage is the key to unlocking even more savings and energy independence for PV owners. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about solar battery storage systems—from how they work to the benefits they offer for both homes and businesses, and what Hoymiles battery brings to you. Whether you’re aiming to cut down on electricity bills, protect yourself from power outages, or reduce your carbon footprint, this guide will help you make an informed decision on how to integrate solar battery storage into your energy solution.
What is a solar battery storage system?
Simply put, a solar battery storage system is a standard PV system with an added battery that stores the surplus energy your system generates for later use.
Without a solar battery pack, any excess energy that’s generated is sent back to the grid, which means you may end up using expensive grid power during peak hours in the evening when the sun is no longer shining.
Solar battery storage systems typically consist of four main components:
- Solar panels: These are the most conspicuous components of any PV energy storage solution. They capture sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity.
- Solar inverter: A solar inverter converts DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of power your home appliances use. Residential and commercial energy storage systems typically use microinverters or string inverters.
- Energy storage inverter: While solar inverters only convert DC to AC, you’ll need an energy storage inverter to convert AC back to DC before it can be stored in solar batteries. (See how Hoymiles’ hybrid inverter and AC-coupled inverter work.)
- Battery: The battery stores any surplus energy your PV produces, so you can use it after the sun sets or during a power outage.
How does a solar battery storage system work?
A solar battery storage system involves several key steps to ensure efficient energy management for your home:
- Energy generation: Solar panels produce DC electricity from sunlight, and a solar inverter converts DC electricity to usable AC electricity.
- Power consumption and storage: Solar power is used to meet the immediate energy needs of your property. When more energy is generated than required, the excess energy is stored in a solar battery.
- Discharging stored energy: When your PV system is not generating enough electricity – such as on cloudy days or at night – the solar battery backup kicks in and discharges stored energy to power your home, ensuring a continuous energy supply.
- Battery management system (BMS): The BMS monitors battery performance, controls the charging and discharging cycles, and ensures the battery storage system operates safely and efficiently. It often offers different modes to ensure efficient energy use in different scenarios and cut energy costs. prevents the battery from overcharging, overheating, or depleting too much, which helps to maintain the overall health of your PV system.
- Integration with the grid: If your battery is fully charged and your system is still producing excess energy, that energy will be exported to the grid which can potentially earn you some money. Similarly, if your battery runs out of power, your PV system can draw electricity from the grid as backup power.
What are the benefits of battery storage?
- Energy independence: By storing excess solar energy generated during the day, you can reduce your reliance on the grid and maintain a steady supply of electricity – even during power outages or grid failures. This is particularly useful in areas prone to blackouts or where grid power is unreliable.
- Savings on electricity bills: Utility companies often implement time-of-use rates. By storing excess energy in batteries and using it in peak hours, you can avoid high electricity prices.
- Enhanced grid support and efficiency: With a solar battery system, you can contribute to a more stable and efficient grid. By reducing your electricity imports during peak times, you help alleviate strain on the power infrastructure. In some cases, you can even sell excess stored energy back to the grid for financial gain.
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: Solar battery storage helps make your home a greener, more ecofriendly space by ensuring every kilowatt-hour generated by your solar panels is used efficiently.
- Increased property value: Homes equipped with solar battery storage systems often have a higher market value. As more buyers look for sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions, having a battery storage system can make your property more attractive and competitive in the real estate market.
How the Hoymiles LB-G2 battery completes your solar battery backup
Hoymiles, a world leader in microinverter and energy storage technology, has just launched our new LB-(5-12)S-G2 series of batteries. These batteries work seamlessly with Hoymiles microinverters and energy storage inverters to boost self-consumption and reduce energy costs.
They are deep cycle, high-capacity LFP (lithium iron phosphate) stackable batteries that offer improved safety, a long lifespan, and an optimized user experience.
LB (low-voltage) batteries are designed for residential and small commercial projects, such as hotels and restaurants.
How does Hoymiles LB-G2 battery work?
First, let’s take a look at the key specs of the new battery series.
The LB-G2 battery module (pack) has a capacity of 5.12 kWh, and you can stack as many as four modules (5.12 × 4 = 20.48 kWh) in a single battery rack.
The LB-G2 series supports five racks in parallel, allowing the energy storage capacity to reach up to 102.4 kWh.
LB-G2 battery specs
(excerpt from the datasheet)
Model | Rated capacity (Ah) | Total energy (kWh) | Number of modules |
LB-5S-G2 | 100 | 5.12 | 1 |
LB-10S-G2 | 200 | 10.24 | 2 |
LB-15S-G2 | 300 | 15.36 | 3 |
LB-20S-G2 | 400 | 20.48 | 4 |
The LB-G2 battery completes Hoymiles’ complete PV-ESS-EV solution, where users can generate, convert, store, and manage solar energy in a single system.
● Microinverter: The powerhouse of PV systems
● HYS/HAS energy storage inverter: Converts between DC and AC power in both directions
● VAS EV charger: Compatible with single-phase and three-phase power supplies to charge electric vehicles
● Hoymiles LB-G2 battery: Stores surplus solar energy for homes and small commercial projects
The following list gives you a rough idea of how Hoymiles products integrate into a seamless system:
Microinverter | Energy storage inverter | Battery | EV charger |
/ | HYS-LV-EUG1 series HYS-LV-EUG2 series | LB-G2 series | VAS-7-G2 |
HMS series | HAS-LV-EUG1 series | LB-G2 series | VAS-7-G2 |
What are the advantages of the Hoymiles LB-G2 battery?
- Module-level fire protection and IP66 rating for ultimate safety
Hoymiles takes battery safety to the module level. The solar battery pack stops charging when it reaches 50°C and stops discharging at 55°C. This can be tracked through the Hoymiles S-Miles app.
In extreme cases, if a module reaches 170°C, the aerosol fire protection mechanism is automatically activated.
The IP66 enclosure rating ensures the batteries can be used both indoors and outdoors, even in challenging environmental conditions.
- Stackable design that simplifies installation and saves time
- No external wiring is needed. Simply place the battery pack on the ground and stack additional modules as needed.
- Integration with Hoymiles microinverters is seamless, using plug-and-play cables with no extra manual wiring. All necessary cables are included in the standard package.
- The monitoring app automatically detects Hoymiles inverters and batteries without requiring additional configuration.
- Solar battery backup to sustain everyday energy use
The LB-G2 battery supports up to five racks (each with four modules) in parallel, making it adaptable for different energy needs.
Whether for residential use or commercial projects like hotels and restaurants, the battery ensures you’ll always get stable solar power backup.
- Smart and effortless maintenance for a smooth user experience
- The battery is equipped with a self-heating module that activates at 0°C and can heat the battery to 10°C within half an hour, ensuring stable operation.
- Users can check charging, discharging, and fault statuses at the pack level via the app, and system upgrades can be performed remotely.
Hoymiles also offers a high-voltage HB-G2 battery to meet various energy demands and adapt to different power grids. The high-voltage battery starts from 11.52 kWh with three modules (packs) and can expand to 23.04 kWh with six modules in a single battery rack.
HB battery specs
(excerpt from the datasheet)
Model | Rated capacity (Ah) | Total energy (kWh) | Number of modules |
HB-10S-G2 | 50 | 11.52 | 3 |
HB-15S-G2 | 50 | 15.36 | 4 |
HB-19S-G2 | 50 | 19.2 | 5 |
HB-23S-G2 | 50 | 23.04 | 6 |
Conclusion
Overall, a solar battery storage system is a necessary addition to your PV system for storing excess energy and increasing the self-consumption rate.
Hoymiles’ renewable energy storage solution intelligently manages electricity flow, ensuring you maximize benefits from the sun and your local electricity price schemes while providing uninterrupted backup power in emergencies.
This self-sustaining loop ensures you get the most from your solar investment while promoting a greener, more energy-independent life and business.
