4 battery storage trends every homeowner should be tracking

Investing in a solar system can help power your home more efficiently, reduce your energy expenses, and even increase your home’s value. Today’s solar systems are highly efficient and enable a wide range of goals. One trend that’s quickly moving to the forefront is the popularity of battery storage solutions. According to the International Energy Association, global energy storage deployments reached record levels in the past year and that offers important implications for homeowners. Let’s take a closer look at some of the aspects of batteries homeowners should be aware of.

Interest in off-grid living drives interest in energy storage

Increasingly, homeowners are working toward the option of living off-grid or reducing their environmental footprint. Whether you’re interested in energy independence or ensuring a high quality of life in a remote location, a solar solution can help. Adding a solar battery to your solar system increases the flexibility and ability to meet your needs — no matter where you live. Energy generated by solar panels during the day can be stored, and then accessed at night or during inclement weather. A battery also provides reliable electricity options during grid outages or natural emergencies. Homeowners turning to solar to offer independence, flexibility and long-term solutions are driving interest in battery storage.

Smart software streamlines management

When you first think of a battery, you might think of a passive device that just stores energy. But today’s next-level solar storage batteries use intelligent software to help increase the functionality and advantages of a battery solution. Using management software, you can rapidly charge your battery before a natural disaster or potential grid outage, optimize your consumption of electricity to save money and even resell energy to your utility company if they allow it. Leveraging smart software allows you to get more value from your system and set rules in advance, so you don’t need to monitor the system constantly. In a busy, always-connected world, intelligent solutions streamline management and customize usage to your needs.

Optimizing energy consumption

As consumers look for ways to reduce costs and more effectively hedge against future energy cost increases — or seasonal ones in some parts of the country — the popularity of solar storage solutions is on the rise. Solar storage batteries help optimize your energy consumption in a number of ways. First, they help you consume more of the energy your solar system produces around the clock and during emergencies, instead of relying on the grid. Second, it’s possible to set your system to use solar power during peak times and keep your energy costs down. Finally, if your utility company supports net energy metering, you can store energy to sell back to your provider during peak times to offset your monthly bill and maximize your return on investment. Customized solar can have a major impact on your family’s bottom line.

Battery storage scales with your needs

Today’s high-end solar battery solutions pair with solar systems to customize a home energy system that’s based on your goals, usage, and needs. If your needs evolve, you can scale up storage to meet a higher power demand or ensure you can support your priority loads. For many homeowners, the added flexibility in the latest battery solutions has made it more viable to invest in solar. Consider that today’s high-end systems have a projected lifespan — and accompanying warranties — of 25 years. Your needs, technology and the general climate are likely to adapt in that time. Knowing that your storage capacity can change and grow with you adds more security in the long-term value of the investment.

Solar popularity is on the rise, and one of the biggest trends is battery storage solutions. When paired together, solar solutions plus storage offer flexibility, reliability, cost controls and smart tools to help you maximize the value of your system. As you explore solutions, consider whether a solar battery is right for your needs.

Interested in battery storage solutions for your home? Learn more about EverVolt, Panasonic's battery storage solution. For more insights on battery storage and renewable energy trends, check out Panasonic's Green Living blog.