Why home energy storage is on the rise [Podcast]

The Go Green Radio podcast, hosted by Jill Buck, recently dove into the details of home energy storage — and tapped a Panasonic expert to help out. Jill interviewed Senior Sales Engineer Dan Glaser about our EverVolt battery storage system, which provides homeowners with backup power even if they don’t have a solar Photovoltaic (PV) system.

During the episode, Glaser answered a range of questions and provided a host of information about why homeowners are increasingly interested in battery storage, when and where stored power makes sense and saves money, and Panasonic’s role in developing batteries for electric vehicles.

Energy storage: a backup system for all  

EverVolt is Panasonic’s new residential energy storage system. While the system is compatible with any solar system, Dan noted that it can also “operate independently of solar.” That means that homeowners concerned about losing power can use energy stored in their EverVolt system in the event of an outage. In fact, with the prevalence of wildfires in places like California prompting outages, there’s been an increased interest in home energy storage.  

“This has been especially at the top of people’s minds with the power outages happening in California,” Dan said during the podcast. Homeowners can rely on the EverVolt system to power their home during an outage — and then switch back to the grid once it’s over. Those with installed solar can also recharge the EverVolt batteries with their PV system, providing hours and even days of power regardless of whether the grid is up.

Decreasing power costs

Dan noted in the podcast that in addition to backup power during outages, homeowners are also using battery storage to decrease their utility costs. Some utilities have started to charge higher rates for power consumed during peak times, typically the morning and evening.

“There are areas of the country where economically it makes sense to add a bit of storage,” Dan says. That way, homeowners can use their stored power during those high-rate periods and lower their power costs overall. Pair the storage with a solar PV system and homeowners can not only eliminate their utility bill, but also take advantage of the solar tax credit.

True battery expertise

During the Go Green podcast, Dan pointed out that Panasonic has a long history of developing batteries. The company began producing batteries in-house in 1931. And when carmakers in Detroit needed batteries for their first electric vehicles they turned to Panasonic. “The (electric vehicles) actually use the same batteries that are in the EverVolt,” Dan says.

The depth of experience speaks to the quality of the product and Panasonic’s battery expertise. When shopping for battery storage, “you need to be able to choose a company that will stand by its product,” he adds.

Check out Panasonic’s Green Living blog for more information about residential battery storage and going solar.