Solar Systems Tied To The Grid: A Maxworld Power Spotlight

Solar prices have decreased by 54 percent over the previous ten years, while the industry’s average annual growth rate has been 24 percent. Additionally, the solar sector installed 6.1 gigawatts of capacity in the first quarter of 2023, making it the best first quarter in the sector’s history. All indicators point to the solar industry’s robust and ongoing expansion in the years to come, and a consistent increase in the deployment of lithium batteries is also projected. This is because lithium batteries when compared to other battery types, are the most dependable, potent, and long-lasting battery choice for storing and discharging intermittent energy produced by solar panels.

We go over the considerations you should make when choosing lithium batteries for solar energy, regardless of whether you plan to add lithium batteries to your current solar system or buy lithium batteries to match your solar system from the beginning.

People’s interest in grid-tied systems has increased over time as demand for renewable energy solutions has increased continuously. In the meantime, Maxworld Power has spent more than 20 years honing its knowledge and skills in energy storage systems and off-grid and grid hybrid power systems to better serve its clients.

How to Use Lithium Batteries to Live Totally Off the Grid

Switching to an entirely off-grid lifestyle might be intimidating at first, regardless of whether you want to live more cheaply, more sustainably, or simply in a distant place without access to an electric service. You will need a dependable source of energy generation to entirely live off-grid with lithium batteries; solar panels are still a common choice. The key considerations for employing lithium batteries in off-grid solar power systems are listed below.

Know everything you need to know about the essential elements of an off-grid solar system to be ready.

You should be familiar with terms like solar panel charge controller, for instance.

Choose the battery storage system type that best meets your needs.

Calculate your energy consumption to help you choose the right battery system size.

Recognize the additional logistical and financial advantages that an entirely off-grid existence will provide you.

Using Lithium Batteries As a Solar System’s Backup Power Source

The number of power outages in the United States is increasing, with the number of outages brought on by severe weather events doubling from the early 2000s to the present. Understanding why lithium batteries are the best option to match your solar system is essential if you intend to use batteries for backup or emergency power. The main explanations are presented below.

Although traditionally a popular option for backup power, generators are exceedingly noisy, dirty, and fuel-dependent.

If it is even available, fuel costs always soar during widespread, protracted outages along with the surge in demand for fuel for backup generators.

In contrast to generators, which need regular maintenance and refueling, lithium batteries essentially never need to be repaired.

Unlike lithium batteries, the quantity of power you need from your generator will have a significant impact on its size, price, and ease of installation.

What is the most frequent query regarding solar energy?

“People must be well aware of the level of authority they require. Customers frequently tell us about the size and shape of their homes, but for solar, it’s more important to know how much power is being utilized. To accurately estimate how much power they will ultimately be able to produce, clients also need to know how many panels can fit on their roof. Experts at FMS do each of these studies to guarantee that clients will have access to power when they need it.

Could you describe the process of installing a solar-plus-storage system for us? We perform the computations with clients first. People must be aware of two numbers: the amount of energy they must create and the amount of energy they want to have available from the storage system. The majority of customers prefer to be linked to the grid, and for those customers, the size of their solar array depends on how much energy they use annually and how much they want to offset. The size of the battery system for energy storage is determined by how much energy is needed to run necessities. People need to understand that they will have to rely solely on solar for operating loads and charging the batteries if they don’t have a backup generator and use up all of their storage before the grid comes back online. The grid typically fails during a storm when there is little sunlight.

People must take care of any power outages on their own because they are essentially their own utility company. For these customers, we determine the precise quantity of energy storage and solar energy that will be required to ensure they are adequately prepared using a more thorough list of loads.

The calculations and system sizing typically take our team one or two days.

Using a Maxworld Power Lithium Battery with Fire Mountain Solar

The advent of lithium batteries changed the game, especially for off-grid power solutions. However, employing lead-acid batteries in off-grid systems has come with several challenges. For instance, lead acid batteries should only be drained to a level of roughly 50% to prevent damage. In regularly cycled off-grid systems, this can be challenging to follow. As a result, the lifespan of lead acid batteries is frequently relatively limited. Due to the need for frequent replacements due to their limited lifespan, long-term expenditures increase.

Lithium has made living off the grid much more practical, affordable, and open to a wider range of people. However, the lithium Iron batteries will have a longer lifespan and don’t require maintenance, off-grid devices are less expensive overall, so they are a far better option for persons with a grid connection who also need emergency backup power because they can be cycled frequently and thoroughly and last two to three times longer than lead acid batteries. They are also extremely resistant to temperature changes. We always recommend lithium batteries to customers who are establishing an off-grid system for the first time or replacing lead batteries due to the numerous advantages they offer. Most of our modern energy storage devices are lithium-powered.”

Why did you decide to cooperate with Maxworld Power? “We started using Maxworld Power because they had a strong reputation and track record of providing energy storage solutions for a wide range of applications. We’ve found that they are dependable and that the business’s customer service has been unrivaled since we started utilizing them. Utilizing Maxworld Power batteries has assisted us in achieving our goal of having complete confidence in the dependability of the systems we install for our clients. We take great delight in offering our clients the quality service on which we have built our reputation. Their responsive customer support teams make this possible, and they are frequently the most affordable options available. Additionally, Maxworld Power provides a range of capacities, which is beneficial for our clients since they frequently have different requirements depending on whether they want to power full-time or small systems.

Which Maxworld Power battery models are the most well-liked, and why do they function so well with your equipment? The most popular batteries we sell are the MAX24V100AH, MAX24V200AH, MAX48V100AH, and MAX48V200AH lithium iron batteries because the majority of our customers need either a 24-volt or 48-volt lithium iron battery, and also we get good feedback from the market. These solutions have up to 50% more capacity and a far longer lifespan than lead acid alternatives, making them the ideal support for solar-plus-storage systems. The MAX100-MAX300 series of 12-volt power systems are suited for our customers with lesser capacity needs, and we strongly advise them. Additionally, it’s a huge advantage for clients using lithium batteries in colder climates to have the Low-Temperature line accessible.

How significant is an impact on the environment to your clients?

We are proud to provide our customers with an alternative that not only has less of an impact on the environment but also performs better and will support their system regardless of the weather.

Do you anticipate any changes in market trends over the next few years?

“We’ve seen that people are getting more interested in dependability and resilience because severe weather events and energy outages are happening more frequently and they need to be able to keep their lights on and their refrigerators running. Additionally, these systems enable users to produce more electricity on their own and use less energy from the grid. Customers can fully utilize their energy storage and avoid demand charges and premiums thanks to the increased control they have over their system. More people are entering the market as a result of all the financial, environmental, and logistical advantages of these energy systems. This will probably continue as long as consumers demand a more dependable system.

Conclusions:

Solar-plus-storage systems are already a common substitute for just relying on a local utility due to falling costs, and this trend is anticipated to continue. With Maxworld Power batteries, Fire Mountain Solar’s committed staff can design and install solar and energy storage systems that clients can rely on to handle everything from power outages to severe weather. Off-grid living can be frightening, but it shouldn’t be. Ensuring your off-grid power system works for you requires several essential actions, including taking the appropriate precautions, getting assistance with calculations, and having faith in your equipment. Going off the grid has several advantages in terms of finances, logistics, and the environment. Contact a member of our staff right away if you need help installing your off-grid power system; we will be more than pleased to assist you.