Category Archives: Energy Storage

What is the difference between continuous and startup power?

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As you compare options for energy storage systems, there are a few key technical specifications to focus on and questions to answer. How much energy can the battery store? How much of your home can the battery power, and for how long? Can the battery keep powering some or all of your home if the grid is down? And can your battery provide a momentary burst of power large enough to start up your largest appliances, like your air conditioner?

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What does serviceability mean for batteries?

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If you’re considering purchasing a solar-plus-storage system, you’re probably contemplating the “what ifs”: what if my battery isn’t performing properly? What if my battery stops working altogether? The good news is that battery technology is highly reliable, which is why it’s sometimes difficult to find answers to these questions. In this article, we’ll cover some common questions you may have about solar batteries to help you make an informed decision about including storage with your solar system.

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The LG RESU Prime complete review

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

LG is one of the biggest names in energy storage. Their original battery, the RESU, is one of the most popular models in the industry. Now, their newest model–RESU Prime–is out; it’s a fully integrated energy storage system that includes an inverter and smart energy management software at a more compact size than the original. If you have solar on your property and install a home battery like the RESU Prime, you can store excess solar electricity to use later in the day or during power outages. As a result, properties with solar-plus-storage can increase their total monthly savings in certain markets.

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The sonnenCore complete review

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sonnen is one of the biggest names in energy storage. Their product line now includes three different models: the familiar sonnen eco, the ecoLinx, and now, their new sonnenCore battery. The sonnenCore is a fully integrated energy storage system that includes an inverter and smart energy management software, at a more compact size than previous products from the company. Property owners with solar that install a home battery like the sonnenCore are able to store excess solar electricity for use later in the day. As a result, properties with solar-plus-storage can increase their total monthly savings in certain markets.

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The Tesla Powerwall: how much of my house can I run on it–and for how long?

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If you’re in the market for a Tesla Powerwall, or any solar battery, your biggest question is likely, “how much of my house can I run using this battery, and for how long?” While the answer depends on a number of factors specific to your household’s energy use, we’ve outlined some steps you can take to make an estimation.

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The Panasonic EverVolt home battery complete review

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Reading Time: 7 minutes

In 2019, Panasonic, one of the world’s largest battery cell manufacturers, officially launched their own residential battery storage product: the EverVolt. A scalable storage system with both AC and DC-coupled configurations, the EverVolt can provide plenty of back-up energy for your home in the event of a grid outage, especially when paired with a solar panel system.

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Q&A with Blue Planet Energy: the Blue Ion HI

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The energy storage industry is always evolving, and new and improved battery options for homeowners come out constantly. Take Blue Planet Energy, for example – this innovative company out of Hawaii recently released with a sleek new product called the Blue Ion HI. We recently (and virtually) sat down with Blue Planet Energy to learn more about their newest offering, and to hear about what’s coming up next for the company.

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Adding a battery to your solar energy system as a retrofit

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The market for home energy storage options like the Tesla Powerwall has taken off in recent years, and costs are falling quickly. Many homeowners and businesses are thinking about adding a battery backup to their solar panel system.

The benefits of a home battery can be significant, especially if you have solar: you can use more solar energy onsite, or save it to use as backup power in the event that the grid goes down. If you are on time-of-use (TOU) rates for your electricity or pay monthly demand charges, you can even save money by using power from your battery when rates are high.

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How much of my house can I run on a battery–and for how long?

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Reading Time: 7 minutes

If you are researching a solar battery there’s one major question that you likely have: how much of your house can you power with a typical solar battery, and how long can you provide power to your home? As with most things, the short answer is an ever unsatisfying: it depends! The longer answer is a complicated one, so we’re here to help.

We’ve split this article into two separate questions–how much and for how long–since both questions are important as you decide which battery to install, but the answers rely on different factors.

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The Blue Planet Energy Blue Ion HI complete review

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Blue Planet Energy is a US-based battery manufacturer on a mission to eliminate the use of carbon-based fuels while powering the world with reliable, affordable, clean energy. Their Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP) batteries boast safety and are backed by leading warranties, making them compelling products for anyone looking to install a battery system. Their newest product, the Blue Ion HI, is a powerful, safe, and sleek battery system built in the USA that pairs well with solar panel systems.

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