The lifespan of a solar battery will be examined in this blog, and the factors affecting its lifespan will be covered.
A solar storage system will require an initial financial outlay. You should first be aware of how long they will last and how often you will need to replace them before deciding to install solar batteries.
Home solar battery units last anywhere between 5 and 15 years. If you decide to install a solar battery today, it’s almost certain you’ll need a replacement in the future to match the 20- to 30-year lifespan of your solar power system.
You want the longest lifespan possible for solar because it is an investment (and for those who aren’t Plico members paying one low weekly fee, it poses a high upfront cost). In this article, we’ll look at battery maintenance tips and information you should be aware of when selecting a solar battery.
How Long Does a Solar Battery Last?
Currently available solar batteries will typically last five to fifteen years. Even though that is a considerable amount of time, you’ll probably need to replace them within the 25 to 30+ year lifespan of your solar system.
The most popular solar battery for your home today is made of lithium-ion, though there are other types as well. The frequency of charging and discharging a battery will determine how long it will last. The battery’s connection to your solar panel system and the amount of charge it can hold will vary depending on the manufacturer.
Battery technology continues to evolve and become more and more efficient! If the grid goes down, you will still have backup power for your home, which is the one constant among all brands of solar batteries.
Factors That Affect the Lifespan of Your Solar Battery
The type of solar battery, cycle life, depth of discharge, storage environment, and maintenance all affect how long your solar battery will last, as was previously mentioned.
Solar Battery Type
Three types of batteries are commonly used in solar storage: lead-acid, lithium-ion, and saltwater. Lithium-ion batteries will last the longest out of these three possibilities. Despite not necessarily being the cheapest option, they frequently have the best storage capacity.
- Lead-acid
The oldest solar battery type is a lead-acid battery, which also has one of the shortest market life spans. It takes three to five years for lead-acid batteries to go through 1500–3000 cycles.
- Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion batteries are the industry standard for home energy storage systems because they are lighter, more compact, have a longer lifespan, and have a higher DoD than lead-acid batteries. The price of lithium-ion batteries has also dropped due to increased demand by 85%, making solar power backed by solar storage even more affordable.
- Saltwater Batteries
Saltwater batteries don’t contain heavy metals as lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries; instead, they depend on saltwater electrolytes. As a result, saltwater batteries are easier to recycle and become more environmentally friendly.
Solar Battery Usage
A solar battery’s lifespan is primarily influenced by how often it is used. Thankfully, most solar batteries are deep-cycle batteries, which enable them to discharge up to 80% of their stored energy before recharging.
Solar Battery Temperature
Your battery storage system at home may need to be installed in a different location depending on where you live. This is due to the fact that to maximize its life and efficiency, your battery unit should be maintained at an ideal temperature.
Your battery might be installed outside, for instance, if you reside in a region with mild or moderate temperatures. Your battery will only function at its best if it is installed in your garage or basement if you live in an area with extreme temperatures.
Solar Battery Warranty
The warranties that solar battery producers offer for their batteries are extremely varied. Typically, lead-acid batteries are found on the low end of the warranty spectrum, and lithium-ion batteries are covered for 10 years or more.
Depth of Discharge
Each solar battery has a depth of discharge (DoD) – the percentage of the battery’s capacity that can be discharged without damaging the battery’s health. As an example, we’ll use lithium-ion batteries, which are the most popular kind of home battery.
Maintenance
The manufacture of solar batteries doesn’t require a lot of labor. Modern technology is advanced and reliable, but it still pays to monitor your battery’s performance to mitigate any issues preemptively. Monitoring your battery’s performance through an associated app (if it has one) is a good way to check that everything is running well.
How Long Do Solar Batteries Last in Comparison to Solar Panels?
Solar panels have a longer lifespan than solar batteries. Compared to lithium-ion solar batteries, which have a lifespan of up to 15 years, solar panels have a 20–30 year lifespan.
From this, there are two main lessons to be learned: first, it emphasizes the significance of selecting a strong, high-quality battery with a long cycle life and a track record of dependability; second, the installation procedure matters.
Your battery’s longevity depends on a number of important factors, including who installs it, how they do it, and where they do it. You need to get every year you can out of your solar battery because solar panels have a longer lifespan.
Is the Lifespan of a Solar Battery the Most Important Aspect?
One of the most crucial factors to think about when selecting a battery is the expected lifespan. Look for historical data on a battery’s dependability and effectiveness over time; reports from testing facilities like Battery Test Centre can be useful in obtaining this data.
The cycle life and design life of each solar battery should be specified on the specification sheet. The warranty that is provided is another indicator of a solar battery’s durability. Anything with a warranty of fewer than ten years should be avoided.
Conclusion: the Lifespan of a Solar Battery
Over the 25 to 30-year lifespan of your solar system, solar batteries, with an expected life of five to fifteen years, will probably need to be replaced at least once. The type of battery you install, how frequently you use the battery, and where the battery is stored are a few variables that have a big impact on how long the battery lasts.
But you can be sure your battery will last a long time if you use it carefully, choose high-quality products with solid manufacturer guarantees, and install the battery in a climate-controlled environment.
FAQs
How Long Do Solar Batteries Hold Charge?
The battery and the amount of energy being stored determine how long your solar battery will maintain a charge. A standard solar battery will store energy for one to five days.
How Long Does a Solar Battery Last at Night?
A battery with a capacity of 5kW should last roughly 10 hours if you typically want to run a few lights, a refrigerator, and a TV.
