The method to store solar energy depends on the application whether
we are using it.
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Solar heating applications for thermal storage
Solar PV system for electricity storage
1. Solar Thermal Storage
• Thermal energy storage is a technology that allows storage of thermal energy by heating a
storage medium for a later use
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SOLAR WATER HEATER
Solar water is familiar used for
heating water for household and
others.The temperature from sun
directly impinges on the solar
collector and that used to heat the
water passing through the pipes
i ) Direct circulation Systems
• Having circulating pumps and controls
• These systems circulate water through solar collectors which is heated by the sun.
• Work better in an environment where it rarely freezes.
• Eg. water that you’ll use for bathing or for heating your home.
ii) Indirect Circulation Systems
• The sun’s thermal energy heats the fluid in the solar collectors. Then, this fluid passes through a
heat exchanger in the storage tank, transferring the heat to the water. The non-freezing fluid
then cycles back to the collectors.
• These systems are good for climates prone to freezing temperatures.
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2. Solar PV System (for Electricity Storage)
In order to store solar energy in the form of electricity, we use BATTERIES.
The most commonly used batteries are:
1. Lithium Ion Batteries
2. Lead Acid batteries
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Lithium Ion Batteries
The majority of new home energy storage technologies, such as the
, use some form of lithium ion chemical composition. Lithium ion
batteries are lighter and more compact than lead acid batteries.
They also have a higher DoD and longer lifespan when compared to
lead acid batteries. However, lithium ion batteries are more
expensive than their lead acid counterparts. examples include
electronic devices like laptops, and mobile phones.
A battery’s depth of discharge (DoD) indicates the percentage of
the battery that has been discharged relative to the overall
capacity of the battery
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Lead Acid batteries
These are generally used in off-grid properties where we
need large storage like in cars. Also, these batteries have
a shorter expected life span in comparison to the lithium
ion batteries.
There are 4 major solar battery systems:
•DC coupled systems
•AC coupled systems
•AC Battery Systems
•Hybrid Inverter Systems
DC coupled systems
In addition,
NET METERING
• Net metering is a utility billing mechanism available in most states that offers a credit to residential
and business customers who are making excess electricity with their solar panel systems and sending
it back to the grid.
• When you have a rooftop solar system, it can often generate more electricity than you consume
during daylight hours.With net metering, the homeowner is only billed for the “net” energy used each
month, that is, the difference between the energy produced by the solar power system and the energy
consumed by the house over the monthly billing period.
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