An installer’s guide to residential battery storage
PV batteries are South Africa’s golden ticket to a reliable, continuous energy supply and way out of the current energy crisis, storing excess energy generated during the day for use when supplies are unavailable.
And although load shedding has eased up this June, contrary to Eskom’s own predictions that unprecedented power outages would be implemented this winter, we are certainly not out of the woods yet — and blackouts could still come back with a vengeance.
As such, it is unlikely that the demand for PV systems with battery storage will slow down anytime soon, especially since so much of the population distrusts the public utility company. Which means installers must continue fulfilling requests from all sorts of homeowners with varying system requirements…
So, what should you take into consideration when selecting battery storage solutions for your residential customers — and why should you fill your portfolio with products from Pylontech?
Choosing the right PV battery
One of the first things you need to think about when working on a new residential solar project is how much energy your customers need their PV systems to supply.
Homeowners that are simply looking to stop worrying about if and when load shedding will ramp up will only need enough power to keep essential loads and appliances running when the grid fails. In these instances, an entry-level battery with a capacity of between 2kW and 3kW will suffice.
On the other hand, homeowners planning to go off-grid will need a higher-capacity battery. Exactly how much higher will depend on numerous factors, including the size of the home and how often the resident uses which appliances. For example, customers that work from home will likely be using computers for multiple hours a day, which might command batteries with capacity of around 4kW.
You should also think about your customers’ budgets when selecting PV batteries for residential systems. After all, more powerful batteries can come with a higher price tag, so you will need to look for cost-saving features like higher usable capacities. It is also important to remember that longer-lasting batteries with generous product warranties will incur fewer maintenance and replacement costs, which often works out cheaper in the long run.
Plus, whilst bigger batteries might come with a higher risk of system failures, safety should be prioritised at all times — whatever kind of residential PV system you are installing. Hence, you should look for protection against common faults; it will give your customers peace of mind and prevent problems like system fires from damaging the products and cutting the battery’s lifetime short.
Exploring Pylontech’s options
Pylontech is one of the most experienced and innovative solar energy storage solution manufacturers around, having been designing cutting-edge products since 2009. There is something for every PV system requirement in its diverse residential battery portfolio, which comprises the US and UP battery ranges.
The US batteries, the US2000C and US3000C, are 2.4kWh and 3.5kWh models that are ideally suited to small to medium-sized residential PV systems.
With high usable capacities and 95% depth of discharges (DoDs), these products are highly efficient, meaning customers get more out of their energy supplies and fewer products are needed per system. Each of these batteries also boasts an intelligent battery management system (BMS), which protects against abnormal temperature, current and voltage and preserves the product’s state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH). They also have 7-year warranties that can be extended to 10 years. The result? Powerful, cost-effective battery storage that lasts.
Moving onto the UP batteries, installers also have two models to choose from: the UP2500 and UP5000.
These 2.84kWh and 4.8kWh products are just as impressive as the US models, with the ability to be upscaled to suit larger applications thanks to their modular design and generous respective parallel capabilities of up to 16 and 20 units. What’s more, the UP models come with outstanding 15-year design lives. Thus, these batteries are an equally long-lasting option for homeowners looking for more dynamic storage.
And to top it all off, all Pylontech batteries are built with lithium-ion cells — an advanced technology that is much more efficient, safer and cost-effective than less innovative alternatives. So, no matter what kind of residential PV system you are working on, these products are bound to meet every requirement and provide the best possible energy supply.
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