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Understand everything to consider when choosing a battery for your system

Have you ever thought of a more sustainable way to get energy? One of the alternative and renewable sources that is growing and gaining more space among Brazilians is solar. Brazil is an excellent market for the energy sector, as the average solar radiation that falls on the country's surface is up to 2300 kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m²), according to Cepel's Solarimetric Atlas.

Despite some incentives for the use of this type of renewable energy (important as it allows for a reduction in concerns regarding the reservoirs of hydroelectric plants, which in recent years have suffered from the lack of rain and excessive sunshine), they can still be observed some doubts among consumers and those interested in applying this system in their homes or in their businesses. How does it work? What is the cost of its installation? Is the financial return beneficial? Where to buy? The questions are many. Well, let's get to the answers!

A photovoltaic solar energy system (also called a “solar energy system” or even a “photovoltaic system”) is a model in which the components of your kit work in order to capture solar energy and convert it into electricity. The energy produced can then be used to supply the electricity grid on a large scale, as happens in solar plants (commercial energy sector), but it can also be generated on smaller, residential scales (solar energy for domestic use). In addition to the solar system for generating electricity, there is also one for thermal energy, which has, as its objective, the use of solar radiation to heat water.

Photovoltaic solar energy systems have some basic components, grouped into three different blocks: the generator block, the power conditioning block and the storage block. Each group is made up of components with specific functions.

• Generator block: solar panels; cables; support structure.
• Power conditioning block : inverters; charge controllers.
• Storage block: batteries.

The battery for solar energy, are integral components of the storage block, are considered the lung of the photovoltaic system. They work by ensuring the power supply for the system when there is no solar energy.

Does my system need batteries?

Every system needs an alternative energy source for times with no or little solar energy, such as night periods and cloudy or rainy days. This alternative source can be the battery, in the case of systems off-grid, and the electricity grid itself, for systems connected to it (on-grid).

That is, if you intend to have a system on-grid, it will not need the batteries, as the energy compensation will be carried out by the grid's own energy. Otherwise, the use of batteries is essential.

It is even possible to scale the batteries to withstand certain periods without sun. Imagine the following situation: your alarm system depends on the energy generated by the photovoltaic system. The alarm system won't be able to have its functioning impaired due to a few days of rain, right? Thus, the battery can be dimensioned so that it remains in about seven days of autonomy, for safety reasons. For simpler applications, you can scale the battery for solar energy to support three days without the sun.

Batteries that can be used in photovoltaic systems are called stationary or deep cycle, as they support large energy discharges that a common battery would not support.

Car batteries must be avoided!

These batteries were designed to deliver large currents in short periods of time, such as during car starts. For this reason they are not able to withstand deep discharges without reducing their service life.

Common stationary batteries

This type of battery allows the supply of deep discharges, is more economical, and suitable for small systems. Service life can vary between four and five years.

OPzS batteries

Generally used as an alternative energy system, these batteries have a longer useful life, being longer than ten years. So the cost is a little higher. A precaution to take with OPzS batteries is where to place it. These batteries release explosive gases, requiring you to install them outdoors. In addition, another care they need refers to replenishment of water from time to time.

Gel batteries

These batteries are sealed with gel and do not release gases, and it is possible for them to be installed indoors. Indicated and generally used on boats, these batteries have a useful life of more than ten years.

AGM batteries

They are batteries that also do not release gas and have great performance. They are more expensive, but a shelf life of more than ten years generally pays off your investment.

Batteries are the first members of the photovoltaic system to wear out. Therefore, make your choice consciously and, as far as possible, without considering the difficulty and cost of maintenance as decisive factors for the purchase. Photovoltaic solar energy systems are designed to last for long periods of time, so saving on batteries may not be a good idea.

In addition to photovoltaic energy being considered clean as it does not generate waste beyond the plates and does not harm the environment, it is one of the most promising renewable resources in Brazil and in the world, as it causes minimal environmental impacts and reduces the carbon footprint of consumers - that they will be minimizing their emissions by opting for a way of obtaining energy with low harmful potential.

The return on investment time in the photovoltaic system is variable, and depends on the amount of energy the property requires. Despite this, the advantage of the home system is the economy: once this payback time is reached, the energy bill no longer needs to be paid. Energy from the sun that turns into “free” electricity! A lot of money can end up in savings rather than being spent without much benefit.

Remember to ensure that the components used are certified by the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro), which implemented Ordinance No. 357 in 2014, with the objective of establishing rules for the generation equipment. Photovoltaics.

Unfortunately, there are still few incentives and financing lines for this type of energy in Brazil, which are still difficult to access and have little applicability. It is expected that, with the increase in the consumption of photovoltaic energy systems, new incentives, more applicable and accessible to common housing, will emerge.