With prices rising across the board--gas, groceries, homes, airfare--many of us have forgotten what it means to save money. Well, what if I told you that it's possible to get free electricity at home by creating and storing your own energy?
Residential energy storage involves storing electricity in your home, so you have it in case of a power outage. This is different from a generator, which creates its own power during an outage.
To store energy at home, you need:
You need to collect the energy from somewhere. Solar power, which is energy from the sun, is a popular option. Alternatively, you can collect energy from your utility or a generator and store it for later use.
The basis for storing this collected energy is an energy storage system. Solar power storage systems work by collecting sunlight using panels made of photovoltaic cells. The captured light photons incite the movement of electrons and create direct (DC) current that is converted to AC power to charge a battery. If it's a cloudy day, this method will be less effective, and it won't work at all during the night.
If you don't have solar power set up, you can still use an energy storage system powered by AC power from your utility or a generator. Obviously, this lasts only as long as you have utility power running or your generator has fuel.
Some people combine the two options. When it's daytime and sunny, they use solar energy. If it's dark or cloudy, they supplement their system with AC power, so it's fully charged for a outage. Since sunlight is free, once you make the initial investment for equipment, you could get free electricity at home.
Like choosing a generator, choosing a residential energy storage system depends on how much you want or need to back up during an emergency. The more you want to power, the more battery storage potential you'll need.
We'll cover two types of energy storage designed for two different scenarios. The first is a portable power station, which is best for smaller needs and essential circuits. The second is a scalable electrical energy storage system that can power your entire home if necessary.
Portable emergency power storage systems are perfect if you're looking to back up a few items (fridge, lights, sump pump) during a power outage. Since they don't release exhaust, they can safely be used indoors, making them great if you live in an apartment and can't run an electric generator. Finally, they are handy in powering recreational applications like camping or an RV.
These power stations, sometimes also called "solar generators," typically have one storage battery that is charged via foldable portable solar panels that can be placed on a patio, deck, balcony, or even countertop like the EcoFlow model shown above. They can also be charged using AC power from a wall outlet.
Power outputs range from as low as 80 watts to as high as nearly 2,000 watts. The lower-watt systems will only power small electronics and appliances. For example, if you're dealing with a short-term outage and need to keep your work laptop running, these small battery systems are a great solution.
The larger output systems, like the Anker Solix F3800, can connect to your home's essential circuits via a manual transfer switch, so you can power the most necessary items during a temporary power outage.
Because these power stations max out at around 2,000 watts, you can't use them to back up your entire home. They also shouldn't be used for air conditioners, which require a high initial surge wattage. But for a few critical items or circuits, you can't go wrong.
If you're looking at storing enough power for most, or even all, the circuits in your home, then you need a whole-home energy storage system. These systems are commonly paired with rooftop solar systems that charge multiple batteries storing dozens of kilowatts of power.
A major player in the home energy storage category is the Generac PWRcell system. It consists of batteries that store energy, a cabinet that holds the batteries, and a solar power inverter that converts the DC power coming from your solar panels to AC power that is used by your home.
The PWRcell is very scalable, and you can add batteries for more power later. It can also be used with power management modules that balance competing power loads during an outage. For example, if your water heater, furnace, and electric stove are asking for power at the same time, the management modules will prioritize the appliance you have set as most important.
The Kohler Power Reserve, meanwhile, is compatible with any existing solar panel installation on the market for maximum flexibility. It also offers both AC and DC versions of the system. The DC version can charge the batteries directly from the solar panels, while the AC version can be used to charge directly from utility power.Their output and efficient power management make home energy storage systems great for whole-home backup during an emergency. Keep in mind that none of them come with the solar panels, which you will need to purchase and install separately. This can get pricey but, thankfully, these systems can also be charged using utility power. That way, you can still store plenty of energy without investing in solar power storage.
At this point you might be wondering whether it's better to go with an electric generator or a battery energy storage system for backup power.
If you don't already have a home solar system and aren't interested in installing one, then a standby generator or portable power storage system is your best bet. You'll power what you need without the high investment cost of solar.
If, however, you already have solar panels installed or are planning on it, the benefits of whole-home battery storage include free energy and potential independence from the grid, tax incentives, and peak-time payback opportunities where your utility will pay you money for the solar power you generate. That's right, not only do you get free electricity at home, but you could get paid for it.
Although the initial costs are high, you'll hopefully recoup your investment over the long run.
Additionally, certain states like California are quickly moving toward the banning of all new gas-powered equipment. If that happens, the people in those states will need to relay on alternative sources of home backup power, like solar.
If you have questions about home energy storage and other power backup solutions, please contact our product experts.