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How long do residential solar batteries last?
You need batteries to store the power from your home solar energy system, but how often do they need to be replaced?
As solar energy becomes a more common feature of homes, many homeowners decide it’s time to add battery energy storage systems to their solar installations. These batteries provide backup power during outages and allow homeowners to manage energy usage more efficiently. But a key question remains: how long do residential solar batteries last?
Multiple factors influence the lifespan of a home battery system, including how it is used, maintained and the environment in which it operates. This article will explore these factors and provide insights into what homeowners can expect from their solar battery systems.
Lifespan of residential solar batteries
Most solar batteries come with a warranty that offers an indication of their expected lifespan. A typical warranty period for a residential battery is around 10 years or 7,300 charge cycles, whichever comes first. For example, the Enphase IQ Battery has a warranty of 10 years or 7,300 cycles, meaning that homeowners can expect reliable performance within that timeframe.
However, many batteries are said to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. This means that a replacement will likely be needed during the 20-to-30-year lifespan of a solar panel system.
Battery life is primarily driven by usage cycles. Each time a battery is charged and discharged, it experiences a cycle, and over time, the capacity of the battery diminishes. Batteries are typically warranted to maintain 60% to 70% of their original capacity after a certain number of cycles. For instance, Tesla’s Powerwall and LG’s solar batteries guarantee this capacity threshold over a defined number of cycles.
Factors affecting battery life
Several factors influence the longevity of a residential solar battery:
- Usage cycles: Frequent charging and discharging can wear down a battery faster. A battery that undergoes deep discharges (meaning it’s drained completely before being recharged) will have a shorter lifespan compared to one that’s only partially discharged.
- Overcharging and trickle charging: Overcharging occurs when a battery is charged beyond its capacity, which can cause overheating and potential damage. Trickle charging, where a battery is continuously topped up to 100%, can also reduce battery life due to elevated internal temperatures.
- Temperature: Batteries degrade faster in high temperatures. Excessive heat can break down the electrolyte inside the battery, reducing its ability to transfer lithium-ions, which lowers capacity. Cold temperatures, while they can temporarily reduce performance, do not cause long-term damage to lithium-ion batteries.
- Lithium-ion loss: Over time, lithium-ions in the battery can become trapped and unusable due to side reactions within the battery, slowly reducing its capacity.
Maintenance tips to extend battery life
Proper maintenance is essential to ensuring the longevity of a home battery system. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recommends that batteries be installed in a cool, dry location, such as a garage, to minimise the risk of overheating and potential fire hazards.
In addition to proper placement, regular inspections and maintenance are important. Homeowners should look for signs of leakage or buildup on the outside of the battery, ensure that fluid levels (if applicable) are appropriate, and check that voltage levels are consistent across all batteries in the system.
It is also crucial to avoid frequent deep discharging of the battery. NREL advises that homeowners monitor the battery’s usage and consider increasing battery capacity if deep discharges occur regularly, as this can shorten the battery’s lifespan.
Residential solar batteries are a valuable addition to a solar energy system, offering backup power and optimising energy usage. While most batteries come with a warranty of around 10 years, factors like usage cycles, temperature and proper maintenance can significantly impact how long they last.
By understanding these factors and following best practices for battery care, homeowners can maximise the lifespan of their energy storage systems, ensuring reliable and efficient performance for years to come.
To get the best solar batteries for your home energy installation and top-notch maintenance, contact Ecosolarspain today:
