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?
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from CAMEL.
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 F, 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.
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.
There are a few investments you make in your life that will seem as personal as the one you make in a home. When you take out a mortgage, it's a serious financial commitment that should be treated as such.
This requires you to make decisions concerning the property, including those you make to increase its value. Adding portable solar panels to your property is one way to raise the market value of your residence. Simply put, portable solar panels can reduce your monthly energy bills by using solar power to produce electricity.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the year saw over 50,000 solar panel systems being installed in homes throughout the US. Solar panels are an investment that will almost certainly be profitable in the long run, despite the increasing volatility in both the solar industry as well as the economy as a whole.
More money can be saved in the long run if solar panels are obtained from an established installer and adjusted to maximize energy production. Even renters can go solar with a variety of different plans.
The duration it takes to see a return on one's initial financial outlay is known as the payback period. The long-term savings on energy expenses from installing solar panels more than makes up for the initial investment. The solar panel size, your home’s energy needs, and a variety of other factors will determine how much money you save each month. The good thing about portable solar panels is that they cost considerably less than their traditional counterparts, and thus, have a far shorter payback period.
Due to the difference in upfront investment and the variations in energy costs depending upon the location, the exact payback period will vary between cases. Having said that, below are a few general guidelines to help you determine how long it will take for you to break even (the point at which your initial solar investment is equal to the cost savings generated by the portable solar panels).
You should begin by making a rough calculation of the starting investment you will make. Include not only the price of the system itself, but also any fees associated with putting it up and getting it running. Look up local price estimates and go from there.
Are you interested in learning more about portable energy storage? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
The federal government offers a one-off 26% tax credit on the cost of a solar energy system for a home. Assuming your portable solar panel costs you $500, you will be eligible for a tax credit of $130.
In addition, there are financial incentives and rebates available from some utilities for switching to solar energy. Find out if your utility company provides rebates by contacting them.
The calculation is based on the assumption that solar panels will supply all of your energy needs. Some houses will be able to generate all of their power needs from solar, and even sell any extra energy to the grid, but others will still need to rely, at least partially, on traditional power sources. The number and size of the portable solar panels a given home has, how much electricity it typically uses, and other factors will affect the percentage of electricity needs that can be covered by solar.
To get an idea of how much money you'll save after making these changes, you can log in to your account with your electric utility provider and take an average of your most recent bills. If you can, go back a minimum of six months to allow for seasonal changes in temperature and other expense fluctuations.
Let us assume the portable solar panels will cover all your energy needs and currently pay around $80 in electricity bills per month (or $960 per year). You now have all the data you need to calculate the approximate payback period for your portable solar panels.
You can acquire portable solar panels even if you do not currently have the funds for it. Here are the three most common ways to make that happen:
In most cases, you won't need to put up any collateral if you get a personal loan. While the interest rate for unsecured loans is generally higher, you will not lose any collateral should you miss payments or default on the loan.
Having a strong credit history increases the likelihood that you will be awarded the best interest rate. If you have a less-than-stellar credit score, you may want to look at lenders offering personal loans to applicants with poor credit. Most lenders conduct a soft or light credit check before letting you know if you qualify. This means that you will not have to go through the hassle of shopping around in the quest for the best rates. If you have a low credit score and the proposed interest rates feel too high, you may want to wait until you have improved your score before moving forward with the project.
You can get a loan based on the value of your home's equity. With a usual home equity loan, you can secure a loan of up to 85% of your house equity. Your equity is defined as the value of your home minus any debts or liabilities you might have. For instance, if your house is worth $350,000 and you owe a total of $200,000, your equity will be ($350,000-$200,000) = $150,000. With this equity amount, you can expect to get a bank loan of up to ($150,000 * 0.85) = $127,500. Normally, portable solar panels cost considerably less than this.
Low interest rates are a common feature of home equity loans. The bank will feel secure in lending you money because of the collateral provided by your home. However, you must think carefully about putting up your house as collateral.
Financing energy efficiency improvements – such as the installation of portable solar panels – are possible through the Federal Housing Administration's PowerSaver loan program. PowerSaver Energy Rehab 203(k) Loans and PowerSaver Second Mortgages are the two available options. A debt-to-income ratio of 45% is generally required by these loan programs along with a credit score of at least 660.
After March 31, , new participants could no longer join the government's feed-in tariff (FiT) program. However, homes that installed solar panels and applied for the scheme before this date are still eligible to benefit from it.
Households that employ solar panels or other renewable energy sources to generate their own electricity will be eligible to receive cash rewards under the program.
If you do not fit the bill for the FiT scheme, you can leverage the SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) program launched at the start of . If you produce renewable energy and send any excess back to the National Grid, the program will compensate you for it.
Energy suppliers with 150,000 or more customers are required to offer at least one SEG tariff, while small suppliers may do so voluntarily.
You are eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee scheme if you produce energy through solar panels or through any of the following renewable sources:
To qualify for the micro-combined power and heat tariff, your installation's capacity must be less than 50MW. In addition, an MCS (Micro-generation Certification Scheme) or a comparable certification is also required.
Also, you will need to install a meter that can provide readings every half hour; this will allow your supplier to determine the amount of electricity you export.
If you join a SEG tariff, you can get compensated for any extra power you produce and send back to the National Grid. Unlike feed-in-tariffs, though, SEGs will not pay you for all the energy produced, which is why the compensation is probably going to be lower.
Suppliers of energy have complete autonomy on the terms of their contracts, including the tariff rate, duration, and stability. Over the course of the contract period, fixed SEG tariffs offer an agreed-upon rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of exported energy.
The cost of a variable tariff might rise or fall in response to fluctuations in the market (note that the prices cannot drop below zero). Therefore, it is in your best interest to look about and compare prices and features.
You should know that you cannot sign up for both feed-in-tariffs and Smart Export Guarantee schemes. However, if you want SEG payments instead, you can opt out of the feed-in tariff scheme.
Here is how you can get the most out of your portable solar panels:
Try to wash clothes, do the dishes (if you use a dishwasher), and perform any other energy-intensive tasks during the sunlit hours instead of at night. Appliances with built-in timers are useful if you are frequently absent from home during the day – you can use the timer to turn these applications off before sunset.
You could also charge your mobile, laptop, and other electrical appliances during the day and unplug them at night.
You can lessen your home's energy consumption by doing things like turning off any lights that are not being used, taking shorter showers, and taking draught-proofing measures. Also, as far as possible, use a single electrical appliance at a time so as to reduce the burden on your solar panel system.
This will allow you to cover a greater percentage of your overall electricity needs through solar energy.
By using an energy storage system, you will be able to use electricity during the night as well, further reducing your dependence on grid electricity.
Rarely do we get the chance to keep more money in our pockets while simultaneously benefiting the environment. Portable solar panels, however, allow us the best of both these worlds.
If you are looking for a portable solar panel system to reduce your electricity bills, we invite you to check out our wide range of options. We offer a number of portable solar panels, generators, and kits, and can help you choose one based on your budget, energy requirements, and saving goals.
Want more information on lithium ion battery for heavy truck? Feel free to contact us.