Can you Use Battery Storage if You Don't Have Solar Panels?

Traditionally, the majority of conversations on home battery storage have centered on using rooftop solar power together with a battery to store excess energy produced during the day for use at night. Many Californians are unaware that a battery may be utilized independently of solar panels because this has long been the standard discussion regarding house batteries and solar. So, without solar panels, how can one have a home battery storage system?

Instead of absorbing energy from the sun through the roof's photovoltaic (PV) panels, the battery collects electricity from the grid and stores it for later use, such as during peak hours when grid power is most expensive. Furthermore, utilizing a battery instead of solar panels allows you to store energy to use during blackouts, which are becoming increasingly common in California. While there are more significant and widespread benefits to using a home battery together with solar panels, if installing rooftop solar is not possible or if you plan to install a battery first and panels later, you'll learn that home battery systems can be extremely efficient and provide plenty of benefits even without a solar source.

Why Install a Home Battery Without Solar Panels?

A poorly designed roof is usually the cause of a battery without solar panels. A lot of houses have roofs that are not suitable for solar panels. For example, a steep roof that faces south would not produce enough solar energy and would not be a wise investment for solar panels. Another possibility is that a roof may produce so little energy that the expense of solar would be unjustified due to the excessive shade.

Another cause has less to do with roofing and more to do with budgets. Some consumers are unable or unwilling to invest the money needed for both solar and batteries because the combination can be somewhat expensive. Of course, there's always the temptation to just go with the battery, particularly if you prefer its advantages over solar power.

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Can You Add Solar Panels Later?

If you're curious whether or not you can add solar panels to your home batteries later on, the answer is yes! Home battery storage solutions are designed to be solar-ready, which means you can add solar panels to an existing grid-connected battery system. While installing them is different without solar panels, telling your installer about your plan to install solar panels later helps to make sure that both installations - the battery installation and the future installation of solar panels - and the connection between the rooftop solar and the batteries go smoothly.

There are a few important things to keep in mind while installing solar batteries before solar panels. When installing rooftop solar, the most crucial things to check are that the inverter will work with your electrical system and that the battery capacity is suitable for your needs in terms of backup power and energy usage.

Although home batteries complement solar panels more and offer more advantages than panels, solar batteries are becoming a more and more attractive choice for homes that cannot afford or have not yet installed panels due to factors including growing energy bills and increased energy instability. But first, install solar panels if your house has a roof that can accommodate them.

You'll realize that adding solar to a battery system produces far more profits than installing a battery alone. It will also shorten the payback period, which may be further reduced by utilizing state or local home battery programs and incentives.

What are the Benefits of a Lone Storage Battery?

Installing a storage battery without solar panels has several advantages. There are some advantages that you wouldn't get if you just depend on grid energy.

Installing a storage battery without solar panels provides advantages over simply relying on the grid for power. Here are the key ones:

By charging your storage battery during periods of lesser demand, you may use this power in the evening and escape paying peak demand pricing, which will save you money on electricity during peak times.

It lessens the load on the grid. Using stored energy during periods of high demand not only saves you money but also lessens the load on the grid, resulting in fewer blackouts for all users.

It also reduces emissions. In many rural households, an energy outage requires using a fuel-guzzling generator to provide power. Certain storage batteries allow you to power your house without one; moreover, you may charge your storage battery in advance in case a storm knocks down the grid, putting you in a prepared state.

Lastly, installing a lone battery storage boosts your energy independence. While solar panels aren't available for every home, you can still get a storage battery to have more control over how much energy you consume.

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What are The Benefits of Having a Storage Battery and Solar Panels?

When solar panels and a storage battery are combined, you may use the sun's free energy to charge the battery during the day, reducing your need on the grid even further. You may even be able to live completely off the grid if your battery is as big enough.

Additionally, you'll drastically cut your carbon emissions. An annual reduction of 1,118 tonnes, or little more than a metric ton, in carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions is possible with a 4.2-kilowatt solar array. Taking into account that the average individual emits about 7 tons of carbon annually, or about 25% of their overall emissions,

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) enables you to sell the excess electricity generated by your solar panels back to the grid so that the energy isn't utilized for battery charging or running your house.

Are There Any Downsides to Using a Storage Battery Without Solar Panels?

While a storage battery offers several benefits, there are some downsides to consider if you're not pairing it with solar panels, especially in California.

Continued Reliance on the Grid: Without solar panels, you'll still rely on the grid to charge your battery, making you vulnerable to fluctuating electricity prices. In California, electricity costs can be high, with the average three-bedroom household paying around $1,500 per year for electricity as of 2024.
Upfront Costs: A battery system in California will cost you approximately $5,500, but you'll still be paying for electricity from the grid. While this setup provides backup power and potential cost savings through time-of-use rates, the initial investment is significant.
Better Value with Solar Panels: Installing solar panels alone might be a more cost-effective option. In California, a 3.5 kW solar panel system costs around $9,000 on average and typically lasts at least 25 years—more than enough for a three-bedroom home. Most homeowners break even in about 10-12 years, making it a solid long-term investment.
Increased Property Value: Adding solar panels can also boost your property’s value. Surveys show that a majority of Californians prefer homes with solar panels, and having a battery system as an added feature could make your property even more attractive.
Tax Incentives: In California, you can only take advantage of certain incentives, like the federal tax credit, if you purchase a battery system along with solar panels. The tax credit can significantly reduce your overall costs, making the combination of solar and battery storage a more appealing option.

Conclusion

Installing a system that combines solar panels with a home battery is highly recommended if you have the necessary space and funds on your roof. There are two things to think about, though, if that isn't feasible.

First of all, a battery might spare you the trouble and pain of going without electricity if you reside in an area where power outages occur frequently. However, because batteries cannot produce energy as solar panels can, they do not pay for themselves for very long. Additionally, although changing the hours of energy usage results in some savings on energy bills, the reductions are not significant enough to justify installing a separate battery in the first place.

In summary, if preventing power outages is your main priority, a standalone battery is great. However, keep in mind that you may add solar to an existing battery at a later time, just as you can add a battery to solar or another battery in the future, for people who don't have the funds for a solar + battery combination. This not only helps you avoid a single, big investment, but it also enables you to assess if solar and batteries are actually necessary for your home.

In conclusion, if both of the following are true—that is, if your home has a bad roof plan for solar energy and you frequently have blackouts—you should get a standalone battery.