Long Islanders Can Join America’s Battery Energy Storage System Wave
Massachusetts is the latest state to invest heavily in battery energy storage technology. Its government has approved four battery projects to contribute 1.3 gigawatts of storage to the grid. This is part of a wider effort to deploy 5 gigawatts of storage capacity by 2030.
Grid-scale battery storage provides energy security by ensuring reserve capacity during production outages and peak demand. Systems like those that will be deployed in Massachusetts can work with solar, wind, and traditional power generation sources.
Your home on Long Island has modest power needs compared to a statewide grid, but you can also benefit from a battery energy storage system. Integrating a residential backup battery can improve solar savings and ensure your home remains powered, even if the grid goes dark.
How do Residential Battery Energy Storage Systems Work?
Think of a battery energy storage system as a bridge between an energy source and your home.
- Collection: Energy is collected from Long Island solar panels or even the grid if you don’t have solar.
- Storage: The battery system stores electricity as Direct Current (DC). An inverter converts the energy to Alternating Current (AC) when your home needs it. Most residential battery systems on Long Island range from 15kWh to 30 kWh in capacity. A whole-home solution requires 40+ kWh.
- Battery Management: Popular systems, like the Tesla Powerwall, feature a built-in Battery Management System (BMS) that monitors battery health, charge level, temperature, and usage. You can get battery insights directly from a connected app.
- Discharge: When the sun goes down or the grid fails, the battery system kicks in to power key outlets, lighting, and appliances (depending on configuration).
Is a Solar Battery Worth it on Long Island?
Solar batteries are worth it on Long Island because they help improve lifetime solar savings.
- Stored electricity can be deployed in the evenings when your solar panels shut down.
- You will have a smaller utility bill than you would with solar panels alone.
- You can have a backup power source during outages. This is especially useful if you live on Long Island’s North Shore or East End, where grid outages are more common during winter.
Do You Need Long Island Solar Panels to Use a Home Backup Battery?
Solar panels aren’t required to use a home battery backup system, but there are bigger benefits when you install solar with a battery system.
- If you use a battery backup system connected only to the grid, any electricity you store and consume will be purchased at utility rates.
- Combining a battery backup system with solar panels increases savings because you can store electricity generated directly on your rooftop.
Every home is unique. There are cases where Long Island families can get excellent value from a battery backup system without solar panels. You could store electricity at off-peak times and deploy it when peak rates are in effect, reducing your utility bill.
Depending on the size of the battery system, you could also use it for partial or whole-home backup during grid outages. A battery system could take the place of a traditional fuel-based generator.
Talk to Long Island’s Battery Backup Experts
Power Solutions is one of the most trusted solar panel and battery backup installers on Long Island. We can help you evaluate the benefits of renewable energy with a battery storage system. We will provide a free energy savings evaluation and cost/benefit analysis.
Get a free estimate today or contact us at (631) 348-0001 to learn more about the most efficient home solar panel and battery backup solutions.
