Solar + Battery Storage: A Long Island Guide to Lower Bills and Backup Power

Adding a solar battery to a new solar installation, or even an existing system, maximizes savings and provides power during emergencies. Unlike a traditional generator, a solar battery can provide backup power in an emergency while improving your energy savings throughout the entire year.

Learn how it works and why you should consider this combination for your home in Suffolk or Nassau County.

Key Takeaways

• A solar battery stores energy for evenings and can power your essential circuits during outages.
• Long Island incentives for battery energy storage systems can be substantial, but there are strict program rules to consider.
• Decide your priority: savings or backup power. The one that matters most will guide the size of your system.

How Solar Panels Work with Battery Storage

Residential solar panels will power your home directly during the day. Typically, a home will produce more energy than it can consume, especially during summer. Without a battery system, that excess goes to the grid, generating credits under a Net Metering agreement.

With a battery, the surplus charges the battery system first. Stored capacity can then be deployed in the evenings to further reduce the amount of energy your home takes from the grid.

The result is a lower PSEG LI bill than with solar panels alone.

Will a Battery Energy Storage System Lower Your Electric Bill?

Yes, a solar battery system will lower your electric bill compared to solar panels alone, but how much depends on how you use electricity and the type of billing on your account.

• The fundamental savings are provided by reducing your early-evening grid consumption. When your panels shut down for the day, you can take energy from the battery first, before taking anything from the grid.
• The best savings will come if you’re on a time-of-use plan with a high rate (sometimes as high as 200%) during peak times. Deploying the energy in your battery will significantly reduce what you owe PSEG-LI at the end of the month.

Note that a battery system isn’t essential to save with solar. It has the potential to increase your total savings, but your billing history and consumption patterns will determine whether it’s worth it in your case.

Power Solutions, one of the top-rated solar installers on Long Island, offers detailed consultations and cost/benefit breakdowns. We can show you what solar would look like with and without a battery, so you have all the data up front before you sign anything.

Battery Backup During Power Outages

Adding a battery also gives you a functional benefit with backup power during emergencies.

• If the grid goes down and you have solar panels, your system will shut down to protect the grid and anyone who is working on the lines.
• If you have a battery, your system will isolate into “islanding mode,” where your equipment is fully isolated from the grid. You can use your battery to power your home, and your panels will continue to recharge the battery.

As a backup solution, it’s a lot cleaner than a traditional generator. No fumes, no fuel, and no fuss. It switches over automatically when it detects that the grid is offline.

Long Island Incentives for Battery Backup Systems

You may qualify for incentives that make a solar battery more affordable, but you will lose some flexibility in how you use a battery energy storage system.

• The NYSERDA/PSEG Battery Rebate provides up to $250 per kWh of usable battery capacity you install.
• In return, you will agree that the utility can discharge your battery automatically during periods of unusually high demand to support the grid.

Depending on the terms, this will usually only happen up to ten times a year, and the discharge window is usually around two to four hours. While it has a small impact on an annual scale, it’s still a tradeoff that you will need to consider carefully.

You can learn about eligibility and specific terms unique to your home during your solar consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Solar Battery System Worth the Cost?

A solar battery is worth the cost if you want a convenient backup solution and the ability to maximize your savings, especially during peak time-of-use hours. You can see how the numbers look with a detailed cost/benefit analysis from Power Solutions.

What Types of Battery Energy Storage Systems are Available from Power Solutions?

At Power Solutions, we primarily install Generac PWRcell and Tesla Powerwall battery systems, including the latest PWRcell 2 and Powerwall 3 models. We are a Tesla Certified Installer.

Get a Free Estimate for Solar and Battery Backup on Long Island

Power Solutions offers free estimates, detailed consultations, and all the information you need to decide if a solar battery is right for you. We can install new solar panels and a battery backup system or add a battery to your existing solar array.

Get a free ballpark estimate online or talk to a Long Island solar consultant directly at (631) 348-0001.