While global energy demand continues to expand, the penetration of renewable energy remains a challenge; for instance, in Malaysia, renewable sources accounted for only 5.0% of the energy mix as of 2022, excluding large hydropower. To bridge this gap, the economics of energy storage have shifted dramatically.
Battery prices plummeted from $350/MWh to approximately 110–120/MWh in recent years, significantly enhancing the feasibility of large-scale and commercial deployments. By decoupling energy generation from immediate consumption, solar batteries allow users to navigate the intermittency of sunlight.
What is A Solar Battery?
A solar battery, also known as Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), stores excess solar energy for later use, enabling peak shaving, energy arbitrage, and reliable power during low sunlight. Falling battery costs, smart energy management, supportive regulations, and tax incentives make it increasingly viable for commercial, industrial, and grid-support applications.
Types of Solar Batteries
Lithium-ion (Lithium Iron Phosphate – LFP)
Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries dominate residential solar storage due to their high energy density, strong thermal stability, and enhanced safety. They offer long operational lifespans of 10–15 years, require minimal maintenance, and provide reliable performance for daily charge-discharge cycling.
Lead-Acid
Lead-acid batteries are a well-established, low-upfront-cost storage option, but require significantly more space to achieve comparable energy capacity. They have shorter lifespans of 3–7 years and often need regular maintenance, including electrolyte refilling in vented designs.
Sodium-ion
Sodium-ion batteries are an emerging solar storage chemistry using abundant, low-cost raw materials such as soda ash. They offer improved resilience to extreme temperatures and reduced supply chain risks, positioning them as a promising and sustainable alternative as commercialisation scales.
How to Choose the Right Battery Size
Calculate Daily Energy Usage
Review your electricity bill to find your average daily consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This forms the baseline for battery sizing and helps avoid underestimating or overspending on storage capacity.
Determine Your Goal
Decide whether the battery is for emergency backup, evening self-consumption, or full energy independence. Each goal requires a different battery capacity and affects how the system charges, discharges, and prioritises household loads.
Use the Sizing Formula
Estimate battery size using:
Battery Capacity (kWh) = Total Daily Usage (kWh) × Days of Autonomy ÷ Depth of Discharge (DoD).
This accounts for usable energy and ensures the battery operates within safe limits.
Consider the System Output
Ensure your solar PV system can generate enough excess energy to charge the battery while powering daytime loads. Seasonal factors such as winter, cloudy weather, and system losses may require additional capacity.
Consult a Professional
A solar energy expert can analyse load profiles, climate conditions, inverter compatibility, and future expansion needs to design an optimised, cost-effective, and reliable battery system.
Choosing the Best Solar Battery Supplier
Selecting the right solar battery supplier is essential to ensure long-term system performance, safety, and return on investment. Key considerations include proven experience in battery energy storage systems, compatibility with existing or new solar PV inverters, quality of energy management software and warranty coverage.
With these factors in mind, Unitrade offers solar battery solutions designed for commercial and industrial applications, seamlessly integrating with solar PV systems to deliver smart energy management, peak shaving, and long-term cost savings. Backed by proven technology and local expertise, its solutions support future-ready energy storage.
FAQS
1. What is a Solar Battery?
A solar battery, also known as a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), stores excess electricity generated by solar PV systems for later use, enabling peak shaving, energy arbitrage, and reliable power during low sunlight or grid disruptions.
2. Why are Solar Batteries Becoming More Popular Now?
Solar batteries are more viable due to sharply declining battery prices, improved energy management systems, supportive regulations, and tax incentives, making them cost-effective for commercial, industrial, and grid-support applications.
3. What Types of Solar Batteries are Available?
Common solar battery chemistries include lithium-ion (especially Lithium Iron Phosphate), lead-acid, and emerging sodium-ion batteries, each differing in lifespan, cost, maintenance needs, and performance characteristics.
4. How Do I Choose the Right Battery Size?
Battery size depends on daily energy consumption, intended use (backup, self-consumption, or off-grid), days of autonomy, and depth of discharge. A standard formula helps estimate the required capacity accurately.