All solar batteries have the same basic function, but each type is suited for different applications. Your solar battery will offer higher reliability and return on investment when its chemistry is suitable for the application at hand. In general, lithium-ion batteries are most commonly used for residential solar systems due to their high efficiency and compact size when compared with other battery types.
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Lithium-ion batteries have become very popular in recent years since they can achieve synergy with solar panels and wind turbines. For example, the Tesla Powerwall and Enphase IQ are two types of lithium-ion batteries commonly used in home solar applications. You can also find smaller lithium batteries from brands like Renogy and WindyNation, which are portable and better suited for DIY solar projects.
Lithium iron phosphate or LFP batteries are a subtype of lithium batteries, characterized by a superior service life. The best LFP batteries offer a service life of over 4,000 cycles at 80% DoD, which means they can last for over 10 years on a daily charging cycle. This makes LFP batteries the ideal complement to solar installations. Unlike lead-acid batteries, which need separate charge controllers, many of the lithium battery models that are commercially available come with built-in chargers and controls.
The main drawback of lithium-ion batteries is the high price, but this could change in the near future ' the U.S. Department of Energy is targeting a 90% energy storage cost reduction by . Lithium batteries can also suffer a phenomenon called thermal runaway when used at high temperatures, which causes them to catch fire. You can prevent thermal runaway by making sure your batteries are high-quality and installed by qualified electricians.
Lead-acid batteries are an established technology, commonly used by off-grid solar energy systems in remote locations. Lead-acid batteries are affordable and have a well-established supply chain due to their popularity, so you can easily find vendors and technical support.
In spite of their low cost, lead-acid batteries have some technical limitations you should consider:
An absorbed glass mat or AGM battery is an improved version of the traditional lead-acid battery. They can charge faster while having a spill-proof design and more durability. You can also find AGM deep cycle batteries that are designed for 80% DoD.
Using lead-acid batteries along with solar panels requires charge controllers to sustain a suitable charging current. These batteries should not be wired directly to your solar array, or your system may be damaged by excessive current.
Nickel-cadmium batteries are characterized by their durability, tolerance to high temperatures and simple maintenance needs. Thanks to these performance features, nickel-cadmium batteries are popular in industrial and utility applications. Unfortunately, cadmium is highly toxic to humans, so nickel-cadmium batteries are not recommended in homes.
Flow batteries store energy by separating positive and negative electrical charges in chemical solutions, which are stored in separate tanks. When these two solutions interact, they undergo a reduction-oxidation reaction (redox) and the battery releases energy. This battery technology is also referred to as 'redox flow' for this reason.
The main disadvantage of redox flow batteries is their space requirement, and they are not cost-effective for small-scale projects. Even a small redox flow battery system can be the size of a shipping container, so using flow batteries in home solar systems is not viable.
One of the most important features of a battery is how long it lasts. After all, there is a reason that Energizer has been advertising that their batteries 'keep going, and going, and going' for the better part of 25 years'
But when it comes to investing in home battery storage, the stakes are much higher than picking a Triple-A battery to power your TV remote.
With tens of thousands of dollars on the line and dozens of solar battery brands to choose from, it's worth taking a minute to consider which solar battery lasts the longest. In this article, we'll explore which battery type lasts the longest and the best solar batteries to buy if longevity is your primary concern.
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The lithium-ion batteries that dominate today's residential energy storage market have a usable life (70% capacity or more) of 10-15 years, which is roughly double the lifespan of the lead-acid batteries used in the past. However, the lifespan of a lithium-ion battery also depends on its chemistry and how you use it.
There are two lithium-ion battery chemistries that are especially widespread in today's market:
In general, LFP batteries tend to last longer than NMC because they are more resistant to high temperatures that degrade battery life. However, the lifespan of a battery also depends on how you use it.
According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL):
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So, if you plan on charging and discharging your battery every day, an LFP will likely last longer. If you only plan on using your battery for backup power during grid outages, an NMC battery will likely last longer.
Next, we'll look at some of the longest-lasting battery models for each chemistry type.
Alright, so we've narrowed the longest-lasting solar batteries into two lithium-ion chemistries: LFP and NMC. Now let's take a step further and look at some of the longest-lasting battery models for each chemistry based on the warranty terms offered by each manufacturer.
Battery warranties guarantee that a certain level of usable storage capacity will remain after a set number of years or usage, whichever comes first. Usage is measured in two ways:
In , a 'standard' solar battery warranty is for 70% of nameplate capacity after 10 years and 3,000 to 4,000 cycles. The batteries on the lists below carry warranties that go above and beyond this standard in some way.
Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) has emerged as the longest-lasting battery type on the market, as indicated by 12 and even 15-year warranties (as opposed to the standard 10 years).
Some of the longest-lasting LFP batteries are listed in the table below.
Brand/Model Usable capacity Warranty terms Franklin Home Power 13.6 kWh 70% capacity after 12 years or 43MWh throughput sonnenCore+ 8.6 kWh 70% capacity after 10 years or 10,000 cycles Panasonic Evervolt 9 / 13.5 / 18 kWh 70% capacity after 12 years Enphase IQ 5P 5 kWh 60% capacity after 15 years or 6,000 cycles SunPower SunVault 13 / 19.5 kWh 70% capacity after 10 years (unlimited cycles)**Unlimited cycle warranty may not be valid for 'homeowners who charge over 5MWh from sources other than PV'
A few LFP battery warranties that stand out:
Now, let's see how the top LFP battery warranties compare to the top NMC battery warranties.
In general, the warranties for NMC batteries are shorter and cover less usage than the warranties for LFP batteries. The table below shows the warranty terms for the best NMC batteries on the market in .
Brand/Model Usable capacity Warranty terms LG ESS Home8 14.4 kWh 70% capacity after 10 years or 59.8 MWh throughput LG RESU Prime 9.6 kWh 70% capacity after 10 years or 32 MWh throughput Generac PWRcell 9 kWh (3 x 3 kWh modules) 70% capacity after 10 years or 7.65 MWh per module Tesla Powerwall 2 13.5 kWh 70% capacity after 10 years (unlimited cycles)**Unlimited cycles warranty may not apply if the battery is charged using grid electricity.
A few things that stand out:
To recap, based on the manufacturer's warranties (which tend to be conservative) you can count on today's lithium-ion solar batteries to last at least 10 years ' and perhaps up to 15.
However, your battery life is influenced by:
Connect with an Energy Advisor to compare living pricing on the long-lasting batteries mentioned in this article.
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