How to Get Energy Storage at Home

Home Energy Storage lithium battery system Buyer’s GuideIt is a unpredictable world today and we’ve learned to stockpile things. never knowing when there may be a shortage caused by some emergency. This includes home energy storage, which has really taken off in recent years.

What is Energy Storage?

Residential energy storage involves storing electricity in your home, The power source could either from PV system or grid and generator. so you have it in case of a power outage. This is different from a generator, which creates its own power during an outage.

A source of power( Like PV, Grid, Generator, wind system).

To store energy at home, you need:

An energy storage system

You need to collect the energy from somewhere. Solar power, which is energy from the sun, is a popular option. Alternatively, you can collect energy from your utility or a generator and store it for later use.

Rooftop Solar Panels

The basis for storing this collected energy is an energy storage system. Solar power storage systems work by collecting sunlight using panels made of photovoltaic cells. The captured light photons incite the movement of electrons and create direct (DC) current that is converted to AC power to charge a battery. If it’s a cloudy day, this method will be less effective, and it won’t work at all during the night.

If you don’t have solar power set up, you can still use an energy storage system powered by AC power from your utility or a generator. Obviously, this lasts only as long as you have utility power running or your generator has fuel.

Some people combine the two options. When it’s daytime and sunny, they use solar energy. If it’s dark or cloudy, they supplement their system with AC power, so it’s fully charged for a outage.

How to Pick a Home Energy Storage System

Like choosing a generator, choosing a residential energy storage system depends on how much you want or need to back up during an emergency. The more you want to power, the more battery storage potential you’ll need.

We’ll cover two types of energy storage designed for two different scenarios. The first is a portable power station, which is best for smaller needs and essential circuits. The second is a scalable electrical energy storage system that can power your entire home if necessary.

Portable Power Stations

Portable emergency power storage systems are perfect if you’re looking to back up a few items (fridge, lights, sump pump) during a power outage. Since they don’t release exhaust, they can safely be used indoors, making them great if you live in an apartment and can’t run an electric generator. Finally, they are handy in powering recreational applications like camping or an RV.

Because these power stations max out at around 2,000 watts, you can’t use them to back up your entire home. They also shouldn’t be used for air conditioners, which require a high initial surge wattage. But for a few critical items or circuits, you can’t go wrong.

Whole-Home Energy Storage

If you’re looking at storing enough power for most, or even all, the circuits in your home, then you need a whole-home energy storage system. These systems are commonly paired with rooftop solar systems that charge multiple batteries storing dozens of kilowatts of power.

One major player in the home energy storage category is the Coremax LFP battery system. The CMX48100S consists of batteries that store energy, a cabinet that holds the batteries, and a solar power inverter that converts the DC power coming from your solar panels to AC power that is used by your home.

Coremax powerwall and rack battery

The coremax 48100 is very scalable. The base package comes with 4 batteries that can collectively store 10kW of power, max support 20kwh. However, each battery cabinet can holds up to six batteries, Total energy up to 30kwh. 48v 600Ah. and up to two cabinets can be combined in one system for a maximum output of 60kW. This flexibility allows homeowners to start small and scale up their system down the road.

Besides its high energy storage capacity, the coremax can be used with power management modules that balance competing power loads during an outage. For example, if your water heater, furnace, and electric stove are asking for power at the same time, the management modules will prioritize the appliance you have set as most important. The Coremax can also be paired with a soft starter, which will reduce the high surge outputs needed to start an air conditioner.

Their output and efficient management of power make coremax battery energy storage systems great for whole-home backup during an emergency. Keep in mind that they do not come with the solar panels, which you will need to purchase and install separately. This can get pricey but, thankfully, Coremax can also be charged using utility power. This way, you can still store plenty of energy without investing in solar power storage.

Generator or Energy Storage System?

At this point you might be wondering whether it’s better to go with an electric generator or a battery energy storage system for backup power.

If you don’t already have a home solar system and aren’t interested in installing one, then a standby generator or portable power storage system is your best bet. You’ll power what you need without the high investment cost of solar.

If, however, you already have solar panels installed or are planning on it, the benefits of whole-home battery storage include free energy and potential independence from the grid, tax incentives, and peak-time payback opportunities where your utility will pay you money for the solar power you generate. Although the initial costs are high, you’ll hopefully recoup your investment over the long run.

If you have questions about home energy storage and other power backup solutions, please contact our product experts.

Why Lithium battery for Whole house ESS

Long life cycles
Lithium batteries stand apart from other battery chemistries due to their high energy density and low cost per cycle. However, “lithium battery” is an ambiguous term. There are about six common chemistries of lithium batteries, all with their own unique advantages and disadvantages. For renewable energy applications, the predominant chemistry is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4). This chemistry has excellent safety, with great thermal stability, high current ratings, long cycle life, and tolerance to abuse.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) is an extremely stable lithium chemistry when compared to almost all other lithium chemistries. The battery is assembled with a naturally safe cathode material (iron phosphate). Compared to other lithium chemistries iron phosphate promotes a strong molecular bond, which withstands extreme charging conditions, prolongs cycle life, and maintains chemical integrity over many cycles. This is what gives these batteries their great thermal stability, long cycle life, and tolerance to abuse. LiFePO4 batteries are not prone to overheating, nor are they disposed to ‘thermal runaway’ and therefore do not over-heat or ignite when subjected to rigorous mishandling or harsh environmental conditions.

Saftey Chemictries no fire
Unlike flooded lead acid and other battery chemistries, Lithium batteries do not vent dangerous gases such as hydrogen and oxygen. There’s also no danger of exposure to caustic electrolytes such as sulfuric acid or potassium hydroxide. In most cases, these batteries can be stored in confined areas without the risk of explosion and a properly designed system should not require active cooling or venting.

Lithium battery Powerwall

The most well-known home energy storage system is the Tesla Powerwall. According to Tesla, the Powerwall is an “integrated battery system” that stores solar energy for use when power outages occur, a phenomenon common in rural America where hurricanes and floods may remove grid electricity supply to rural households. In Lebanon, they can be repurposed for solar energy storage.

As modular systems, multiple Powerwalls can be stacked together in home energy storage systems to supplement electricity supply and store excess energy from solar energy production for night use. Other companies also produce “powerwalls” such as the Coremax Battery, LG Chem RESU Prime battery system, Panasonic EverVolt battery, Electriq Power PowerPod 2 solar battery, and the BYD B-Box solar battery system. In Singapore and own a home with unused rooftop space for a productive photovoltaic solar panel system? Coremax helps you to install solar panels on your rooftop, connecting them to a home energy storage system. Get one now!