As is true in every industry today, solar installations are becoming smarter and more connected by leveraging the power of real-time data, remote controls and responsiveness to improve project and product performance. Project owners and financing partners cheer software platforms that enable sophisticated communications. Without question, software and communications canRead More

Whether residential or commercial, energy needs and usage inevitably evolve over time — most often with power loads and required energy increasing as operations or families grow. With that reality in mind, the ability to deliver energy storage solutions that can scale and expand in sync with an end customer’sRead More

It’s no secret that commercial energy users in every industry are seeking to reduce energy costs today and achieve long-term cost predictability for the future as utilities implement increasingly unfavorable rate structures. Energy storage provides a powerful, multifaceted solution to lock in rates and achieve power security. Savings opportunities EnergyRead More

As is true with solar projects, the range of environments in which energy storage is being applied has grown and diversified significantly. This diversification in deployments means a deeper understanding of the temperature-related performance and safety issues tied to battery selection and storage system design. For solar installers, understanding whichRead More

AC or DC coupling refers to the way in which solar panels are coupled with and interact with a battery system. A hotly debated topic among solar installers today is whether AC or DC coupling is the best approach for solar+storage installations and retrofits. The truth is there really isRead More

  There are various ways to determine the size of a battery bank when designing a system. The most efficient way to size a battery bank is to determine the electrical loads and load requirements for both power and energy. Proper system design involves a number of factors and requiresRead More

It’s no surprise that within the solar community energy storage is most often discussed in the context of solar+storage. But what about the potential for energy storage where there is no PV system? Whether you’re talking about residential or C&I applications, the truth is that batteries can help optimize anyRead More

Scaling an energy storage system requires stacking both energy (batteries) and power (inverters). Batteries that were designed to be modular can typically be stacked without limitation. However, inverter stacking presents more challenges. The question installers must answer is at what point does it make sense to jump from a multi-inverterRead More

A common misconception is that lead acid batteries cost less than lithium-iron phosphate batteries. However, what most fail to consider is that you have to buy many more lead acid batteries — sometimes double, triple or quadruple as many — just to reach the same usable capacity as you wouldRead More

Beyond merely setting guidelines for battery repair and replacement, battery warranties can serve as a valuable buyer’s guide for your next energy storage project. As the old adage advises, “it’s all in the fine print!” Indoor vs. outdoor installation location If the warranty specifies coverage limitations related to the temperatureRead More