With a battery storage system, you can temporarily store excess solar energy in the evenings and nights. This not only saves electricity bills but also protects the environment. But investing in battery storage should always be well thought out.
1. Choose a battery with a high number of cycles
We all know that rechargeable batteries have a limited lifespan. As a result, many homeowners are concerned that their battery storage systems will degrade significantly after only a few years of operation. But don’t worry; you can easily avoid this danger by choosing the right storage mode.
By choosing deep cycle battery with as many cycles as possible. The term cycle, more precisely charge cycle, refers to the one-off charging, storing, and discharging of an electrical storage device using its full capacity. A modern storage system in a single-family home goes through about 200 to 250 of these charge cycles per year; the more cycles, the longer the storage device will last. By the way, we at Wegatech recommend buying memory with a cycle count of 4,000 or more, which should result in a useful life of about 15 to 20 years.
2. Adjust the storage capacity according to the size of your PV system
Proper sizing is important for an electricity storage system to be profitable throughout its lifetime. A 12 volt battery storage system’s size, or capacity, is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), typically between 5 and 15 kWh in a home. How much RAM you should have depends on many factors. These include:
- Your current battery consumption
- Size and orientation of the PV system
- Self-sufficient or economical system design
By the way, we always calculate the exact size of your battery storage according to your needs. However, if you want to research beforehand, you can simply use the following rule of thumb as a guide: One kilowatt-hour of storage capacity for every kilowatt of peak PV output.
3. Pay attention to feed-in tariffs
If you’re buying a photovoltaic system for your home today, it’s usually worth installing an electricity storage system. This is mainly due to the relatively low feed-in tariff of 8.2 ct/kWh in 2023. So it makes more sense to use as much solar energy as possible in the house, thus drawing less electricity from the grid.
However, it’s a different story if you consider retrofitting battery storage. In this case, it is likely that due to the early date of your PV system installation, you will receive such a high feed-in tariff that retrofitting the energy storage unit is not worth it at all. Instead, in this case, you should try to use more solar energy in the house “naturally” yourself or continue to make good use of the remaining feed-in tariff.
4. View manufacturer-specific features
Battery storage is not the same as battery storage. Depending on the model and manufacturer, you may purchase memory models with additional features. Common extras include smart energy managers that optimize power feed and consumption and true emergency power capabilities. The latter ensures that you can continue to draw energy from your energy storage even during a power outage.
You should also check if a RV power inverter fits your desired storage model, preferably from the same manufacturer. This is the only way to be safe and to be able to use the full power of the power storage device. We will happily advise you on the right combination of energy storage, inverters, and other components.
Home Energy Saving Tips
Energy costs hit record levels in 2023. A kilowatt-hour of natural gas costs about 20 cents, more than three times what it will be in 2022. Electricity prices have also risen sharply, currently at 44 cents. While gas and electricity price brakes will hold prices in check from January onwards, saving energy now makes more sense than ever.
Properly set heating thermostats and install thermometers
Two-thirds of the final energy consumption in private households is used for space heating. Therefore, saving heating costs is particularly important. A simple and effective measure is to set your heating thermostat correctly. For every 1-degree drop in room temperature, energy consumption is reduced by 6%.
For positioning: Level 1 of the heating thermostat roughly corresponds to a temperature of 12 degrees. At level 3, it reaches about 20 degrees. This temperature is ideal for frequently used rooms, such as a living room or study. In bedrooms, 18 degrees is usually sufficient. If you leave the apartment for a long time, a temperature of 16 degrees is enough.
Also, we recommend placing a simple thermometer in frequently used indoor areas to check room temperature. Usually, this feeling is deceiving; the room temperature has been higher than expected.
Do not cover the radiator
Radiators should not be covered by curtains or furniture. This allows warm air to be released into the room unchecked. On the other hand, hidden heat sinks cause heat to build up, resulting in unnecessarily high energy consumption.
Pay attention to energy labels
Large household appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines are often the power hogs. When shopping for new equipment, it’s worth investing in high-efficiency appliances with good energy-efficiency labels. The size of the device is also important. Buy only the refrigerator, washing machine, or dishwasher you need because even a large refrigerator with an energy label of A can be a big energy hog.
Forced ventilation instead of inclined ventilation
We recommend fully opening the windows for about 4 to 7 minutes several times a day in winter. It is ideal if all rooms are ventilated at the same time. During this so-called “shock ventilation,” much less energy is lost than when the window is tilted for a long time. Also, don’t forget to turn off the heat when ventilating.
Toasters and kettles instead of stoves or ovens
Kitchens use 30% to 40% of electricity. An easy way to save electricity in the kitchen is to use auxiliary kitchen appliances such as kettles, egg cookers, or toasters instead of stoves or ovens. These are usually more energy efficient.
Bleed the heater
If your radiator isn’t getting warm, the cause is usually air in the radiator. Air in the heater can lead to high energy consumption because the heater is often set much higher than needed. Good news: You can easily bleed your heating system with a bleed key at every hardware store.
Avoid Standby
A typical home consumes approximately 170 kWh per year through backup alone. Therefore, we recommend: Always switching off devices that are not in use and avoiding standby mode.
