What is the difference between battery storage and battery backup?
When the power goes out, you can sit in the dark or invest in something that'll keep the lights on.
It used to be your only option was the fuel-powered standby generators (also known as whole house generators) that dominated the market for backup power supply. But a quieter, fume-free option alternative has firmly established itself in the market: home battery backups. While home generators can run as long as long as you have fuel to feed them, batteries come without the carbon monoxide risk, noise or (as much of) the fuel costs. Solar panels can keep your battery topped up but come with their own price tag.
Both batteries and generators provide the same basic service but are considerably different devices. We'll help you sort through the pros and cons of each and brief you on the unique abilities of each technology. Here's what you need to know to decide between the two.
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Battery backups
Home battery backup systems, like the Tesla Powerwall or the LGES 10H and 16H Prime, store energy, which you can use to power your house during an outage. Battery backups run on electricity, either from your home solar system or the electrical grid. As a result, they're much better for the environment than fuel-powered generators. They also might be better for your wallet.
Separately, if you have a time-of-use utility plan, you can use a battery backup system to save money on your electricity bill. Instead of paying high electricity rates during peak usage hours, you can use energy from your battery backup to power your home. In off-peak hours, you can use your electricity as normal -- but at a cheaper rate.
If you have solar panels, you'll be able to store any excess electricity generated by your solar panels. This stored electricity can be used to power your home during the nighttime and periods of panel inefficiency.
Virtual power plants, where you give up a bit of control over your battery's charge to your utility or another third party, are increasingly available. By giving up some access to the energy stored in your battery, you can earn a bit of money.
Generators
On the other hand, standby generators connect to your home's electrical panel and kick on automatically when the power goes out. Generators run on fuel to keep your electricity on during an outage -- typically natural gas, liquid propane or diesel. Other generators have a "dual fuel" feature, meaning that they can run on either natural gas or liquid propane.
Certain natural gas and propane generators can connect to your home's gas line or propane tank, so there's no need to refill them manually. Diesel generators, however, will need to be topped up in order to keep running.
Battery backup vs. generator: How do they compare?
They perform the same basic job but come with different costs, maintenance requirements and performance.
Pricing
In terms of cost, battery backups are the pricier option upfront. But generators need fuel to run, which means that you'll spend more over time to maintain a steady fuel supply.
With battery backups, you'll need to pay for the backup battery system upfront, as well as installation costs (each of which are in the thousands). Exact pricing will vary based on which battery model you choose and how many of them you need to power your home. However, it's common for an average-size home battery backup system to run between $10,000 and $20,000.
For generators, the upfront costs are slightly lower. On average, the price of purchasing and installing a standby generator can range from $7,000 to $15,000. However, remember that generators require fuel to run, which will increase your operating expenses. The specific costs will depend on a few factors, including the size of your generator, which type of fuel it uses and the amount of fuel used to run it.
Installation
Battery backups earn a slight edge in this category since they can be mounted to the wall or floor, whereas generator installations require a bit of additional work. Regardless, you'll need to hire a professional for either type of installation, both of which will require a full day of work and may cost several thousand dollars.
Aside from setting up the device itself, installing a generator also requires pouring a concrete slab, connecting the generator to a dedicated fuel source and installing a transfer switch.
Maintenance
Battery backups are the clear winner in this category. They're quiet, run independently, don't produce any emissions and don't require any ongoing maintenance.
On the other hand, generators can be quite noisy and disruptive when they're in use. They also emit exhaust or fumes, depending on which type of fuel they use to run -- which may irritate you or your neighbors.
Keeping your home powered
As far as how long they can keep your home powered, standby generators easily outperform battery backups. As long as you have enough fuel, generators can run continuously for up to three weeks at a time (if necessary).
That's simply not the case with battery backups. Let's use the Tesla Powerwall as an example. It has 13.5 kilowatt-hours of storage capacity, which can provide power for a few hours on its own. You can get extra power out of them if they're part of a solar panel system or if you use multiple batteries in a single system.
Expected lifespan and warranty
In most cases, battery backups come with longer warranties than standby generators. However, these warranties are measured in different ways.
Over time, battery backup systems lose the ability to hold a charge, much like phones and laptops. For that reason, battery backups include an end-of-warranty capacity rating, which measures how effective a battery will hold a charge by the end of its warranty period. In Tesla's case, the company guarantees that the Powerwall battery should retain 70% of its capacity by the end of its 10-year warranty.
Some backup battery manufacturers also offer a "throughput" warranty. This is the number of cycles, hours or energy output (known as "throughput") that a company guarantees on its battery.
With standby generators, it's easier to estimate lifespan. Good-quality generators can run for 3,000 hours, as long as they're well maintained. Therefore, if you run your generator for 150 hours per year, it should last about 20 years.
Which battery backup is right for you?
Across most categories, battery backup systems come out on top. In short, they're better for the environment, easier to install and cheaper to run long-term. Plus, they have longer warranties than standby generators.
With that said, traditional generators can be a good option in some cases. Unlike battery backups, you only need a single generator to restore power in an outage, which brings down the upfront costs. Plus, standby generators can last longer than battery backup systems in a single session. As a result, they'll be a safer bet if the power is out for days at a time.
How long does a solar battery last?
Many solar batteries are warrantied for 10 or even 15 years. Batteries lose some of their capacity over the course of their lifetime. Tesla Powerwalls, for example, are guaranteed to have at least 70% of their capacity at the end of their 10 year warranty.
How long can a home battery backup your home?
This depends entirely on how much you're trying to power during an outage. A Tesla Powerwall has a capacity of 13.5 kilowatt-hours. If you want to keep the lights on and you have one 100-watt lightbulbs, you could theoretically keep it burning for 135 hours. If you want to add a refrigerator that requires 500 watts, it would reduce your run time to 22.5 hours. If you want to have a power-outage movie marathon on your 500-watt tv, your charge would last for a bit over 12 hours. When a backup battery is installed, you might be able to designate critical loads and send battery power only to those circuits during a blackout.
If your battery is connected to solar panels, it'll recharge throughout the day, extending its useful charge, sometimes over days.
When it comes to ensuring uninterrupted power supply, two terms that often come up are battery storage and battery backup. While both these technologies involve the use of batteries, they are designed to serve different purposes. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between battery storage and battery backup and their respective uses.
Battery Storage
Battery storage, also known as energy storage, involves the use of batteries to store energy for later use. The energy is stored in the batteries during periods of low energy demand, such as during off-peak hours, and is used during periods of high energy demand, such as during peak hours. Battery storage is an essential component of renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind power, where energy generation is intermittent and may not match the energy demand.
Battery storage systems are typically larger and have a higher energy capacity compared to battery backup systems. They are designed to provide long-term energy storage solutions, ranging from a few hours to several days. Battery storage systems can be grid-tied or off-grid, depending on the application.
Battery Backup
Battery backup, on the other hand, is a technology that is designed to provide backup power in the event of a power outage. Battery backup systems typically consist of a battery bank, an inverter, and a battery management system. The battery bank stores energy from the grid or a renewable energy source, such as solar panels, and is used to power essential appliances during a power outage.
Battery backup systems are typically smaller and have a lower energy capacity compared to battery storage systems. They are designed to provide short-term backup power solutions, ranging from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the energy demand. Battery backup systems are commonly used in homes, offices, and other small-scale applications where uninterrupted power supply is essential.
Key Differences
The key differences between battery storage and battery backup are their capacity, duration, and purpose. Battery storage systems are designed to store energy for later use, while battery backup systems are designed to provide backup power during a power outage. Battery storage systems have a higher capacity and can provide energy for a longer duration, while battery backup systems have a lower capacity and can provide energy for a shorter duration.
Which One is Right for You?
Whether you need a battery storage system, or a battery backup system depends on your specific energy needs. If you are looking for a long-term energy storage solution to complement your renewable energy system, then battery storage may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a short-term backup power solution in the event of a power outage, then battery backup may be the better choice.
Ultimately, it is important to consult with an experienced energy storage specialist who can help you determine which technology is best suited for your particular application. With the right battery technology, you can ensure uninterrupted power supply and reduce your dependence on the grid, while also contributing to a more sustainable future.