Solar energy is one of the most demanded renewable energies in the world. However, it still has the same problem as the rest of renewable energies: its storage. In this case, we are going to talk about the lithium solar batteries to be able to store the energy that is generated from the photovoltaic panels. These batteries have some very interesting features that make the job much easier.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you everything you need to know about lithium solar batteries, how they work and what their advantages are.
What are lithium solar batteries
Solar cells are elements that allow the storage of electrical energy generated through the use of solar panels. This type of self-consumption photovoltaic batteries are intended to use energy at any time, especially when the photovoltaic installation is not in operation.
There are many types of batteries for solar installations, each with different characteristics and technologies, so it is necessary to understand the size, capacity and power required for a solar panel installation to work properly and make the most of the energy. Well, with these you can load the hydraulic pump of your car or house.
Types of batteries used in solar energy
- Monocells: They are ideal for small isolated photovoltaic installations without motors. They are lead acid batteries that are cheap and simple.
- Deep Cycle Batteries: Larger and heavier, with the same cycle as a single cell, they are ideal for medium consumption and long life units.
- AGM cells: they have the particularity of fixing the electrolyte and gas regulation valve, they are hermetically sealed cells and do not require any type of maintenance, they are very resistant to vibrations and are designed for small photovoltaic installations.
- Fixed Batteries: They have a long service life and are designed for long life drives.
- lithium batteries: they do not emit gas, they are very light, they are not affected when fully discharged and they take up very little space.
Lithium is an alkaline, flammable, soft, malleable, silvery and light metal, and is characterized by very rapid corrosion on contact with air. Lithium is present in the earth's crust at 65 parts per million and cannot be submerged in water. These lithium solar batteries are the ones with fast charging, longer life and higher energy density.
Also known as lithium-ion or "lithium-ion" batteries, they use a lithium salt as an electrolyte, which manages to release electrons and, through a chemical reaction, They are capable of storing and releasing electrical energy. Lithium batteries are an excellent alternative to photovoltaic installations with high energy demands that require a lot of autonomy throughout the day and less solar radiation. This type of solar panel battery can be modular and can be interconnected according to the needs and changes in household consumption habits.
Types of lithium solar batteries
Lithium batteries are the longest-lasting accumulators, with a low self-discharge rate, good depth of discharge and no memory effect, since they can store half of the charge without damaging the lithium battery. They have 3 times the energy capacity of conventional batteries and support higher current rates.
In addition, they are of extraordinary quality at high voltages, since some models operate in a variable range from about 300 V to 450 V, managing to reduce circulating currents to avoid overheating or wiring losses, among other disadvantages.
BMS (Battery Management Systems) technologies are safety elements that lithium batteries must have to avoid accidents during use, so they are highly recommended for solar systems. It is important to highlight 3 essential components in lithium battery installations. .
Currently there are three types of batteries:
- Lithium/Cobalt Oxide Batteries: One of its main advantages is its high energy density and excellent durability.
- Lithium/magnesium oxide battery: It has a high level of safety, but it is strongly not recommended to be used at high temperatures.
- Iron/lithium phosphate battery: In addition to more than 2000 cycles, it has the best safety performance and is a lithium iron phosphate battery with a long service life.
- Cylindrical/Tubular Lithium Batteries: They are Lithium Ion and are known as Lithium Polymer batteries.
- Flat Lithium Polymer Lithium Batteries: They are also Lithium Polymer batteries.
- Lithium Batteries with Inverter: They are the latest technological advance, they are lithium batteries with an internal inverter that can work in parallel with the battery, which allows them to function as a battery and power inverter in small spaces.
Advantages
Compared with traditional lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries have the following advantages:
- High energy density: stores more energy with less weight. Lithium-ion batteries can save up to 70% space and 70% weight compared to lead acid. All of these are very useful, especially for battery storage and transportation.
- Lithium-ion batteries require little maintenance (barely) and are more resistant to irregular discharges.
- They do not emit toxic and polluting gases.
- High charging current.
- They take less time to load
- High discharge current. They can be unloaded quickly with no loss of life.
- Long duration battery. Six times higher than traditional ones.
- lasts about 15 years.
- High efficiency between loading and unloading. Very little energy loss due to heat generation.
- Higher continuous power available.
- They have almost no self-discharge.
- The lead-acid battery should never be extended after installation has begun, as the life of the new battery will be shortened to the same level as the life of the old battery.
- Lithium batteries can be lengthened at any time, and the new elongated batteries are not a problem.
- Lithium batteries can be connected in parallel to increase capacity. Please note that the rest of the batteries should not be connected in parallel as this will drastically shorten their lifespan.
- A lead-acid battery loses its cycle life (duration) if it discharges below 50% of its state of charge (depth of discharge = DOD) or discharges very quickly.
- lithium ion batteries, on the other hand, can be discharged down to about 80% DOD and faster than lead-acid batteries without losing their lifespan. New ones may even have 100% DOD.
Disadvantages of lithium batteries
- its highest price
- They need a controller or manager to regulate loading and unloading. This regulator usually includes an inverter and a regulator.
- They are often called “hybrid investors”.
- recycling problems.
- Lithium dependence in some countries.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about lithium solar batteries and their characteristics.