A home energy storage solution, paired with rooftop solar panels, can be a winning combination. Together, they can offer your home more:
Source: Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- Reliable power at any time. Store excess solar energy for use when the sun isn’t shining.
- Cost savings. Use stored energy during peak electricity rate periods to avoid buying electricity when rates are higher—and maybe even sell excess back to the grid.
- Monitoring and management. Tailor your energy use based on personal preferences, such as prioritizing certain appliances during peak periods or outages, with user-friendly interfaces that allow real-time monitoring and management of energy usage and storage levels.
- Self-sufficiency. Most days of the year, you won’t have to rely on electricity from your local utility company, and having some battery capacity in reserve means you can keep the lights on even when power to the grid goes out.
You may be sold on the merits but curious about the costs. A solar-plus-storage system costs about $25,000–$35,000, depending on the size of the battery and other factors. It is easier and cheaper to install the panels and battery at the same time. But if you’ve already installed solar panels and want to add storage, you can: The battery will cost anywhere from $12,000 to $22,000. Ask your solar installer if they can add a battery to your system. If you purchase a battery on its own or a solar-plus-storage system, you will be eligible for federal tax credits. Some states provide additional solar battery incentives.
To learn more about resources available to consumers, including guidance on demystifying the solar installation process, check out the Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar.
