Batteries | Acer Renewables Ltd

Batteries

Home batteries, typically lithium-ion systems, store electricity for later use, dramatically increasing your energy independence.

When paired with solar panels, they capture and save excess daytime generation to power your home at night, maximizing the use of free, clean energy and reducing reliance on the grid. This maximises savings and lowers your carbon footprint.

Even without solar, a battery can utilise smart time-of-use tariffs, charging with cheap, off-peak electricity (usually overnight) and discharging during expensive peak hours (a process called load shifting). Additionally, many systems offer backup power to keep essential appliances running during a power outage, providing critical energy security and peace of mind.

How does it work?

Home energy storage batteries (like Lithium-ion) work by using electrochemical reactions to capture, store, and release electricity.

Charging: Electrical energy (from solar panels or the grid) forces lithium ions to move from one electrode (the cathode) through a chemical electrolyte to the other electrode (the anode), where they are stored, increasing the battery's chemical potential.
Discharging: When power is needed, the ions move back to the cathode, releasing their stored chemical potential as electricity.
Conversion: A critical component, the inverter, converts the battery's stored direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), which is the usable power for all home appliances.
Management: A Battery Management System (BMS) acts as the brain, monitoring charge, temperature, and usage to ensure safety and prolong the battery's lifespan.

What can it do for you?

Home batteries are used primarily for time-shifting electricity to maximise savings and enhance energy resilience.

Solar Self-Consumption: If you have solar panels, the battery stores the excess energy generated during the day, preventing it from being exported cheaply to the grid. You then use this free, stored power to run your home at night, increasing your energy independence.
Load Shifting (Grid Charging): Even without solar, the battery can charge from the grid during off-peak hours when electricity is cheapest (using smart time-of-use tariffs). It then discharges to power your home during expensive peak hours, saving money.
Backup Power: In a power outage, the battery can provide instant, quiet backup power to run essential circuits, like lights, fridges, and Wi-Fi, offering crucial safety and peace of mind.