For most homeowners, electricity from a single battery will not fully power your whole home.
Many U.S. homes have high energy consumption appliances (such as a dishwasher, dryer, A/C) that would require more electricity than is provided from one battery.
When we install a battery, we will map your battery to your critical loads - your most essential appliances.
When a battery is paired with a solar system:
- During the day – any excess energy from your solar panels will be used to charge your battery.
- At night or during times of low solar production – your home will be powered by energy stored in your battery and electricity from your utility. In most markets, the cost of pulling electricity from the utility may be offset by sending any excess energy to the grid or net metering
- During a power outage – in case of a power outage, your battery will power your essential appliances until the battery is depleted. As long as there is sun, your solar panels can charge your battery even while the power is out.
If you have a standalone battery:
- During the day – Your battery will be charged by electricity from the utility if needed.
- At night– Your home is powered by the utility.
- During a power outage – Your battery will power your essential appliances until the battery is depleted. Since the battery is charged by power from the utility, it will not be able to be recharged until the power is restored.
The amount of power available from the battery during a power outage is limited, depending on the loads connected, customer usage and battery configuration (i.e. batteries in certain areas may be set up to provide you with the best economic benefit, which may affect the amount of back-up power available). Solar systems and/or batteries may require repairs after weather events and such repairs may be delayed due to forces outside of our control. No assurances can be given that the solar system or the battery will always work. You should never rely upon either of these to power life support or other medical devices.
Sunnova makes no guarantees regarding credit for net energy exported to the electric grid, and any credit provided (now or in the future) is subject to change or termination by executive, legislative or regulatory action.