Store Solar Energy

In this article, we will look into the benefits of storing solar energy, different ways to store solar energy, and how they work.

Solar energy is intermittent, which means it is only available when the sun is shining. So, storing this energy will help to increase energy independence and security and also support the growth of a clean energy economy. With solar energy storage, you’re sure of amore efficient and sustainable energy future.

What Is Solar Energy Storage?

Solar energy storage is an act of capturing energy from the sun and storing it for later consumption using solar panels.

Using this energy might not be 100% efficient. However, it is far better, more efficient, and more reliable than the traditional power supply, especially in underdeveloped countries like Nigeria.

Thanks to this kind of effective storage and batteries, we can consume energy without the heating the. Also, this is similar to those commonly used electronics like laptops and cell phones. That stores solar energy once it transforms to electricity.

Not only that, solar energy converts into heat and stored in substances like molten salt. In solar thermal power plants, this technique is used equently.

And biomass is created using solar energy, for example, by photosynthesis in plants. Then, we use his biomass as fuel or processed into other goods.

The main goal of solar energy storage is to capture the sun’s energy for later large-scale utilization.

How much does it cost to install solar panels in Nigeria? See here

How to store solar energy without the sun

There are many ways to store solar energy or more efficiency and sustainability without the sun. The storage methods are into four general categories; battery, thermal, mechanical, and hydrogen. Below are the processes:

Battery storage

This is one of the most effective and common ways of storing solar energy. With the adoption of battery storage, solar energy stores during the day and used at night and on rainy/cloudy days to generate electricity.

Homes, offices as well as larger-scale grid storage facilities can make use of battery storage to sustain their electricity when there is no power supply.

Battery storage is a well-established technology that is already in use in many applications which makes it cost-effective. Also, batteries are not too perfect for storing your energy because they have a limited lifespan. They can also be very expensive to replace and their limited capacity may not meet all your needs.

Thermal storage

This method is another way to store solar energy. In this method, we use excess solar energy to heat a substance such as molten salt or water. Moreover, you can store this heated substance in a tank or any other container that you can use to generate steam to power turbines and produce electricity.

This method is a proven technology that is already in use in many solar power plants around the world and it generates electricity even when the sun is not shining.

Mechanical storage

This method uses potential energy as an object to generate electricity. It converts surplus electrical power into mechanical power and in turn converts it back into electricity for later use. Its storage systems include; Flywheel, Pumped hydro, and Compressed air.

Hydrogen storage

This method is an emerging technology that shows great promise for solar energy storage. The process involves using excess solar energy to electrolyze water which produces hydrogen gas and you can use the hydrogen to generate electricity.

This method is a very efficient way of storing solar energy. Also, with its potential, you can use a wide range of applications from powering vehicles to providing backup power for homes and offices.

This solar energy storage process is still in the early development stage. It is not widely available yet because it requires a significant amount of energy to produce hydrogen. So, this may be a challenge for large-scale applications.

Benefits of storing solar energy

Using solar energy panels is cost-saving and a more reliable source of generating electricity for your homes and businesses. Asides from making solar a viable alternative to fossil fuels, there are also a few benefits that come with storing solar energy. They as follows:

Energy Independence: Businesses and homes become independent from the grid by storing solar energy. They don’t have to depend on traditional power sources to run their daily activities at home or offices anymore.

Reliable power supply: Whether the sun is shining or not, storing solar energy helps you to maintain a continuous source of energy to run your homes and businesses.

Savings from electricity bills: Using battery storage helps lower your utility bills while consuming more of your own power in a state without solar net energy metering. Any additional power you store in the daytime, you discharge from a battery at night.

Reduces carbon footprint: Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of energy. It does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or other harmful pollutants. Thus, storing solar energy reduces dependency on fossil fuels and also help reduce carbon footprint.

Other benefits of solar energy storage include; increased energy security, job creation, energy resilience, and balancing of electric loads.

Conclusion

By utilizing these solar storage technologies. e can ensure that you can generate using solar panels even when the sun is not shining. This storage is an essential aspect of modern energy management systems. 

As the cost of solar energy and energy storage continues to decrease, let’s look forward to a future in which solar power becomes a primary source of energy for   because as the world continues to shift towards renewable energy sources like solar power, the need for efficient energy storage becomes increasingly important.