If you’re serious about reducing your reliance on the grid and going solar, understanding solar batteries, how they work and how to maximise their lifespan is essential. A solar battery is a long-term investment and can be costly, so maximising the benefits is crucial. Solar batteries store the excess energy generated by your solar panels, so you can use it later, at night, on cloudy days or when your usage is higher than your generation.
Here’s everything you need to know about how long solar batteries last, what affects their performance and how to extend their lifespan.
How Long Does a Solar Battery Last?
Most modern solar batteries typically last between 10 and 15 years. A solar battery will not just fail at the end of their optimal lifespan, they gradually lose capacity over time, meaning they won’t store as much energy as they did when they were new.
Battery life is usually measures in cycles (how many full charges and discharges it can handle) and is considered to have reached the end of its useful life once its capacity drops to around 80%. Another key factor is Depth of Discharge (DoD), regularly draining a battery to near-empty shortens its lifespan. For lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries keeping your battery charged between 20% and 80% maximises longevity.
What Affects Battery Lifespan?
- Frequency of use – the more frequent a battery is charged and discharged, the faster it degrades. For most households once daily charge and discharge is ideal.
- Temperature – high heat speeds up chemical reactions inside the battery and extreme cold temperatures reduce performance. Batteries should be stored in a well ventilated, controlled environment of around 20-25°C.
- Maintenance – dust, dirt and corrosion can all shorten your battery lifespan. Keeping your battery clean and dry will maximise its lifespan.
5 Ways to Maximise Your Solar Battery’s Lifespan
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines – always stick to the recommended charging, usage and maintenance instructions. This ensures your warranty remains valid and prevents premature wear and tear.
- Monitor charge levels – avoid fully draining or overcharging your battery. Use the battery monitoring system to track its State of Charge (SoC) and maintain healthy usage patterns.
- Manage temperature – Keep your battery in a cool, ventilated space away from direct sunlight and extreme cold. If overheating is a risk, your installer can recommend additional cooling solutions.
- Schedule regular maintenance – clean the casing, check for signs of corrosion and arrange an annual inspection with your installer. Preventative action and care goes a long way to maximising your solar battery’s lifespan.
- Update you Battery Management System (BMS) – your BMS protects your battery from overcharging and overheating, regular software updates improve performance, safety and efficiency.
Looking to Add Battery Storage to Your Solar System?
At SolarTherm UK, we provide long-lasting solar battery storage solutions. Our modular and expandable batteries are designed to give you maximum control over your energy use perfect for households of all shapes and sizes.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free bespoke design package, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice.
