How Long Do Solar Batteries Last?

Problem: Many homeowners and commercial facility operators install solar panels but struggle with energy waste because excess electricity generated during the day is sent to the grid instead of being stored for later use. This leads to lower self-consumption rates and reduced financial returns.

Solution: A solar battery stores surplus DC electricity generated by photovoltaic systems and releases it when solar production is insufficient, such as at night or during grid outages. Modern lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries, like those developed by GSL ENERGY, integrate advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS) to regulate voltage, temperature, and charge cycles, ensuring safety and long lifespan.

Implementation Steps: System sizing begins with analyzing daily load curves and peak demand. The battery is then paired with a compatible inverter (hybrid or PCS), integrated into the distribution board, and configured with monitoring software. Proper commissioning includes firmware calibration and protection testing.

Evaluation Metrics: Key performance indicators include self-consumption rate improvement, depth of discharge efficiency, cycle life expectancy (6000+ cycles typical for LiFePO₄), round-trip efficiency (≥95%), and payback period reduction.

To prevent the grid from charging the battery, you can set the energy storage system to operate in Maximum Self-Consumption Mode.

 

In this mode:

 

The system will prioritize storing surplus photovoltaic power in the battery.

 

When photovoltaic generation is insufficient or during nighttime without sunlight, the system will power loads using energy from the battery.

 

The grid will not be used to charge the battery, achieving purely photovoltaic self-consumption and optimized energy storage.

 

By using Maximum Self-Consumption Mode, GSL Energy users can increase their photovoltaic self-consumption rate while avoiding unnecessary grid charging. This helps reduce electricity costs and enhances energy storage utilization efficiency.

GSL Energy lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries exhibit the following notable features in residential, commercial, and industrial energy storage applications:

 

Exceptional Safety

LiFePO₄ batteries utilize a unique chemical structure that makes thermal runaway or overheating highly unlikely. Even in extreme environments, they maintain safe and stable operation, significantly reducing the risk of fire hazards.

 

High Cycle Life

This type of battery offers outstanding cyclic stability. Even under high-intensity loads or frequent charge/discharge conditions, it maintains a long service life, providing reliable long-term energy solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial storage.

 

With their safety, reliability, and high durability, GSL Energy LiFePO₄ batteries are among the most trustworthy energy storage batteries on the market, suitable for a wide range of storage application scenarios.

Even when electricity prices are low, an energy storage system may still sell surplus power to the grid under the following circumstances:

 

The battery is fully charged

When the energy storage battery reaches its charging limit, and surplus photovoltaic power cannot be stored, the system will sell it to the grid, thereby increasing economic benefits.

 

Intelligent peak and valley arbitrage

GSL Energy's AI-powered Energy Management System (AI EMS) adjusts the battery storage strategy in response to fluctuations in electricity prices. For instance, when negative electricity prices are imminent, the system may discharge in advance to pursue peak and valley arbitrage, thereby minimizing electricity costs and maximizing revenue.

 

Abnormal meter wiring

If the meter, CT, or wiring direction is incorrect, the readings may be inaccurate, leading the system to misjudge the amount of electricity available for sale. It is recommended to use the Wiring Check Function to verify whether the meter wiring is correct.

 

GSL ENERGY recommends that users comprehensively consider battery status, peak and valley electricity prices, and meter readings when implementing photovoltaic electricity sales strategies to maximize economic benefits.

A "Soft Start Fault" alarm is typically triggered when abnormal voltage is detected on either the AC or DC side during system power-up. If this alarm occurs, please follow the troubleshooting steps below:
Check Grid Voltage Fluctuations
Verify whether the grid-side voltage is stable and whether there are significant fluctuations or momentary power outages. Abnormal grid voltage may prevent the system from performing a normal soft start.
Check Photovoltaic (PV) Voltage
Confirm whether the output voltage of the PV modules exceeds the maximum allowable limit for the device:
For three-phase systems: PV voltage must not exceed 1000 V
For single-phase systems: PV voltage must not exceed 600 V
If the PV voltage exceeds the limit or the grid is unstable, resolve these issues first before attempting to restart the system.
GSL ENERGY recommends that during any soft start fault troubleshooting, always prioritize checking the voltage source and fluctuations to ensure safe system startup and protection of the energy storage equipment.