The Best Solar Batteries in Zimbabwe (with 2023 Reviews and Recommendations)

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The need for solar energy storage, also known as solar batteries, is rising among many Zimbabwean as the energy sector continues to alter and develop rapidly. 

Finding the best energy storage solution for your house might feel overwhelming as more solar brands and models enter the market, particularly when you try to understand the ins and outs of solar battery efficiency and capacity.

What is a Solar Battery?

With a solar battery storage system, you may reserve the solar energy you produce during the day for usage at night.

Most solar panel systems produce electricity during the day when many people do not require it. Instead, extra electricity might be kept in a solar battery.A solar battery is a wise purchase when connected with solar energy systems. Customers can store extra energy produced by solar panels using solar batteries. 

If accessible, the stored energy can be sold back to the power grid for electricity bill credits, used during periods of lower output, like at night or during a brief power outage. This procedure is known as net metering.

How do Solar Batteries work?

Solar batteries are installed alongside solar panels to store excess energy. It can be used as stored energy when the sun sets at night, and your panels can no longer provide your home power. Most battery storage options include an inverter for converting stored voltage to the AC voltage you need. Solar batteries also offer blackout protection. While the rest of your street may be in darkness, your home can continue to use the energy stored in the battery to power your appliances and keep the lights on!

Types of Solar Batteries

There are various kinds of batteries that can use on solar systems. The term type describes the chemical content of a battery. Lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used, but you’ve probably heard of lithium-ion batteries, gel batteries, deep cycle batteries, and many others.

The solar industry offers more than different batteries to store extra energy. Lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries are the two battery types used most frequently in home solar power systems.

Lead-acid Solar Batteries

Lead-acid batteries require frequent recharge and a lower depth of discharge (DoD). These battery types are uncommon for homeowners who want to use solar energy continuously.

Still, they can be a good backup option in a power outage. Lead-acid batteries come in two varieties: sealed lead-acid and flooded lead-acid batteries. While the latter doesn’t require as much maintenance as the former, the former has a longer lifespan.

What is DoD mean?

The depth of discharge (DoD) of a battery represents the proportion of the battery’s total capacity that has been discharged.

A battery’s lifespan will decrease the more it is charged and discharged. A battery should usually only be partially discharged because doing so significantly reduces the battery’s usable life. Many battery manufacturers offer a maximum DoD ideal for the battery’s performance.

The Best Solar Batteries in Zimbabwe (with 2023 Reviews and Recommendations)

For instance, if a 10 kWh battery’s manufacturer advises a maximum DoD of 80%, you should only consume up to 8 kWh from the battery without recharging. You can see why DoD is significant to take into account: a higher DoD allows you to utilise more energy stored in your battery. Nowadays, a DoD of 100% is advertised on many contemporary lithium ion batteries.

Lithium-ion Solar Battery:

Lead-acid batteries are older; lithium-ion batteries are often lighter and smaller. They typically have a minimum lifespan of 10 years and a longer DoD. The fact that lithium-ion batteries require less maintenance than many of the alternatives is another benefit.

Lithium-polymer Battery

These are similar to lithium-ion batteries. However, they are frequently more expensive and last less time. They are safeguarded against overcharging or leakage, which is a bonus.

Deep-cycle Battery

These solar batteries work well to maintain a steady stream of electricity over a longer time.

Saltwater Battery

These saltwater-based solar batteries are a more natural and green alternative because they use water rather than oil as the electrolyte. The lifespan of saltwater batteries is often very lengthy, and they require no maintenance.

Solar gel Battery

Solar gel batteries are a wonderful choice for solar owners who travel frequently. These batteries are perfect for RV owners or anyone who want to travel with a solar battery because they don’t have to stay upright and can move around quickly.

What criteria should I compare when buying a solar battery?

Before investing in one of the many solar power options available, you need to know what you want. List some important categories to distinguish good from bad.

Battery size

1. Cycle life: The number of times a solar battery may be fully charged and drained before the performance starts to suffer is referred to as its cycle life. Getting a solar battery with a high cycle life is preferable to get the most out of your investment.
2. Warranty: These days, a solar battery has a lifespan of about 10 years, but check for restrictions and local warranty support.
3. Functionality & Efficiency: This gauges the battery’s efficiency throughout one cycle. Batteries require energy, just like many other things in your house. It implies that they will consume part of the energy they store. The percentage of electricity you can recover from the battery after using the energy it requires is known as round-trip efficiency. If a typical 10 kWh battery only allows you to draw out 8 kWh, then its round-trip efficiency is 80%. Since round-trip efficiency only considers one battery cycle as opposed to a battery’s whole lifespan, it differs from DoD.
4. Cost: It is best to shop around and pick a solar battery that suits your budget because solar batteries might range in price.
5. Usable storage capacity: The energy your battery can hold at once, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), is its capacity. The typical solar battery has a 10 kWh capacity.

What are the Best Solar Batteries in Zimbabwe?

1. Tesla Powerwall: The initial Tesla Powerwall is renowned for being the battery that launched the revolution in home energy storage. However, it became popular in the early 2017 release of the Tesla Powerwall 2. The Powerwall 2 costs more than most—roughly $18,000 and $20,000 —but it still represents decent value given its vast storage capacity (13.5kWh). The Powerwall 2 is an AC battery system, unlike the others on the list. It has an integrated inverter charger and can be installed in any house with solar installation. To work with solar, though, it still needs a solar inverter.
2. LG Chem RESU: The LG Chem RESU solar battery sizes include 6.5 kWh, 9.8 kWh, 13 kWh, and 16 kWh possibilities. These batteries have a 90% DoD.
3. Enphase IQ/Encharge: Enphase battery storage enables homeowners to try its solutions and determine what works best for them without committing to a larger, more expensive system because of its smaller size and simple integration with current systems and batteries. The company’s well-known solar microinverter technology is coupled with Enphase IQ. Since the battery is AC-coupled, it is perfect for already-installed solar systems. It can only apply to solar systems that use Enphase microinverters.
4. BYD Premium LVS/LVL: BYD batteries have a modular design, increasing size and capacity by adding more modules. This storage system is more reliable than a home seeking to transition to self-sufficiency, with the capacity to generate up to 256kWh. BYD Premium LVS batteries are also ideal for outdoor installation.
5. Sonnen ECO: The Sonnen ECO solar battery is offered in 2.5 kWh modules at 90% DoD. Homeowners can purchase solar batteries in any quantity—up to 20 kWh of battery capacity, with a starting point of 5 kWh. The Sonnen ECO would cost roughly $6,100 for a 5 kWh system before installation fees.
6. Generac PWRcell: The Generac PWRcell battery provides up to 18 kWh of continuous backup power when used with a solar panel system. Because of this battery’s cost-effective modular construction, you can start small and add extra battery power as necessary. The Generac PWRcell is also packaged in an “Outdoor Rated” battery cabinet for storage in any environment, indoors or out.
7. Sungrow SBR Battery: Due to its highly affordable price and compatibility with the potent Sungrow SH-RT hybrid inverters, the recently announced high-voltage Sungrow SBR battery system has drawn much interest. Although it is still early, the new SBR series appears to quickly rank among the most widely used battery systems based on our comments and preliminary testing.
8. Huawei LUNA2000: In addition to being a pioneer in communication and mobile technology, Huawei has emerged as a key innovation in solar energy storage. Huawei entered the home solar industry in 2018 with an effective, lightweight hybrid solar inverter that offers an astonishing range of features at a very low price, building on decades of experience in large-scale commercial and utility solar. More recently, Huawei unveiled the LUNA2000 modular household battery system, which has many new technologies and functions that are equally amazing.

Benefits of utilising Solar Battery Storage:

Zimbabwean households are installing home solar batteries to benefit from the state’s generous feed in tariff scheme and solar battery rebates. You lose out on long-term energy savings if you don’t have a solar battery.

Take your time choosing the ideal solar battery for your needs because solar panels can last up to 30 years. Your energy independence will rise, your monthly electricity bills will drop, and your solar panel system’s effectiveness will grow thanks to a solar battery.

Energy Matters has a nationwide network of trusted local installers ready to provide you with up to 3 Free Solar Quotes. Complete our quick quiz and begin your solar journey today! What’s more, Energy Matters can help you make an informed decision and the perfect option on the suitability of a solar battery with our Solar Power and Battery Storage Calculator.

Get a quick solar quote, or contact us today for expert, obligation-free advice!

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