Solar battery

See Batteries for photovoltaics.

A solar battery, also known as a storage battery or photovoltaic battery, is a device designed to store the electricity generated by photovoltaic panels. In the context of photovoltaics, these batteries are a key component of solar energy systems because they allow the efficient use of solar energy even when sunlight is not available, such as at night or during cloudy days or power outages.

The basic categories of batteries used in solar power systems include:

Lead-acid batteries

This older type of battery was widely used in the early stages of photovoltaic development. Originally, these lead-acid batteries had a limited lifetime, but newer models seek to eliminate this disadvantage. Although they are relatively heavy and large and have a shorter lifetime, they have the advantage of lower cost and better availability.

Lithium-ion batteries

Also known as Li-ion batteries, these are the modern replacement for lead-acid batteries. Their advantages are more compact size, lighter weight, higher capacity and, above all, longer life. However, these advantages are reflected in their higher price compared to lead-acid batteries. Li-ion batteries are also equipped with many safety features.