Lead-acid Battery: A Reliable Energy Warehouse in Solar Systems

Lead-acid battery: A reliable energy warehouse in solar systems

    Lead-acid batteries are one of the earliest types of storage batteries to be commercialized. In solar power generation systems, batteries, as the core components for energy storage, directly affect the stability and reliability of the entire system. Its working principle is based on the electrochemical reaction between lead plates and sulfuric acid electrolyte. During the charging process, electrical energy is converted into chemical energy and stored. When discharging, chemical energy is reconverted into electrical energy and released. This type of battery has a relatively simple structure, mainly consisting of positive and negative plates, electrolyte, separators, battery case and other accessory components. The nominal voltage of a single-cell lead-acid battery is 2.0V. In practical applications, multiple single-cells are often connected in series to meet the voltage requirements of different systems. For example, a common 12V lead-acid battery module is composed of six single-cells connected in series. Lead-acid batteries, with their mature technology and cost advantages, still hold an important position in the field of solar energy applications.

    Lead-acid solar cells have multiple significant advantages, which have enabled them to hold an important position in the field of solar energy storage for a long time. From a cost perspective, compared with many new battery technologies, the manufacturing cost of lead-acid batteries is relatively low, which makes them highly attractive for small-scale solar application projects with limited budgets, especially in developing countries and markets that are highly sensitive to costs. For instance, in some small-scale off-grid solar systems in remote areas, lead-acid batteries have become the preferred choice due to their relatively low initial investment cost.

Technical features and advantages

Lead-acid batteries are one of the oldest rechargeable battery technologies and have developed for over 160 years since their invention in 1859. In solar energy applications, it mainly has the following advantages:

Significant cost-effectiveness: Compared with lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries have an initial investment that is 30-50% lower, making them particularly suitable for off-grid projects with limited budgets

Good temperature adaptability: It can operate within a wide temperature range of -20℃ to 50℃, suitable for various climate conditions

High safety: Non-flammable and non-explosive, no risk of thermal runaway, and relatively simple maintenance

    In practical application scenarios, lead-acid solar cells are widely used in small off-grid solar systems. For instance, independent power supply facilities in remote areas, such as small villages in mountainous regions, meteorological monitoring stations in the wild, and communication base stations in remote areas, often cannot be connected to the power grid. Lead-acid batteries can store the electricity generated by solar panels during the day, meeting the basic electricity demands at night or in bad weather. In some small commercial premises or household solar systems, lead-acid batteries are also often used to achieve peak-valley electricity price arbitrage. They store electricity during the day when electricity prices are lower and use the stored electricity during the peak electricity consumption period at night, thereby reducing electricity costs.

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