When evaluating a battery's specifications for solar storage, you need to look into factors that can tell you how much power it delivers and how long it can last. These factors are depth of discharge, power, and capacity, round-trip efficiency, and battery life. You could avoid the guesswork by choosing lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.
Since its introduction, the LiFePO4 battery has contributed to the advancement of the solar industry. The technology responsible for it offers a variety of advantages that it easily outshone the competition, particularly traditional lead-acid batteries. For solar storage, lithium iron phosphate batteries offer the following benefits:
Enhanced depth of discharge
Battery depth of discharge (DOD) refers to the amount of stored energy used, compared to the battery's total capacity. Batteries often come with a recommended DOD to keep them healthy.
Lithium-ion batteries are deep-cycle products, so their DoD is higher at up to 95 percent, as compared to lead-acid, which typically has only 50 percent. This means that the LiFePO4 battery for solar storage would provide more energy without changing frequently.
Lengthier lifespan
Given the higher DoD, LiFePO4 batteries won't need to be recharged within a short time. The lifespan of most high-quality lithium-ion batteries is ten years, which is equivalent to 10,000 cycles in its cycle life. The life cycle of a high-quality LiFePO4 battery ranges from 2,000 to 5,000, and its yearly discharge when in storage is less than three percent.
More energy density
A battery's energy density refers to the amount of power it can hold relative to its physical size. Lithium ion stores more power without needing as much space as lead acid counterparts. That makes it ideal for a compact solar setup for a small space.
Highly efficient
The round-trip efficiency rating of the LiFePO4 battery is greater than what other solar batteries have. It ranges between 90 and 95 percent.
