Home Batteries Aren’t Economical—Yet
22nd May 2017
Around the world, more homeowners are experimenting with residential batteries, which grab energy when it is generated and store it for later use. The excess power can be tapped if the grid goes down—in a storm, say—or during high-demand periods when electricity is more expensive.
Thanks to a big push by solar vendors and battery providers such as Tesla Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., and Sunverge Energy Inc., homeowners in the U.S. now have a choice of off-the-shelf home batteries, or they can get them through pilot programs hosted by local utilities and companies that install solar systems. The batteries are getting increased attention as solar power becomes more affordable and common in the U.S.