In Florida, the solar energy market is flourishing thanks to abundant sunshine available all year round. Solar panels can generate ample electrical energy throughout the year, slashing off electricity bills.
There is also a growing popularity of solar installations with battery storage systems, allowing residents to have excess energy stored for future use. This greatly assists residents during the storms and hurricanes seasons.
This article will explore in depth how solar plus home battery storage benefit Floridians in terms of energy independence and storm preparedness.
The Importance of Solar Energy in Florida
In Florida, solar energy is very advantageous thanks to available sunshine, averaging 230-237 days of sunshine per year. This makes the state one of the best places in the world for the placement of solar panels, which can significantly lower electricity bills.
As fossil fuels are replaced with clean solar energy, there is a clear environmental benefit in offsetting greenhouse gases. This is particularly important for a state that has to confront climate challenges such as sea level rise and extreme weather. When the sun’s rays are transformed into electricity, zero pollution is caused, thus improving air quality and creating a healthier environment.
Understanding Home Battery Storage
Home battery storage systems save energy sourced either from solar panels or power grid, usually during off-peak periods, and output during peak energy tariffs or during power outages. A battery storage system is part of a home energy management system consisting of a controller, a battery, an inverter to convert direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) that home devices can operate on, and a monitoring app that tracks and controls energy consumption for better efficiency.
There are various battery types, each of which have distinct features. For example, Lithium-ion batteries boast high energy density and long life, making them well fit into more compact spaces. Nonetheless, they can pose a threat of overheating and fire. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, while slightly less dense and bulkier, offer superior safety and thermal stability, making them the best choice for residential use.
Benefits of Combining Solar & Home Battery Storage
The combination of solar power and home battery storage is associated with various very significant benefits, making it an amazing option for homeowners. Here’s a look at the main advantages:
Energy Independence: With the addition of a battery, homeowners who invest in solar will be capable of generating and storing their electricity to reduce dependence on the grid. This stored energy can power your home during cloudy days or nighttime hours. It keeps a steady flow of power during blackouts, which is particularly important for Florida during hurricane seasons.
Financial Savings: The combination can significantly reduce electricity expenses by saving more energy from solar panel that could be consumed when electricity price is steep. It also allows homeowners to send extra power back into the grid for credits, known as Net Energy Metering (NEM), helping them offset even more costs.
Reliability: In Florida, and other areas where storms can frequently knock the grid out of service, solar-plus-storage systems deliver reliable round-the-clock power. This is crucial for maintaining safety and comfort when the primary source of power fails.
Environmental Impact: Solar energy with battery storage reduces the need to burn fossil fuels, therefore reducing carbon emissions. It facilitates better utilization of renewable energy, which promotes sustainable lifestyles and reduces CO2 emission from electricity consumption.
Why a Solar & Home Battery System is Crucial in Florida
Power Outages
Hurricane seasons can bring a greater risk of power outages in Florida, resulting in blackouts for hours — even days. Battery storage in Florida can help as a reliable backup, powering from the lights to refrigerators and essential outlets during these outages. When combined with solar panels, the system can recharge during daylight hours, meaning a house is able to remain off-grid and receive uninterrupted power for multiple days.
Severe Weather
Florida is prone to plenty of severe weather, such as hurricanes, high winds, heavy downpours, and flooding. This can lead to large-scale outages in the state, even if a specific region is not directly hit by a storm.
Keeping home powered during outages can mean a reduced chance for accidents, injuries and other medical emergencies by providing continued lighting in homes and allowing critical appliances to maintain operational. In addition, battery storage eliminates the need to light candles, which could potentially result in fire hazard.
Solar Tax Credits
Federal solar tax incentives are available for Florida homeowners. The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) provides a 30% credit for solar installations, from panels to inverters and battery systems, valid through 2032.
Additionally, Florida residents are eligible for property and sales tax exemptions on solar installations, further bringing down their costs and making it a super attractive option to invest in solar-plus-storage energy solutions.
By adding battery storage, homeowners can gain most of the these incentives, as the tax credit also applies to the battery system.
Net Metering Policies
Current Net Metering Policies in Florida
Net metering in Florida enables homeowners to send excess solar energy back to the grid and receive credits at the retail electricity rate against future utility bills. However, the policy is mainly orientated towards Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) such as Florida Power & Light (FPL), Duke Energy, covering 79% of Floridians.
How Solar Battery Storage in Florida Enhances Net Metering
For places where full-retail net metering is not available, battery storage can help homeowners avoid feeding solar power back to the market in exchange for credits with lower compensation rates. Instead, they can use that stored energy during high demand periods, allowing homeowners to use solar power at full retail value.
Potential Changes to Net Metering
Proposed legislation, such as the Florida’s House Bill 741, seek to cut net metering compensation. Though that bill has been vetoed for now, there are likely to be future changes. A home battery allows residents to hedge such changing risk by storing solar energy for use later instead of exporting excess power back at very low rates.
Choosing the Right Home Battery System
When it comes to choosing a home energy system with battery storage, the first important factor to bear in mind is capacity (i.e. how energy can be stored). For larger homes or higher energy use, you may need a battery with larger capacity, such as the aPower 2 (15 kWh) from FranklinWH, capable of backing up an entire home with a single unit. Lifespan and warranty also play critical roles. For example, FranklinWH offers a warranty of up to 15 years, which ensures enduring reliability.
FranklinWH product also sets itself apart with intelligent energy management and advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) technology, known for unrivaled safety and longevity. FranklinWH products are also inverter agnostic, compatible with all solar inverters and ensures easy and flexible integration with any solar setup.
Conclusion
For Florida homeowners, solar and home battery storage has plenty to offer. Number one, it provides energy independence by storing solar power for homes to use during long blackout windows — very important when you live in an area that is constantly battered by hurricanes. Besides, It is an effective way for residents to save money by controlling energy consumption based on Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs (e.g., use the stored energy when the price surges). This combination also supports environmental sustainability in that it uses as much clean energy as possible and help reduce a ton of carbon emissions.
Power Your Florida Home with Solar & a Home Battery
Ready to lower your energy costs while increasing the resilience of your home's energy supply? Get FranklinWH’s cutting-edge home battery storage system, for unparalleled reliability, safety, and robustness. Learn more at FranklinWH today and take the next step towards energy independence.
FAQs
What are the benefits of solar energy in Florida?
With abundant Florida sunshine, it’s quite conducive to use solar energy for financial savings and a more environmentally friendly state.
How does home battery storage work with solar panels?
Home battery storage allows you to store extra energy generated from your solar panels during the day for use at night or during peak electricity rate periods. The stored energy also serves as a reserve that can kick in during power outages, ensuring the continual supply of electricity.
Why is home battery storage important during power outages in Florida?
There have been frequent power outages in Florida because of hurricanes and tropical storms that cause outages. Having battery storage in Florida means your essential appliances can keep running during blackouts, providing a sense of personal safety in times of emergencies.
Can home battery storage help reduce electricity bills?
Yes, battery storage can help save on electricity bills by storing free solar energy and releasing it when grid power is scarily expensive.
Are there any incentives or tax credits for solar and battery storage in Florida?
Homeowners can benefit from the 30% federal tax credit plus property and sales tax exemptions offered by the state, which significantly reduces upfront costs on both solar PV and battery installations.
How do I choose the right home battery system for my needs?
Choose a home battery that would be the best fit for your property size, energy usage and solar panel capacity. Large homes or high usage may require multiple units. The FranklinWH aPower 2 offers a remarkable 15 kWh per unit and can scale up to 225 kWh (15 units) per controller, making it the perfect choice of demanding applications.