Solar Batteries
Power outages seem to be becoming more and more commonplace due to extreme weather occurrences, poor grid maintenance, etc. It is for this reason that one of the best additions you can make is to add solar batteries that will actually store the excess energy your solar system produces for use during power outages. No more keeping the refrigerator door shut, or freezing or sweating your buns off when the grid’s power goes out.
The solar systems we install are utility grid tied, allowing you to take advantage of net metering. Net metering allows you to “roll over” excess solar production for use at night or on bad weather days through credits from your utility. You can learn more about net metering here. While batteries are not a requirement for taking advantage of a solar energy system, however, you will not be protected from grid outages if you do not purchase solar batteries for your solar panels.
Tesla Powerwall Solar Batteries
New York State Solar Farm currently sells and installs Tesla Powerwall batteries. We believe that Powerwalls are the best batteries available for the best price, and to guarantee seamless integration with your SunPower solar system. You can learn more about Tesla Powerwalls here.
The exact loads you can back up with your Powerwalls for use during an outage will depend on how many batteries your solar system can support, how many batteries you purchase, the amperage of the loads you wish to back up, as well as other factors. Your solar consultant will work with you to perform a load analysis to determine exactly how many batteries you need and what they can back up, ranging from backing up critical loads only, to whole home backup. Click here to receive a free estimate.
You can always monitor how much energy your Powerwalls currently have stored via your Tesla app, watch them recharge when your solar panels are producing excess electricity, and even manage your usages during a power outage in order to extend the length of time your batteries will provide your home with power during an outage.
In the video below, our owner, Anthony Sicari, documents how he went completely off the grid for 40 days, powering his home with only his SunPower panels and Tesla Powerwalls. Check it out!
Batteries are also eligible for the 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit when paired with solar, meaning you could save 30% on your battery purchase! Learn more about that tax credit here.
EV Charging
As the need for green energy solutions increases, as well as the need for energy independence, more and more homeowners are investing in solar, as well as things like geothermal heat pumps, and even electric vehicles (EVs).
At the risk of soundy cheesy, we believe that electric vehicles and solar panels go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Reason being that if your solar panels can produce enough excess electricity to power your home plus an electric vehicle, not only do you no longer have to depend on the utility for your electricity, but you also no longer need to depend on the gas pump. You can charge your electric vehicle right at home, and when your solar panels are paid off, now the fuel for your vehicle is also free. Talk about some serious $$$ savings!
Smart Electric Panels
NYSSF also offers the SPAN electric panel to complement all of our other products listed above. The SPAN electric panel replaces your home’s current main service panel (where all of your electric breakers live,) with a sleek new smart panel that allows you to control all of those breakers/loads right from your smartphone.
This allows you to turn those breakers on or off while at home or when you’re away, and is particularly beneficial in the case of a power outage when paired with the Tesla Powerwall. In an outage situation, your SPAN panel would give you the ability to easily turn off unnecessary loads that might lessen the length of time your battery will last during the outage, right from your phone, even if you’re not home. And given that the SPAN panel also allows you to monitor how much electricity each load in your home is actually consuming on a regular basis, you can manage these loads wisely and save a lot of money in the process.
“Alexa, tell SPAN to turn off the pool.” becomes possible with just the power of your voice.
If you would like to include an EV charging station with your solar system, NYSSF offers the Wallbox EV charger as our charger of choice, which is compatible with all electric vehicles.
Wallbox chargers are incredibly powerful, and incredibly small, with only a 8” by 8” footprint, and 240V Level 2 charging technology.
You can monitor and control your Wallbox charger via their app on your mobile phone, and even plan charges based on when kWh costs are the lowest. You can also control your charger via Amazon Alexa or Google Home devices.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, you can currently claim up to $7,500 in tax credits on electric vehicles, and EV chargers can also take advantage of the 30% ITC tax credit when paired with a solar installation.