Do Solar Panels Make Sense Without a Battery in Arizona?
If you’ve been researching solar panels for your Arizona home, you’ve probably noticed that many systems today include battery storage.
Solar panels don’t need batteries, but you’ll get more out of your investment if you include one. Adding a battery can significantly increase your long-term savings and will give you extra benefits, like backup power for outages.
Let’s look at how both options compare, and why more Arizona homeowners are choosing solar plus battery storage.
Solar Panels With Battery Storage
How it Works
A solar panel plus battery system can power your home around the clock.
When the sun’s out, your panels will power your home directly. The excess electricity they generate will charge your battery, creating a bank of stored energy. At night, when your solar panels aren’t producing electricity, you can use your battery for power instead of buying electricity from the grid.
You can also use your battery for backup power during a grid outage.
Why Include a Battery?
If you install solar panels with a battery, you’ll get benefits that you won’t get from solar panels alone.
1. Save More on Electric Bills
Without storage, the extra power your solar panels produce during the day gets sent to the grid for a credit, but Arizona utilities pay far less for that exported energy than what they charge you to buy it back later. A battery lets you store the excess so you can use it yourself, maximizing savings.
2. Avoid Expensive Time-of-Use Rates
Arizona utilities like APS and SRP use time-of-use (TOU) rate plans, where electricity costs more during high-demand periods in the late afternoon and evening. Unfortunately, this is around the same time that the sun is setting, ending solar generation for the day. With a battery, you can use stored solar power during expensive on-peak hours, saving you money.
3. Get Backup Power for Outages
If you install solar panels alone, you won’t be able to use them during a power outage. But if you add a battery, you can keep your system running when the grid goes down, ensuring that you always have power for essentials like your refrigerator, lights, phone charger, and medical devices.
4. Be Energy Independent
If you want to be more independent from the electric grid but aren’t ready to be fully off-grid, solar plus storage is the perfect middle ground.
Solar Panels Without Battery Storage
How it Works
Solar panels work by powering your home directly whenever they have access to sunlight. But without a battery, they can’t produce electricity after dark. That means you’ll have to rely on the electric grid for power whenever the sun isn’t shining. Plus, solar panels don’t work during a power outage without a battery, which means you’ll be in the dark if the grid goes down.
Benefits of Solar Panels without a Battery
Installing solar panels without a battery still has its benefits, including:
1. Save on Electric Bills
Even without storage, solar panels can cover much of your daytime electricity use, bringing your electricity costs down significantly. As electric rates continue to rise, any amount of solar will be beneficial. Every kilowatt-hour you generate is one less you have to buy from your utility.
2. Lower Upfront Cost
It costs less to install solar panels without a battery, as a solar battery system will increase your upfront investment. Incentives and financing can help, but the added cost is still something to consider.
3. Flexibility to Add a Battery Later
If you want to go solar now but aren’t prepared for the added cost of a battery, you can always add one later. We can design a battery-ready system so you can easily connect one in the future.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Both options make sense. The best choice depends on your budget and goals. If you want to minimize upfront costs and still enjoy steady savings, solar-only may be a great starting point. If you want maximum savings, energy independence, and backup power for outages, a battery is worth the investment.
At SouthFace Solar & Electric, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all systems. Every home and homeowner is different, so we take the time to understand your energy habits, utility rate plan, and future goals before designing a custom system that fits your needs.
Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about your options and find the right solar solution for your home.
