The working principle and advantages of solar lithium battery

Solar energy is one of the most in-demand renewable energy sources in the world. However, it still suffers from the same problem as other renewable energy sources: storage. In this case, we will discuss Lithium solar cells capable of storing the energy produced by photovoltaic panels. These cells have some very interesting features that make the job easier.

For this reason, we will dedicate this article to telling you everything you need to know about lithium solar cells, how they work, and their advantages.

What is lithium solar cell

Solar cells are elements that allow the storage of electrical energy generated through the use of solar panels. These self-consuming photovoltaic cells are intended to be used as a source of energy at any time, especially when the photovoltaic installation is not in operation.

Solar installations have a wide variety of cells, each with different characteristics and technologies, so it is necessary to know the size, capacity and power required for solar panel installations to work properly and make full use of the energy. Well, with this, you can load the hydraulic pump for your car or house.

Types of batteries used in solar energy

SINGLE CELLS: They are perfect for small isolated PV installations without a motor. They are cheap and simple lead-acid batteries.
Deep Cycle Cells: Larger and heavier, with the same cycles as single cells, they are ideal for medium consumption and long life cells.
AGM cells: they have the specificity of having a fixed electrolyte and a gas regulator valve, they are sealed cells and do not require any type of maintenance, they are very resistant to vibrations and are designed for small photovoltaic installations.
Fixed cells: they have a long service life and are designed for long-life drives.
Lithium batteries: they do not emit gas, they are very light, they do not suffer when fully discharged and they take up very little space.

Lithium is an alkaline, flammable, soft, ductile, silvery and light metal characterised by very rapid corrosion in contact with air. Lithium is found in the earth’s crust at 65 parts per million and cannot be submerged in water. These lithium solar cells are fast-charging, longer-lasting, higher energy density cells.

Also known as lithium-ion or “Li-ion” batteries, they use lithium salt as an electrolyte, which manages to release electrons, and through a chemical reaction, they are able to store and release electrical energy. Lithium-ion batteries are an excellent alternative to photovoltaic devices with high energy requirements, which require a lot of autonomy throughout the day and less solar radiation. This type of solar panel battery can be modular and can be interconnected according to the needs and changes in household consumption habits.

Types of solar lithium batteries

Lithium batteries are the longest-lasting storage batteries, with low self-discharge rates, good depth of discharge, no memory effect, and the ability to store half the charge without damaging the lithium battery. They have three times the energy capacity of conventional batteries and support higher current rates.

In addition, they have exceptional qualities at high voltages, as some models operate in a variable range from about 300 V to 450 V, managing to reduce cycling currents to avoid overheating or loss of wiring, among other drawbacks.

BMS (Battery Management Systems) technology is a safety element that must be present in lithium batteries in order to avoid accidents and is therefore highly recommended for solar systems. Highlighting the 3 essential components in a Li-ion battery installation.

There are currently three types of batteries:

Lithium/Cobalt Oxide Battery: One of its main advantages is its high energy density and excellent durability.
Lithium/Magnesium Oxide: It has a high level of safety, but is strongly discouraged for use at high temperatures.
Lithium iron/phosphate battery: It has the best safety performance except for more than 2000 cycles, and it is a long-life lithium iron phosphate battery.
Cylindrical/tubular lithium batteries: They are lithium-ion batteries, known as lithium polymer batteries.
Flat lithium polymer batteries: They are also lithium polymer batteries.
Lithium Batteries with Inverter: They are the latest technological advancement, they are lithium batteries with an internal inverter that works in parallel with the battery, which allows them to be used as both a battery and a power inverter in a small space.

vantage

Lithium-ion batteries offer the following advantages over traditional lead-acid batteries:

High energy density: Stores more energy in less weight. Compared to lead-acid, lithium-ion batteries save up to 70 per cent of space and 70 per cent of weight. All of this is very useful, especially for battery storage and transport.
Lithium-ion batteries require little maintenance (almost none) and are more resistant to irregular discharges.
They do not emit toxic and polluting gases.
High charging current.
They take less time to load
High discharge current. They can be unloaded quickly without loss of life.
Lasts about 15 years.
High efficiency between loading and unloading. Very low energy loss due to heat generation.
Higher continuous power is obtained.
They have almost no self-discharge.
Lead-acid batteries cannot be extended after the installation has begun, because the life of the new battery is reduced to the same level as the life of the old one.
Lithium batteries can be extended at any time, and new slimmer batteries are not a problem.
Lithium batteries can be connected in parallel to increase capacity. Note that the remaining batteries should not be connected in parallel as this will significantly reduce their life.
Lead-acid batteries lose cycle life (duration) if they are discharged below 50% of their state of charge (Depth of Discharge = DOD) or if they are discharged very quickly.
Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, can be discharged to about 80% DOD and faster than lead-acid batteries without losing their life.

Disadvantages of lithium batteries

It’s top price
They need a controller or manager to regulate loading and unloading. Such regulators usually include an inverter and a regulator.
They are often called “hybrid investors”.
Recycling issues.
Some countries are dependent on lithium.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about lithium solar cells and their properties.