Software-Defined Batteries in Action: Cost-Effective Battery Chemistry Transition
Software-defined batteries (SDBs) aren’t just for enterprise-scale projects. They can benefit even the most humble, residential-scale applications.
Many off-grid residential solar installations in rural areas still use lead-acid batteries for energy storage simply because “that’s how things are done.” Many systems were installed two or three decades ago when lead-acid batteries were the only viable option.
The lead-acid batteries deteriorate quickly, and many owners spend over $5k to replace their battery bank every three to five years — a good chunk of change for the average Joe trying to make things work in the rural U.S.
Most people chalk the expenses, frustrations, and inconveniences up to the cost of living off-grid. And the truth is, most are stuck in a pickle.
Here’s Chris’ story:
Chris spent $5,000 to replace his lead-acid battery bank about 18 months ago. However, the batteries started deteriorating within a year due to poor configurations. They could no longer meet his power storage requirements. The propane generator kicked in almost every night, resulting in eye-watering fuel tabs.
He had two equally suboptimal options if he were to follow conventional wisdom, which says you can’t mix battery chemistries:
Sink another $5k into a new batch of lead-acid batteries and perpetuate the vicious cycle of using expensive, high-maintenance, and short-lifespan chemistry.
Bite the bullet, upgrade to lithium batteries, and toss out the underperforming but still-work-okay lead-acid ones, on which he recently spent $5k. Ouch.
The good news is that he hired an off-grid solar service provider with access to our software, which makes it possible to mix battery cells of different chemistries and ages.
Instead of tossing out the existing lead-acid batteries, our software makes it possible to add lithium batteries to the existing lead-acid battery bank — eliminating the high cost and complexity of transitioning from one battery chemistry to another.
We provided a custom-built lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and put our proprietary software on top to make it play nicely with the existing lead-acid bank.
Besides providing enough power storage capacity for the client to minimize generator usage and fuel cost, the LFP discharges before the lead-acid batteries do, prolonging their lifespan by potentially two to three years.
The ability to mix cells of different ages also makes a staged approach to battery chemistry upgrade possible. When the lead-acid batteries finally stop working, the client can add another LFP or lithium cobalt battery to the mix without thinking twice.
The gradual transition makes it financially possible for more people to modernize their energy storage solutions without the high upfront cost of the traditional and costly “all or nothing” approach. Moreover, the service provider can source cells based on availability to control costs and minimize supply chain issues without being locked into a particular supplier.
