Portable batteries on wheels have become a standard offering from many battery system providers. At Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America in San Diego, around twenty companies showcased portable batteries of various sizes – from toaster-sized units to large camping refrigerators.
The biggest advantage of these units is their portability, which allows for powering devices in the field, such as during camping trips or remote work on construction sites. However, they are also an interesting option for homeowners who need emergency backup power when needed.
In the energy storage space, portable batteries are often connected together multiple times to create a larger unit. While they typically cannot be directly connected to the home in conjunction with other wall-mounted battery systems from different suppliers, a transfer switch can separate the grid from the batteries. When using portable batteries in homes with photovoltaic systems and/or energy storage, these dual systems must also be separated from each other.
Price is one of the most important factors determining the attractiveness of portable batteries. Portable units cost around half or less than a comparable wall-mounted grid-connected energy storage unit.
The Bluetti AC300+B300 portable battery with a capacity of 3 kWh costs $2,600, while adding up to four B300 units can provide an output capacity of 12,288 Wh.
Mobility is an important feature of these portable energy storage systems. For example, the Renogy Lycan Pro model has a capacity of 4.8 kWh, but it can be expanded to 19.2 kWh through the ability to connect units. The unit also offers various output voltages from 120 V to 500 V, with a maximum solar input of 500 Vdc.
Portable batteries can also be used as a backup power source for homes during extended power outages. A wall-mounted energy storage system will allow for one- or two-day power supply, while some outages can last significantly longer.
When choosing a portable battery or system, it is important to carefully consider one’s needs. Power capacity and the frequency of power outage occurrences in a particular location should be taken into account to select the appropriate system capacity.
Some suppliers of these portable batteries have already partnered with major wall-mounted battery system manufacturers, including Tesla and Enphase, to ensure that adding batteries to an existing grid-connected energy storage system is not complicated. However, not all wall-mounted system providers are ready to collaborate with portable battery suppliers.
As a result, several portable battery manufacturers are developing their professional product lines, offering solar system installers a comprehensive “plug and play” grid-connected energy storage system. Scaling up portable battery products to larger capacities is simpler than scaling with other manufacturers.
Portable batteries also have potential applications in charging electric vehicles to avoid high time-of-use rates. The charging power of the electric vehicle just needs to fit within the output power range of the charging station.
Portable batteries are thus an increasingly popular and intriguing means of energy storage, offering mobility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for various applications, from camping to emergency power supply at home.
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