Last Updated on February 18, 2026 by Anne Brock
How Batteries Add Valuable Energy Storage to Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Why batteries? Why now? Evolving technology is making energy storage more attainable than ever for solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems, and is useful for a number of reasons.
Batteries store excess solar energy from daytime, for use when the sun isn’t shining.
Batteries can be programmed for the practice of peak shaving, so your business doesn’t get hit with costly demand charges from your electric company for spikes in electricity usage at peak times.
Batteries can be included to back up critical loads on site during a grid power outage.
Batteries can be part of an on-site energy microgrid that adds resilience to your business or nonprofit, potentially becoming a center for helping others in your community during emergencies.
Below are some questions to ask yourself to know if energy storage is right for your business.
Can solar produce more power than I use at any given time?
If yes? If solar produces more power than your facility uses at any given time, then energy storage may be useful for time shifting, backup and/or demand management.
If no? The most cost-effective way of including solar is to offset energy consumption with low-cost, renewable energy from solar, while also using the grid to ensure reliability.
Is my business located in a state that offers net metering to pay me when my solar photovoltaic (PV) system overproduces?
If yes? Solar is most cost effective when the solar production does not have to align with when you are using the power. Net metering allows you to produce power whenever the sun is shining and receive credits on your bill for overproduction. You can connect with your local power company for guidelines on how net metering works, how to sign up, and how much it would financially benefit you. Hint: Kentucky has net metering.
If no? Without net metering, your excess energy will return to the power grid, but you will not be reimbursed at the retail rate. You may determine it is in your best interest to consider energy storage to capture any excess that your system produces.
Does my facility need to use electricity at times when my solar PV system cannot produce enough? Am I paying demand charges for times when I use excessive electricity from the grid?
If yes to one or both of these? Then storing excess electricity with a battery could be useful at peak times to reduce demand and avoid steep demand charges. It could also help you, with detailed energy monitoring, provide your own electricity at night or in inclement conditions when the PV system is not producing optimally.
If no to one of these? Then investing in a battery may not be as useful to you, unless you want to store excess electricity for other reasons such as resilience.
In the event of a power grid outage, would I want to be able to island from the grid and continue running my factory or other facility? Is this level of resilience important to my business?
If yes? Then you may want to consider energy storage as well as other components of a microgrid system to be as energy independent as possible.
If no? Then no need for the energy storage investment.
Does my business qualify for tax credits, grants or other incentives for clean energy?
If yes? Those incentives could cover energy storage assets as well as solar PV, increasing the benefits of these investments for your business.
If no? Ask us about other alternatives for financing solar and storage projects.
Solar Alliance has designed PV projects that include storage on a broad scale, including at:
Demonstration project on a college campus
Custom builder’s office/showroom
Contact Solar Alliance today so we can customize the solar + storage solution for your business.