Battery storage is becoming an increasingly popular addition to solar energy systems. Two of the most common battery chemistry types are lithium-ion and lead acid. As their names imply, lithium-ion batteries are made with the metal lithium, while lead-acid batteries are made with lead. How do lithium-ion and lead acid batteries work?
Yes. Depending on your target applications, you can substitute lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries. Before swapping the batteries, ensure the lithium-ion battery is well-matched to the voltage system and the charging system. In some cases, you will need an external charger that is compatible with the lithium battery.
Lead acid batteries comprise lead plates immersed in an electrolyte sulfuric acid solution. The battery consists of multiple cells containing positive and negative plates. Lead and lead dioxide compose these plates, reacting with the electrolyte to generate electrical energy. Advantages:
Lithium batteries outperform lead-acid batteries in terms of energy density and battery capacity. As a result, lithium batteries are far lighter as well as compact than comparable capacity lead-acid batteries. Also See: AC Vs DC Coupled: Battery Storage, Oscilloscope, and Termination 3. Depth of Discharge (DOD)
Here we look at the performance differences between lithium and lead acid batteries The most notable difference between lithium iron phosphate and lead acid is the fact that the lithium battery capacity is independent of the discharge rate.
A lead acid battery system may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars less than a similarly-sized lithium-ion setup - lithium-ion batteries currently cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 including installation, and this range can go higher or lower depending on the size of system you need.