News outlets have begun reporting on another leap forward in solar generation technology. The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has conducted research that demonstrates combining solar panels with next-generation batteries results in a cheaper, and more reliable source of electricity than a diesel-fuelled alternative.

The tests were conducted on several military bases using carbon-based batteries rather than the more standard lithium-ion batteries. It was found that this much cheaper form of renewable electricity generation was also much more resilient than diesel alternatives as it doesn’t have the same supply chain risks. 

The study, titled “Long-duration energy storage: resiliency for military installations“, has proven that there are rigorously tested viable alternatives to emergency energy generation. If it is good enough for the US military we have to ask ourselves why we aren’t seeing more solar PV based emergency power systems in the civilian world.

If you want to find out more about installing an emergency solar PV system with battery storage please get in touch to find out more about getting solar panelling in Cornwall.