ZERO-DOWN, LEASED SOLAR IS HOT. WHAT’S UP NEXT? LEASED ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS.

It’s not the technology it’s the “financial bite” that’s keeping energy storage systems out of solar powered buildings and building powered part time by intermittent renewable energy sources.

When will leased energy storage be offered? It’s hard to say but the pieces of this next phase of leasing home-brewed power are beginning to take shape:

Overall, zero money down leased solar systems are a bright spot in a dull economy. Advertising for solar power is all over the place: Internet, radio, television and in print. There’s a steady flow of new entrants into the business. Solar Universe, a traditional installer of solar systems, just got into to solar leasing business two months ago and already 40 percent of its clientele are opting for it. With so many home and business solar systems being installed it won’t be long before customers will be saying, “I want my solar power at night.” They’ll be asking for energy storage systems.

The cost of solar energy is dropping. The cost of zero-down leased solar should follow. The less the monthly payment for leased solar energy systems the more likely new customers of solar energy systems will agree to an additional fee for energy storage.

There are many energy storage technologies available that are suitable for solar electric energy storage Traditional lead acid batteries and zinc-bromide flow cells come to mind. But the technology to watch is lithium-ion batteries. At first glance lithium-ion technology is an overkill for energy storage for homes. Lithium-ion seems best suited for transportation, like cars and trucks, where light weight and small footprint are a necessity. Weight isn’t an issue in homes provided the potential battery weight is adequately supported. Floor space isn’t that much of an issue either. Still consumers have gotten used to nice neat compact high tech products. They might want their energy storage system to be neatly packaged as well: lithium-ion could provide that.

Lithium-ion has the ability to be recharged relatively quickly with enough voltage. Whatever energy storage system technology used it has to be able to recharged fully while the sun is in the sky. There might be bright sun for only a few hours a day. Solar systems and lithium-ion batteries could be engineered together to grab the brightest sunlight of the day and keep it for after dark.

It appears as though there may be some manufacturing overcapacity in the lithium-ion biz. If electrically driven cars don’t take off and battery makers who have geared up to meet that demand have excess capacity to produce they’ll be looking for new and additional opportunities for their products: Stationary energy storage systems would be it. Companies building batteries for electric and hybrid cars could easily adapt their products for homes, businesses and small industry.

A new technology might develop as well: Cogenerating batteries that provide heat and power. Some batteries, depending on the load, get quite toasty while charging and discharging. Thermal management – keeping the battery at the right temperature – can be particularly important with lithium-ion batteries. If this heat is in excess it could be used to heat water or heat a home or any building. Cogeneration has helped lower the cost and increase the efficiency of other energy technologies. It could add an new dimension to energy storage and lower its overall cost as well saving on heat as well as electricity.