Why is LiFePo4 Battery The Future of Home Energy Storage System?

As the photovoltaic solar energy industry promotes the development of clean and renewable energy, more and more households and businesses begin to rely on solar energy as fuel. For anyone preparing to go off-grid or take advantage of the growing trend of home solar use, finding an efficient battery energy storage system is a major consideration. With the advancement of technology, a new winner has emerged in the race for energy storage solutions: lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4).

What is lithium iron phosphate?

Lithium iron phosphate is a compound LiFePO4 or "LFP" for short. LFP has good electrochemical performance and low resistance, and is one of the safest and most stable cathode materials that can be used in lithium-ion batteries. 

What is a lithium iron phosphate battery?

Lithium iron phosphate battery is a kind of lithium ion battery that uses lithium iron phosphate as cathode material to store lithium ions. LFP batteries usually use graphite as the negative electrode material. The chemical composition of LFP batteries gives them a high rated current, good thermal stability and a long life cycle. 

Most lithium iron phosphate batteries have four battery cells connected in series. The nominal voltage of the LFP battery is 3.2 volts. Connecting four LFP batteries in series produces a 12-volt battery, which is an excellent alternative to many 12-volt lead-acid batteries.

"The applications of lithium iron phosphate batteries are unlimited."

Lithium iron phosphate uses similar chemical properties to lithium ions, and uses iron as the cathode material. Compared with their lithium ion counterparts, they have many advantages. This article discusses in detail the many reasons why lithium iron phosphate batteries have become the future of home storage.

In the past many years, most home energy storage solutions (ESS) have used lithium-ion batteries as their main backup power source. Lithium-ion batteries are cheap and easy to obtain, and as more devices and even vehicles begin to rely on them, they have saturated the battery market. However, the emergence of new technologies is inevitable, and home energy storage ushered in a new battery technology - "lithium iron phosphate battery". 

The home solar battery is a kind of storage battery, which does not fluctuate like a power battery when it supplies power to other devices. The output of the battery is relatively stable. Generally, the discharge current is small and the discharge time is long. Let us see what characteristics the battery should have:

1. It should operate normally within the temperature range of -30℃ to 60℃.

2. It should have good low temperature performance, that is, it can work normally in low temperature areas.

3. The capacity consistency should be maintained when used in series or parallel.

4. It should have good charge acceptance. It should perform well in an unstable charging environment.

5. Long service life, low maintenance cost, reduce total investment cost.

In short, we need battery solutions with greater capacity, greater power potential, longer service life, sustainable, safe, and meeting the needs and wishes of today's responsible consumers. The emergence of lithium iron phosphate batteries just meets these characteristics. Lithium iron phosphate batteries have a series of unique advantages such as high working voltage, high energy density, long cycle life, low self-discharge rate, no memory effect, and environmental protection. It supports stepless expansion, which is very suitable for home energy storage. And it also has good application prospects in the fields of safe grid connection, grid peak shaving, distributed power station, UPS power supply, emergency power supply system and so on.

Although lithium iron phosphate batteries have both advantages and disadvantages, there are several characteristics that make this solution particularly suitable for home energy storage systems.

1. Efficiency and full cycle capacity

Lithium iron phosphate batteries can be charged with constant current and voltage, which allows them to be quickly charged and put back into use when needed. LifePO4 can also discharge 100% and maintain a high voltage level. For these reasons, LifePO4 batteries are now used in robots, home energy storage, hybrid generators, and truck APU systems.

2. Low energy density

Energy density is a description of how much power is stored in a given space. Compared to lithium batteries, this seems to be a disadvantage, because it means that lithium iron phosphate batteries must be slightly larger to maintain the same energy as ordinary lithium-ion batteries. But in most cases, the small amount of additional storage required is well worth it. The lower battery density makes the battery less volatile.

3. Battery life.

The life cycle of lithium iron phosphate batteries is two to four times that of lithium ion batteries. This is partly because the lithium iron phosphate options are more stable at high temperatures, so they can withstand overcharging. In addition, lithium iron phosphate batteries can be stored for longer periods of time without degradation.

A longer shelf life is helpful in solar power situations, in which case the settings are designed to provide years of power backup for homes or businesses. A longer shelf life means less expense for the homeowner and less chance of the battery running out at the wrong time.

4. Friendly to the environment

Although basic lithium-ion batteries contain hazardous materials and are difficult to handle in a responsible manner, lithium iron phosphate batteries are not considered toxic. They contain common and easily available materials such as iron, graphite and copper. This makes them easier to recycle and can even be reused as new batteries. The longer the life of the lithium iron phosphate battery, the more beneficial it is to the earth. Manufacturing new batteries requires energy and resources, so the longer they are used, the lower the overall carbon footprint.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries have higher safety, longer service life and environmental advantages, which are very suitable for the solar industry. Consumers will undoubtedly be satisfied with this alternative to other battery options on the market.

5. Working temperature

Lithium iron phosphate batteries operate at or near capacity in the temperature range of -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

This single feature makes LifePO4 batteries ideal for remote monitoring equipment in the Arctic and Sub-Saharan regions. They are used in weather monitoring equipment, marine buoys, and oil and gas pipeline equipment in various climates around the world.

6. Easy to store

The extremely low self-discharge rate makes the storage of LFP batteries easy, even for longer periods of time. Lithium-ion batteries are no problem for one year, as long as there is some power in them before storage. A value between 50% and 60% is ideal, which will allow a long time before the battery self-discharges and brings the voltage close to the dangerous point.

It is no problem to store the battery below freezing point, even at very low temperatures such as -40 degrees Celsius (the same temperature in Fahrenheit), or even lower! The electrolyte in the LiFePO4 battery does not contain any water, so even when frozen (occurring at around -40 degrees Celsius, depending on the specific formulation), it will not swell and will not damage the battery.

7. Depth of discharge

The deep discharge capability of lithium iron phosphate batteries can protect them from damage due to excessive consumption of energy in the battery. The LiFePO4 battery can be completely discharged without affecting the delivery capacity. This advantage makes lithium iron phosphate batteries an ideal choice for solar devices, because multiple batteries can be connected to increase storage capacity. The battery can then be discharged at a different rate without causing any damage.

Although both lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries are reasonable choices for home energy storage batteries, LifePo4 batteries have greater development potential. Lithium iron phosphate batteries have a longer shelf life, less environmental impact, and higher stability. Better performance and lower costs are the best way forward.

"Lithium iron phosphate batteries have many characteristics that make them superior to other battery technologies. They are lightweight and versatile. They have a long service life [up to 10 times more] and fast charging speed. They can also withstand the charge and discharge process. There is no risk of burning, heat, collision and misoperation in the battery... Lithium iron phosphate batteries use non-toxic materials to make the electrodes, and the risk to the environment is much lower than that of lead-acid batteries. They can also be recycled." BSLBATT production department engineer Hugo said.

BSLBATT home energy storage batteries use LiFePo4 battery technology, and we have very strict product tests to ensure that we provide the longest life, safest and most reliable energy for residential, emergency or commercial use. We minimize the battery cycle and operating temperature, while maximizing depth of discharge (DoD) and maximum universal compatibility.