Factors like a larger depth of discharge make lithium-ion batteries more resilient and help these batteries go up to six times the life cycles of AGM alternatives. Lifespan: All batteries degrade over time, but lithium-ion batteries consistently outlast AGM. It also means lithium-ion batteries are less prone to the damage that comes from exceeding the depth of discharge. This means at any given moment, a lithium-ion battery has over a 30% larger operating range. Lithium-ion can generally discharge around 86-98% while lead-acid can handle closer to 30-50% discharge. Depth of Discharge: This refers to the percentage of a battery that can be discharged without inflicting damage. Lithium-ion use continues to grow, and within the last three years has begun to compete for use in large-scale solar systems. In recognition of the global impact of lithium batteries, the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three of the scientists key to its development. This new battery entered the markets in 1991 and has proven to be a revolutionary force within energy storage for reasons that will be discussed below. Their work led to a battery that exchanged lithium ions back and forth between electrodes instead of the conversion of water to sulfuric acid that occurs in lead-acid batteries. The beginnings of lithium-ion batteries can be traced back to the 1970s oil crisis when researchers were looking for energy storage methods to support fossil-free technologies. The same can be said for gel batteries, but AGM is more forgiving during recharge, giving it the edge in solar. Unlike flooded batteries, AGM is unspillable and requires no maintenance. AGM is named for the woven fiberglass mat that separates the positive and negative electrodes and holds acid absorbed in its fibers. AGM is the newest of the three and the best suited for solar applications because of its zero-to-low maintenance, so it gets the spotlight here. There are several categories of lead-acid batteries, including flooded, gel, and absorbent glass mat (AGM). LEAD-ACID BATTERIES, SPECIFICALLY ABSORBENT GLASS MAT (AGM) Let’s breakdown each type in detail and explore the pros and cons. So which is the best choice to pair with solar? Lithium-ion batteries beat lead-acid in several key metrics but are more expensive, which means the answer can be dependent on the application. Now consumers are beginning to justify the higher cost of lithium-ion over lead-acid for the added value it delivers in longevity and robustness for residential and commercial energy storage systems. Armed with a significantly higher energy density, lithium-ion batteries’ ability to offer the same amount of power with less weight made it the preferred portable choice. The rise of lithium-ion batteries over their lead-acid counterparts happened first in mobile applications, such as laptops and phones.
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