Are Solar Panels and battery storage a Sustainable Solution to our Energy Crisis?

The news that the government have established a new Solar Taskforce once again raises the questions as to whether the combined use of photovoltaic panels and battery storage is truly sustainable, raising the usual questions about the effect on the environment of waste batteries.

The existence of a series of rare and valuable elements in batteries, predominantly Lithium means a significant amount of research is underway to ensure that these elements are fully recyclable, but in the meantime, can we quantify the impact on the environment of the use of battery storage in our homes? Research tells us that the argument seems to be strongly in favour of battery use, with the development of a series of battery alternatives underway.

The emergence also of the use of your car batteries as surplus storage to run your house, known as Vehicle to House Technology VTH gives a great dual use for your car battery storage, which is payback for a significant investment at the outset.

There is no doubt that over the coming years the recycling and re-use of the elements used in batteries will become much more prevalent, and the combination of solar power and battery storage is likely to become an economically viable solution. Certainly when your are taking on a new house, your boiler breaks down or your pension matures, it is well-worth looking into this combination as an economic and sustainable solution for your future.

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