Path-Q Solar
How should battery capacity be planned when outage length is unpredictable?
Answer
Plan for a defined minimum service period and a load-reduction strategy rather than assuming a battery can cover every possible outage. Compare capacity options using critical loads, acceptable comfort or business interruption, recharge opportunities, and an alternative for outages longer than the design case.
Key points
- Separate essential, deferrable, and nonessential loads.
- Model runtime at several outage lengths and state-of-charge reserves.
- Include solar recharge uncertainty and controls that shed loads as energy falls.
What it depends on
- Critical-load energy and peak-power requirements
- Expected recharge sources and weather conditions
- Acceptable interruption level and availability of another backup source
Risks and trade-offs
- More capacity increases cost but does not guarantee coverage if recharge is unavailable.
- A plan based on average loads may fail when heating, pumps, or refrigeration run longer than expected.
- Load shedding can preserve critical service but reduce comfort, convenience, or business capacity.
Information you may need
- Prioritized load list and measured consumption
- Outage scenarios and minimum required runtime
- Battery expansion, recharge, and load-control options
Your next step
What to do next
Compare at least two designs using a written runtime and load-shedding table, including a stated plan for outages beyond the battery's design duration.
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SQ02768