ABSTRACT
Solar energy is a nondispatchable energy technology that only captures energy during daylight hours. Some type of energy storage is thus required to make the energy available during nonsunny periods. Energy storage can take a number of forms, most commonly electrochemical energy storage through batteries. But energy can also be stored in the form of compressed air, pumped hydrostorage, hydrogen, or thermal mass. Many types of batteries and charge controllers are used in standalone PV systems to provide energy when the sun is not shining. The focus of this chapter is to look at the most common type of electrochemical storage systems used for off-grid PV systems.
