For some consumers, power outages and the disruptions caused by load-shedding could be relegated to the past if new-generation, low-cost hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems continue to cement their strengthening position in the marketplace.
This is the view of Jack Ward, managing director of Powermode, a power provisioning company specialising in the design and implementation of back-up power sources for domestic, commercial and industrial applications.
Lead Acid batteries are used in UPS applications. This is primarily because of cost. Newer technologies such Lithium-ion are not considered generally due to their high cost (approx.3x). Li-ion and other technologies under development for renewable energy application may become viable at some point, but not in the near future.
Most of the time you don’t need your UPSs, so they are “out of sight and out of mind”. Meanwhile, the batteries which provide the energy when the power goes out, are very sensitive to the environment.