Yotta Solar, a developer of energy storage systems, has introduced a revolution in solar PV plus energy storage technology, the SolarLEAF. The patented SolarLEAF utilizes a 100 percent passive thermal regulation system for panel-level energy storage. This passive temperature regulation enables the system to operate in extreme temperatures while protecting the battery life and without degrading performance. The plug-and-play design simplifies the integration of energy storage with solar PV and eliminates the need for HVAC systems that require parasitic loads and expensive fire suppression systems.
The SolarLEAF system is a battery pack with integrated multi-way power flow electronics that attaches behind standard 60 to 96 cell solar modules either at the time of panel installation or as a retrofit. Its modular design and panel level installation makes it cost-effective to scale energy storage with solar. Its passive thermal regulation is a technology that uses little to zero external power to keep the system’s batteries between 50 F and 95 F (10 – 35 C) in climates, including extreme summer heat and freezing winters. Because the batteries are not aggregated in one central location, SolarLEAF systems have no risk of cascading thermal events and can be installed in locations where centralized large-scale lithium-ion battery storage is not permissible. The DC-coupled SolarLEAF also doesn’t require a separate battery inverter setup, improving the cost and efficiency of the solar plus storage system while simplifying the interconnection process.
Yotta Solar was awarded a place in National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) esteemed Innovation Incubator (IN2) program funded by Wells Fargo. Clean technology companies that are formally selected for the program receive up to $250,000 in technical assistance from the laboratory and project related support. The SolarLEAF is receiving interest from utility companies worldwide for its ability to integrate energy storage into solar projects, particularly for behind-the-meter use cases.