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With the heat wave that has hit Brazil, air conditioning has become an indispensable ally for many. However, the increase in the use of this device directly affects the electricity bill. An alternative that has gained prominence is the offgrid system, which allows the use of air conditioning without additional electricity costs.
But the question arises: How many batteries are needed to maintain this comfort? To correctly size the number of batteries, you need to consider the air conditioning consumption.
Taking as an example a 9.000 BTU device, which is turned on for 8 hours a day, we have a monthly consumption of 136,8 kWh. But not only that. It is necessary to consider the losses inherent to the system, such as the efficiency of the inverter and the battery itself.
In a offgrid system, Efficiency losses cannot be ignored. For example, a lead acid battery has an efficiency of between 80 to 90%, and an inverter can have a similar efficiency. This means that to meet air conditioning consumption, it is necessary to generate more the energy than the device actually consumes.
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Autonomy and voltage: crucial factors when choosing batteries
When choosing batteries, two factors are crucial: desired autonomy and system voltage. For a day of autonomy and a 24 volt system, it is necessary to calculate the total energy that needs to be stored, considering the depth of discharge of the batteries.
After all calculations, considering a system with lead acid batteries 111Ah, the conclusion is that 16 batteries would be needed to keep the air conditioning running for a whole day without recharging, on a 24 volt system.
Cost-benefit: is it worth investing in Offgrid?
O investment on a offgrid system is not low. Each battery can cost around R$770, totaling a considerable amount for the necessary set.
However, it is important to consider the long-term costs of savings on the electricity bill and the energy independence that a offgrid system provides.
In times of intense heat and increased energy bills, offgrid systems emerge as a viable and sustainable alternative. Despite the initial investment, the long-term savings and comfort of an air conditioner working without additional costs are attractions that cannot be ignored.
