When it comes to purchasing batteries, most of us tend to focus solely on the time aspect of the warranty. An appealing 10-year warranty catches your eye, and you're sold. But there's a hidden aspect to battery warranties that often goes overlooked: the through-put condition.
In this blog post, we'll unravel what it all means and how many warranties fall short of meeting their time-based promises due to the usage-based condition.
Throughput Warranty: Defining the Total Energy
Throughput warranty represents the total energy that a battery manufacturer expects its product to deliver throughout its lifetime. This warranty is typically expressed in terms of megawatt-hours (MWh). But what exactly does this mean?
To break it down simply, imagine a battery manufacturer providing a throughput warranty of 15 MWh. Essentially, this warranty assures you that the battery will remain operational until it has stored and delivered 15 MWh of energy. To put it into perspective, 15 MWh is equivalent to 15,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy! Another example is similar to the warranty of vehicles. When purchasing a car, you’ll often see offers like ‘7 years or 100,000 km warranty’. In this instance, the throughput is the 100,000km aspect.
This means when evaluating a new system, it's vital to consider not only the time-based warranty but also the throughput warranty. Simply relying on a time-based warranty might lead to unexpected issues if your system generates ample energy but falls short in terms of throughput. It's crucial to assess whether the throughput warranty aligns with your usage levels and can effectively match the duration outlined in your time-based warranty.
Assessing Battery Value Over Time
You might be wondering why throughput warranties stand out. While cycle-based warranties have their advantages, there's a critical factor to consider: the gradual decline in battery capacity over time due to repeated charging and discharging. This capacity decrease can make it challenging to precisely predict your battery's energy output based solely on cycle warranties, leading to frustration for consumers. In essence, throughput is a good comparison to help you gain a clear understanding of the amount of energy your battery should provide before the warranty expires, regardless of the number of cycles it undergoes.
Why Throughput Warranties Matter
Understanding the concept of throughput warranties is vital for anyone considering investing in battery storage systems. Here's why they matter:
Predictable Performance: Throughput warranties provide consumers with a clearer picture of when a battery may be out of warranty, and its expected performance over its lifetime, reducing uncertainty and potential disappointment
Value Assessment: You can more easily assess the value of a battery system by comparing the throughput warranty to your energy needs and expectations. This helps you make informed decisions when choosing a battery for your home or business.
Long-Term Reliability: A battery with a robust throughput warranty is an indicator of a manufacturer's confidence in their product's long-term reliability. It's a sign that they stand behind the quality of their technology. For example, you could compare 3 different systems with a 10-year warranty, but the throughput warranty may differ between each and you could be losing or gaining a few years depending on the system.
When it comes to investing in battery storage, don't overlook the significance of throughput warranties because later down the track, you may find you’re out of warranty sooner than expected. These warranties provide clarity, predictability, and a tangible metric for assessing a battery's value over its lifespan. By understanding what a throughput warranty represents, you can make more informed decisions and ensure that your energy storage solution meets your needs for years to come.