No, solar panels do not require battery storage for optimal performance. Battery storage allows homeowners to store excess energy generated during the day for use at night or during cloudy weather.
Bellefield is a two-phase project, with each phase comprising 500MW of solar power and 500MW of four-hour battery-based energy storage. AES has announced the completion of the 1GW Bellefield 1 project in Kern County, in the US state of California.
Lithium-ion battery technology is better than lead-acid for most solar system setups due to its reliability, efficiency, and lifespan. Lead acid batteries are cheaper than lithium-ion batteries. To find the best energy storage option for you, visit the EnergySage Solar Battery.
If you install solar-plus-storage, then you can charge the battery directly from your solar panels, meaning instead of shifting from using electricity (or storing it) during the lowest price period during the day, you're actually storing no-cost solar energy.