Production of solar energy is limited by the availability of sunshine. However the ratio may be multiplied by two if the electricity generated during the day is used to power the evening.

If a battery is connected to the system, the surplus energy is stored and may be used later, such as during the night. To store the same amount of energy in a smaller package, a lithium-ion battery is currently the prefered option over lead-acid batteries. The more powerful the batteries that are placed, the more solar energy can be stored. The most cost-effective option is a system that combines photovoltaics and solar batteries.