Storage
How Long Do Solar Batteries Last?
Cycle life, depth of discharge and heat — the three variables that decide whether you replace in year three or year nine.
10 June 2026 · 5 min read
Battery lifespan is quoted in cycles, not years, because a battery ages by being used. One full discharge and recharge is one cycle, and manufacturers rate cells to a stated capacity retention after a certain number of them.
Depth of discharge is the biggest lever you control. Routinely draining a bank to 20% ages it far faster than cycling gently between 100% and 60%. Oversizing storage slightly is often cheaper over ten years than replacing an undersized bank twice.
Heat is the second lever. Ventilated, shaded battery locations consistently outlast cupboards behind an inverter, and the difference is measured in years rather than months.
In practice, quality lithium installations in Nigeria deliver six to ten years of service. Tubular banks, maintained properly, deliver three to five.