MENU

BLOG / 2016 - July

BROWSE OUR ARCHIVE

28 Jul

The suburb of the future?

It’s been said that it isn’t easy being green. Well, that won’t be the case[...]

25 Jul

Get more out of your solar power system by using water as a battery

When the sun shines at its brightest, many of Australia’s 1.3 million homes with rooftop[...]

20 Jul

Solar Incentive hits $5,168^*! …But for how long?

Did you know that the government incentive to install solar goes up and down depending[...]

20 Jul

6 Solar Myths

If you’re interested in installing solar, but have some doubts or questions about popular solar[...]

13 Jul

Tips for keeping your solar panels clean and properly maintained

Ok, all the hard work is done. You’ve researched panels and inverters, sought out a[...]

01 Jul

Where are the female tradies?

Male domination of trades and trade courses in the automotive, construction, mining and energy sectors[...]

BROWSE OUR ARCHIVE

Download Your FREE Ultimate Guide to Solar Power in Australia - 2021 Edition

If you’re considering solar for your property or just looking to maximise the savings for your solar system, download a FREE copy of our "Ultimate Guide to Solar Power in Australia - 2021 Edition".

Become an expert and better understand the ins and outs of solar power and solar PV systems for your property.

Includes detailed explanations and diagrams of the various types of solar systems and their parts, solar battery storage systems, Government incentives, expected ROI periods, finance, energy-saving tips and more!

Download Your Free Copy Now!

Where in your solar journey are you?

LEARN The Basics

GO In Depth

Installation & Upkeep

Thank you

A link to download your copy of "The Ultimate Guide to Solar Power in Australia - 2021 Edition" has been emailed to the address you provided.

If this message does not appear in your inbox, ensure that you have provided the correct email address or check your junk/spam folder.

This message will close in 10 seconds or

Close and back to page

Understanding Batteries

For some households a battery system can be of great benefit and minimise a home’s reliance on the grid. However, it’s important to understand for a battery to be useful your solar system needs to be generating excess energy for the battery to store, which you can then use at night or when the sun is not out.

When selecting a battery, you’ll want to invest in a system that is most suited to your home and can drive the best return on investment (ROI). Despite a larger upfront cost, a higher quality battery may significantly increase your ROI.

Battery systems start from $6,000 and costs can vary greatly based on the following factors:

Cycle Life-Time
The number of times a battery can fully charge and discharge.
Battery Power (kW)
How fast it can be charged or discharged.
Storage Capacity (kWh)
The maximum amount of energy a battery system can store.
Battery Management System (BMS)
An electronic ‘smart’ system that gathers data and manages the battery ensuring it does not overload or operate outside of its safe functioning zone..
Inverter
Battery systems require their own inverter if your solar system does not have a hybrid inverter.
'All-In-One Unit’
A system which includes the battery, BMS and an inverter all in one unit.
Warranty
Length of time or cycles the battery system is under guarantee.
Blackout Protection/Backup
It’s important to note this is not a common feature of a battery system and could cost thousands of dollars to include. Blackout protection not only requires additional components but also a specialised installation and rewiring. For grid-connected homes, the cost for blackout protection can outweigh the benefit.

Additionally, if your purpose for adding battery is to go Off-Grid and become completely independent from the grid you will need to ensure your solar system can generate enough energy to power your home and your battery system is large enough to store this energy. For homes in metro areas going Off-grid is not cost effective and is only recommended for those in remote areas with limited access to the grid. Off-grid solar systems with battery start at approximately $30,000.