As more people in Australia use solar power at home, the need for solar batteries is also growing. That’s why we’ve created this simple guide, Solar Battery 101, to help you understand the basics of battery storage and how to get started.
Solar batteries solve many common problems with solar energy. When you connect a battery to your solar system, it can still give you power even if the primary power grid goes out. So, instead of losing electricity during an outage, your battery can keep your home running.
For businesses, solar batteries can help lower electricity costs during busy hours and provide backup power during blackouts. Many places are also starting to limit the use of gas or fuel-powered generators, making solar batteries a cleaner option.
Solar batteries also relieve pressure on the power grid by providing clean and steady energy. They are made to charge fully and be used often without problems.
There are different types of solar batteries, and choosing the right one depends on factors like price, longevity, installation, and maintenance. But first, let’s understand the basics of how solar batteries work.
Australia should embrace solar power and solar storage fully now. This beginner-friendly guide will show you the basics of solar storage systems.
In this blog post:
- Components of the Solar System
- What are Solar Batteries? Solar Battery 101: Basics of Battery Storage
- Types of Solar Batteries
- Why Lithium-Ion Batteries?
- Benefits of Solar PV Storage
- Why is Solar Plus Storage Important?
- Powering Your Home with Solar Battery Backup
- Solar Battery Buying Guide
- Solar Battery Costs: Are They Worth It?
Components of the Solar System
What are Solar Batteries? Solar Battery 101: Basics of Battery Storage
Solar power is becoming more popular as people become more aware of renewable energy’s economic and environmental benefits.
However, there is a limitation: solar panels only supply energy for your home during the day. You still have to pay for electricity from the grid at night or when weather conditions prevent you from producing all the energy you require.
Solar batteries allow you to store the energy produced by solar panels. And the battery will then be distributed at the end of the day when the sun sets. This is known as peak hour consumption. And it’s one of the most effective methods to save money on electricity.
Solar battery storage can nearly triple a household’s self-consumption of solar energy. Installing a 4 kWh battery in a 5 kW solar system can boost the amount of solar electricity generated and used by a family from 30 to 60%.
Types of Solar Batteries
- Lead-acid Battery
- Lithium-ion Battery
- Flow Battery
- Nickel-cadmium
Why Lithium-Ion Batteries?
A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is high-tech and employs lithium ions as an essential element. During a discharge cycle, Lithium atoms in the anode are ionised and separated from their electrons.
Lithium ions travel from the anode via the electrolyte to the cathode, recombining with their electrons and electrically neutralising.
These are tiny enough to pass through a micro-permeable separator that separates the anode and cathode. Because of the small size of lithium, Li-ion batteries can have very high voltage and charge storage per unit mass and unit volume.
This technologically advanced battery has many benefits, which is why it has become popular over the years. Most Australian households and businesses only use Lithium-Ion batteries.
Let’s see the benefits so you can compare them before investing in solar and solar storage.
- Charges faster
- Lasts longer
- Has a higher power density for more battery life in a lighter package.
- Smaller in size
- Easy to maintain
- Has a greater DOD (Depth of Discharge)
Benefits of Solar PV Storage
There are countless benefits to solar storage.
- Provides flexible financing Options
- Increases the value of your home
- Stores extra energy
- Maximises consumption
- Boosts power resiliency with sustainability
Why is Solar Plus Storage Important?
When a battery is combined with a new or existing solar system, it raises the system’s overall value. While solar provides inexpensive energy from a renewable source, its utility can be limited at night or on overcast days without the assistance of a battery.
A battery can store excess solar power for future use. Solar plus storage is the perfect combination when the sun sets, peak demand charges are high, or the grid is down. It is the ideal renewable energy option for economic and environmental advantages.
Solar energy management systems are a renewable energy pillar since they do not require the use of fossil fuels. On overcast days, however, a solar system without storage may force a firm to consume electricity from the grid, which is generated using fossil fuel-producing units.
Businesses may enhance their renewable energy consumption using battery storage. A solar-plus-storage system will fulfil and frequently surpass corporate goals for organisations with specified greenhouse gas emission targets or sustainable energy initiatives.
Solar battery storage helps prevent power outages if the grid fails. Power outages have increased over the last several decades, and if extreme weather events occur more often, they may worsen.
Solar-plus-storage is one of the most powerful resiliency options on the market. It can provide backup power for several hours to many days.
Solar-plus-storage systems can frequently provide enough electricity for operations while also allowing organisations to meet their sustainability goals.
You can use the grid less and save money on electricity bills since the solar battery bridges the gap between peak solar and peak demand. Feed-in tariffs give you back the money for supplying energy to the grid.
Refraining from relying on the grid also means you have a backup power source during any power outage. That means you will be energy independent as a homeowner or a business owner.
Powering Your Home with Solar Battery Backup
Solar batteries are also known as deep-cycle batteries. Unlike a car battery, which is meant to discharge a high voltage quickly, deep-cycle solar batteries discharge a lower voltage over a much longer time, typically 20 to 100 hours or more.
There are many reasonable warranties available in the market right now. Most lithium-ion batteries have a 10-year warranty, making them a long-term investment.
Aside from the financial advantages, a solar system allows you to generate your renewable energy, contributing to a more sustainable future. It’s a win-win situation; it is a money-saving method that helps you build an energy-efficient home.
Solar Battery Buying Guide
Price:
Capacity:
Voltage:
The voltage of the solar battery bank should be considered to ensure that it meets the requirements of the solar system.
Your solar energy system will include a solar inverter. Depending on the voltage of your solar battery bank, you may need to purchase a different inverter.
Inverters:
Cycles:
The most crucial factor to consider is a solar battery’s cycle. The battery cycle indicates how many discharge/charge cycles it can provide before its capacity drops to a specified rated capacity percentage.
Solar batteries with the same power, energy content, and weight may exist. However, the battery’s design, material, and quality will influence how many times it can cycle appropriately over its lifetime.
Maintaining Solar Batteries
Let’s assume the installation process is done. But your work isn’t done yet. You still need to maintain a few things to have a properly running battery to power your house. Here are a few things you can keep checking:
- If it’s kept in a protected space or not
- How is the backup process
- How much backup is the battery providing for your appliances
- Is the monitoring app or device working well or not
- Is the battery providing enough off-peak power
- Are the transformers working correctly or not
Solar Battery Costs: Are They Worth It?
Solar batteries in Australia cost between dollars and cents, depending on the brand, the amount of energy they can store, and the complexity of the installation.
On the lower end, you’ll find smaller systems that are ideal for light backup use. On the higher end, larger batteries can store enough energy to power a home well into the night or through extended outages.
The total cost usually includes not just the battery itself, but also the inverter installation by a certified technician and any smart monitoring systems to track your battery’s performance. If your home requires additional upgrades or rewiring, that can add to the price as well.
- Tesla Powerwall 2 (13.5 kWh) $14,000 – $16,000
- Sungrow (9.6 kWh) $9,000 – $11,000
- BYD Battery Box (10 kWh) $10,000 – $12,000
- Alpha ESS (10.1 kWh) $9,000 – $11,000
- LG Chem RESU (9.8 kWh) $10,000 – $12,000
Smart Lifestyle Australia has the best solar-integrated products for you! Getting a hassle-free solar storage at a convenient price has never been easier. Start your journey now!
