If you already have a solar PV system – especially one of the battery-ready solar systems available – you might be looking for ways to make the most of your investment.
Solar battery benefits for homes
Make the most of your solar
With a home solar battery, you may be able to use up more of the solar power your system generates by using the excess stored in the battery when the sun isn’t shining. This means you could need to draw less electricity from the energy system, which could help to reduce your electricity costs.
Renewable energy
Electricity from the energy system currently comes from a mix of generation sources. Tapping into your battery means you could use more of your solar energy to power your home or business – and this could also help reduce your environmental impact.
Solar battery backup power
Some (but not all) battery technology allows you to back up important circuits in your home. If your solar battery system has this capability, you may be able to keep your essential appliances such as your fridge, lighting, and potentially your heating and cooling, running during a power outage.
How do solar batteries work?
1. Your solar panels catch the sun’s rays and your solar PV system generates electricity while the sun is shining on those panels.
2. You can use this electricity produced by your solar PV system while the sun is shining – and any excess is usually fed to the energy system
3. If you have a home solar battery system, excess solar power generated can instead be stored by the battery for you to use when your solar PV system isn’t generating electricity to meet your demand, for example at night or on cloudy days.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
- How could a solar battery help me save on my electricity bills?
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With a home solar battery, you may be able to use up more of the solar power your system generates by using the excess stored in the battery when the sun isn’t shining. This means you could need to draw less electricity from the energy system, which could help to reduce your electricity costs.
- How does a home solar battery work with my existing solar panels?
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Your solar panels catch the sun’s rays and your solar PV system generates electricity while the sun is shining on those panels. You can use this electricity produced by your solar PV system while the sun is shining – and any excess is usually fed to the energy system.
If you have a solar battery system, excess solar power generated can instead be stored by the battery for you to use when your solar PV system isn’t generating electricity to meet your demand, for example at night or on cloudy days. - What are the main benefits of installing a solar battery?
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There are a number of solar battery benefits for homes. By investing in a home solar battery, you may be able to use up more of the solar power your system generates by using the excess stored in your battery when the sun isn’t shining. This means you could need less electricity from the energy system, which could help to reduce your electricity costs.
Adding solar battery storage to your solar PV system means you could use even more of the electricity you generate from a renewable energy source, compared to using electricity from the grid which comes from a range of sources.
Depending on your choice of battery product, some battery technology even allows you to back up important circuits in your home - How long does a typical solar battery last?
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It can depend where you live. Solar batteries exposed to higher temperatures, such as Perth’s hot summers, could have an effective life of 12 to 14 years. In places with cooler climates, such Albany, a home battery with typical use could last 15 to 17 years.
- What should I look for when choosing a solar battery?
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When you’re choosing a solar battery, have a think about your electricity needs, the power capacity you need, warranties, the depth of discharge, the price per kilowatt hour, the reputation and longevity of the products and suppliers involved and what kind of support is available to you after installation. Find more about these aspects in the ‘Choosing a solar battery system’ section above.
- Can I install a battery if I don’t have solar panels?
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Yes, you can. Solar batteries can be charged straight from the energy system, rather than rooftop solar panels. This can allow you to enjoy the benefits of home energy assets if you can’t have rooftop solar because you don’t have the roof space or the right orientation or position to catch the sun, or if you’re renting.
- Does a solar battery provide backup power during outages?
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Some batteries can provide backup power during outages – it depends on your system. Having a solar battery system could help keep your lights and other essential appliances or equipment on during an outage. A battery cannot back up all circuits in the home and is usually configured to power a dedicated back up circuit with critical appliances such as lights, fridges, Wi-Fi routers etc. Energy-hungry appliances such as reverse cycle air conditioning are usually not configured to operate on the back up circuit.