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There's been a lot of hype about solar battery technology recently as new players enter the Australian market. But between the talk about electric cars and solar power systems, it's easy to miss how a solar battery works, and what its benefits are.
Solar batteries made simple
Solar power is becoming increasingly popular as people become more aware of the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energies. But there's been a limitation – solar panels only provide energy for your home during the day and you still pay for electricity from the electricity grid at night, or when atmospheric conditions mean you don't generate all the energy you need. The excess energy you produce but don't use goes back to the grid.
With solar batteries, you're able to store the energy generated by your solar panels and the battery energy storage system will then distribute it at the end of the day, when the sun's gone down and it is peak time for electricity use. This is called self-consumption. And home solar battery systems are one of the best ways you can save money on energy bills.
Solar battery storage can almost double a household's self-consumption of solar energy. Adding a 4 kWh battery to a 5 kW solar PV system can increase the amount of solar power a household generates and consumes from 30 to 60%.1
With the solar battery bridging the gap between peak solar and peak demand, you need the grid less and will save on your electricity bills. This saving will become more valuable as feed-in tariffs – the money you get back for providing excess solar energy to the grid – continue to be phased out. Not relying on the grid also means you have your own source of back-up power in the case of a power outage.
Why solar batteries are a long-term investment
Solar batteries are ‘deep cycle batteries'. Unlike your car's battery, which is designed to discharge a high voltage for a short period of time, deep-cycle solar batteries discharge a lower voltage over a much longer period of time – usually 20 to 100 hours or more – and can be safely charged and recharged over thousands of cycles. Most solar batteries come with reasonably long warranties – Tesla's Powerwall lithium-ion battery, for example, has a 10-year warranty – making them a long-term investment.
As well as the economic benefits, with a solar and battery system you're creating your own renewable energy which is helping contribute to a sustainable future. It's a win-win: a money-saving strategy that's helping you create an energy-efficient home.
Ask us about solar batteries
More and more Australians are turning to solar energy and becoming solar pv system owners to help reduce their energy costs. To find out everything you need to know to save with solar power and battery storage, or speak to our experts, who can tailor a solar system to meet your needs.
Sources
- Climate Council of Australia 2015 report: POWERFUL POTENTIAL: BATTERY STORAGE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ELECTRIC CARS
