October2018

29 Oct

South Australian Home Battery Scheme Has Launched!

True to their word with an October release the South Australian Government has launched the South Australian Home Battery Scheme today! From today 40,000 households in South Australia can now access State Government subsidies to help pay for the installation of home battery systems as an additional component to their current or new solar PV […]

23 Oct

NSW Low-income Household Solar Scheme

NSW Low-income Households Will Soon Have The Opportunity To Participate In A Program That Will Set Them Up To Be $300 Better Off Each Year. The NSW Government has announced a new solar scheme that will allow for those currently signed up to the Low-income Household Rebate, to forgo their rebate and in turn receive […]

16 Oct

Solar Energy, Not the Cause Of Rising Electricity Prices

Let’s Get To The Bottom Of Misguided Claims Trying To Pin Renewable Energy As The Cause Of Electricity Prices Spikes In an energy-rich country like Australia, it’s baffling that we’re plagued with extortionate power prices, that are forecasted to rise even further! These price spikes have caused everyone to look for somewhere to blame and […]

08 Oct

Solar, Creating a Brighter Future for Australian Employment

The Move To Solar Over Coal In Australia Will Bring More Job Opportunites For Australians So, we know that having a solar system installed can save you money, reduce your home energy bills drastically, increase your property value and lower the harmful emissions polluting the environment. But did you know it could open the floodgates […]

01 Oct

How To Access The South Australian Home Battery Scheme

South Australian Home Battery Scheme Updates and Customer Access! New updates on the South Australian Home Battery Scheme have been released! Although we’re still unsure of the official commencement date for applications (rumoured to be mid-October) we’ve been provided with information on how customers will be able to access the Home Battery Scheme and the […]

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.