With rising utility rates and more homeowners looking to curb their household emissions as well, many Aussie families are turning to renewable energy to take back control of their power costs and create more sustainable consumption habits. As a result, rooftop solar panels are becoming a common sight across urban, suburban, and even regional areas across Australia. And with advancements in solar battery solutions, harnessing solar power is easier than ever before.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of questions and considerations needed to help you understand the impact of solar batteries and the role they play in home sustainability.
What Are Solar Batteries?
There is a misconception that solar panels only provide electricity during sunny weather. Whilst photovoltaic solar panels themselves generate electricity from direct and consistent sunlight, solar batteries are able to store this energy for later use. Similar to a car battery, solar batteries are currently designed to hold anywhere between 5 to 15 kWh and keep your lights on at home even when the sun doesn’t shine.
Benefits of Using Solar Batteries at Home
Energy Independence
By using solar battery storage to power your home, your property can gain greater energy independence, reducing your reliance on your local grid. Households using energy-efficient appliances enjoy additional benefits by ensuring their household energy needs stay minimal and are thus more likely to be sustained through the renewable energy stored in their solar battery solutions.
Cost Savings
A reduced reliance on energy from your electrical grid equates to reduced utility bills for your household. And even if your solar battery storage is insufficient and doesn’t cover your household’s entire energy needs, homeowners can still be strategic by using grid power specifically during off-peak hours and switching to their solar battery for high-demand hours. By maintaining this hybrid energy system for your home, you can optimise your utility bills with minimal fuss.
Backup Power
If you’re living in an area prone to power outages, or if you require electricity for life support devices, being able to have an independent source of power can be extremely important. In this regard, solar battery solutions are poised to be a vital investment for regional Australians living in isolated areas.
Environmental Impact
Overall, using a solar battery as part of your home power solutions helps to reduce your household’s carbon footprint. Harnessing solar battery storage provides Australian families the opportunity to integrate renewable energy consumption into their day-to-day lives, allowing your family to see in real-time the full value of solar and other renewable energy investments.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Solar Battery
Solar batteries come in three main types; lithium-ion, lead acid, and sodium-ion. These classifications denote the difference in assembly and functionality. Whilst lithium-ion batteries are the industry standard with their reliability and power capacity, lead acid batteries are the preferred option for most homeowners due to the difference in price. Whilst sodium-ion batteries are proving to be the most fire resistant, these solar batteries are still in development for a household scale with predictions indicating they may not be available for a few years.
When selecting the right battery for your household’s needs, here are some considerations. Depth of Discharge (or DoD) is a measurement of the capacity of the battery that is used. Similarly, round-trip efficiency is an indicator of how much energy can be recovered from that storage. If you’re looking to integrate your battery with an existing solar system, you may want to check the compatibility. The DoD and round-trip efficiency of a solar battery is impacted by the type of solar panels installed in your home and how they are set up to charge and store solar energy.
Many batteries are equipped with smart features to assist your power management. These include smartphone apps that link to your unit for remote monitoring and energy management. This can give you extra piece of mind when you are away from home that things will continue to run smoothly and efficiently.
Getting and Maintaining your Solar Battery
Unlike other energy efficient home appliances, solar panels require professional installation. Homeowners who are looking to invest in solar panel installation for their home are advised to consult their local solar installation specialists. These professionals will help with placement considerations such as exposure to the sun (i.e. solar orientation), temperature control capabilities, and assist in the installation of system components (i.e. solar inverters, meters, fuse boxes, etc.) to ensure ease of access for maintenance purposes.
Similarly, installation of a solar battery should always be done with help from a trained professional to guarantee compatibility between your solar panels and your new solar battery. Consulting a professional on the type of solar battery needed to sustain your electricity needs to maximise your gains will help you save money when switching.
Solar Batteries: Are they the Future of Home Energy Storage?
As technology for sustainable energy advances, the trends in solar batteries are ever changing. With the introduction of sodium-ion batteries, the market may see a trend towards the heavier but more fire safe option, leaving behind the current favoured lithium-ion battery.
However, when it comes to long-term sustainability, the lithium-ion batteries are looking to be the favourites. As always, harnessing solar energy is simple but does require a certain level of expertise in order to be optimised. Seeking out professional advice for a solar consultation and quote will ensure you’re getting the best information to explore your options for investing in solar energy for your property.