Tesla Powerwall 3 Rebate now Extended Until June 30th
Tesla Powerwall 3 Rebate now Extended Until June 30th
New to battery storage? Where in the world do you start to learn about it? Below we've made an easy, digestible, and quick guide to introducing you to your battery system, how to use it, and how it works.
Solar Power Explained
If you're brand new to the world of solar and battery, this is an easy guide to help you understand how batteries work, and what are the best battery options for you and your property.
What is battery storage? A solar battery is a great addition for new and existing solar systems to store any excess energy that solar generates, to be used later when the sun is unavailable. This helps you avoid using expensive grid power.
What are some reputable battery models and brands? We highly recommend Sungrow (SBR & SBH series), Tesla Powerwall 3, GoodWe ESA series, and Fronius Reserva. These are all high quality and reputable batteries and brands.
What size battery do I need? Most solar batteries that are available offer the ability to be added onto to increase capacity after installation.
Most households can get by with a battery from 12-20kWh, but it greatly depends on your overall consumption, and when you use most of your energy. But what does this mean? Let's go a little deeper.
Battery storage, also referred to as energy storage, BESS, and ESS, is a unit that can either be installed outside, or inside the garage. The size of the battery depends on the capacity you want, however for outdoor units, it shares similar sizing to an air-conditioner unit on a concrete pad with its height determined by the capacity.
Unlike a coffee which is simply small, medium, large, battery storage is measured a little differently.
Energy storage is measured by its energy capacity which is in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Batteries can range from small systems like 6kWh systems, to larger 40kWh home batteries. These sizes are determined by the property's usage and budget.
Australian laws are very strict around battery storage standards which means that manufacturers have to abide by strong safety measures.
These standards paired with quality installers who also undergo proper training helps ensure your battery is low risk.
BESS mostly consist of battery technology which helps prevent elements like thermal runaway.
For both homes and businesses, solar batteries enable solar owners to maximise their daytime production, which would otherwise be sent back to the grid for cheap.
It also helps properties be more independent by not only generating power, but storing it for evening usage, or backup power during network blackouts to keep your lights on when the grid is inactive.
What's a battery stack?
As mentioned before, batteries are measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which measures the amount of power it can sustain over time.
Power refers to the rate of electricity, and energy is the rate of power over a period of time. More on the differences between power & energy here.
Depending on the battery, it can either be an entire module which can be expanded with another, or it will be a stackable design where you can add modules on top whenever you want to expand the capacity.
Taking the GoodWe ESA series for example (referring to the diagram), each module is 8kWh which can be expanded up to 48kWh on a single stack with 6 modules. A stack is the 'tower' of modules that are in a single unit.
Some systems are an 'all-in-one' system which also includes the inverter in the stack, and some others are just the battery and rely on an external inverter.
In the world of solar power, there are abbreviations in almost every aspect of a solar system installation. Explore common solar abbreviations below:
In the evenings, solar dissipates for the day and battery storage generally kicks-in powering your home. They're configured to do this as evenings is usually when grid energy is most expensive.
By avoiding using the expensive grid electricity, this can help significantly reduce your bills. You can also discharge your battery through Amber during these periods for a higher return.
During a sunny day, your solar will produce up to its maximum power output, which depending on the size will be sufficient to power your home's appliances, charge the battery, and send any excess to the grid.
Different systems will have various configurations. E.g., if you're with Amber, it will enable you to prioritise charging the battery over exporting it to the grid etc. However, most batteries & inverters are smart so they can manage themselves well.
Unlike a blaring sunny day, a cloudy day can significantly reduce your system's power output.
Depending on the severity of the cloud coverage, it can reduce a solar system's power generation by around 80% in some cases which will affect charging your battery & exports.
If your battery is large enough for your usage, you may be able to get away with multi-day usage without recharging it - particularly if you're preserving your energy.
With so many battery options in the market, it can be extremely daunting trying to find the right battery.
Below are the 3 pillars on what to consider when looking battery storage options. Combining these 3 elements will help you gain a better
understanding on what kind of battery you need, as well as capacity and budget considerations.
A considerately large part in determining the right battery is the capacity. How much do you want to power? How long do you want to power it for?
Your budget will greatly affect the battery storage options you may be looking for. Are you looking for something cost-effective or premium?
If you use most of your energy in the daytime, more solar may actually benefit you than a battery. If it's mostly at night, then a battery may be right for you.
Explore our battery articles that go more in-depth to
better help you understand how battery storage works.
Compare Tesla Powerwall 3, Sungrow SBR & SBH, GoodWe ESA, Fronius Reserva, and BYD Battery-Box to find the
best home battery for Australia.
Power vs Energy in Australia: Difference Between Watts and Watt-Hours, kW vs kWh, with Diagrams, Calculations,
and Home Appliance Examples.
Does installing solar & batteries affect home insurance? Explore how solar & energy storage changes
home insurance premiums in Australia.
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get the best solar, battery, and electrical systems available. We want to assist Newcastle's renewable energy revolution with quality
installations for maximum customer satisfaction.
Certified solar system installers near you.
Get CEC-Approved Battery Installations.
Fully-licenced electricians in Newcastle.
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