Solar Batteries Archives | Page 8 of 8

Under the spotlight: Energizer Homepower Solar Battery

Solar energy storage is becoming more and more important in our world of ever-increasing energy costs. A solar battery which lets you store some of the free energy you generate during the day so you can use at other times, is the perfect way of not only lowering your electricity bills, but also maximising the return you get from your solar investments.

Therefore, picking the most appropriate solar storage solution becomes paramount. The Australian market has literally hundreds of brands, sizes, and models to choose from, so this decision can seem a bit daunting at first. That’s why we’ve put some of the most highly recommended battery brands under the spotlight, in an effort to help you make that decision easier.

The Energizer® Homepower Solar battery at a glance

The Energizer brand has been making durable, long-lasting batteries since 1896.

Energizer Homepower features a solar battery with a sleek, modular design that houses a 6.1 kWh capacity module. At the front, discreetly concealed behind a patented weatherproof flap, there is easy access to the system controls and installer access panel.

This intelligent storage system is suitable for new or existing solar PV systems, indoor and outdoor installations, and all-weather conditions. Also inclusive of a 10-year warranty and fully Virtual Power Plant (VPP) ready, this product is set to be a great fit for lots of homes.

There is also a mobile app specifically developed for technicians to use during the installation and commissioning process. Through a robust Bluetooth connection, the app guides the technician through a step-by-step sequence that automatically validates the correct installation as they go. Combining this with a no-fuss, plug-and-play type connection zone, the average installation time is significantly reduced.

One of the main advantages of this model is the flexibility of connecting up to 3 additional subunits, which would increase the battery’s storage capacity up to a whopping 24.4kWh.

The Energizer Homepower solar battery has a unique design that allows you to add these subunits to the left or right of the main unit – whereas other modular batteries stack in front or underneath.

Backup protection ready

In the event of a blackout, Energizer Homepower has the ability to power critical appliances in your home. Blackouts can occur when the electricity grid is overwhelmed by consumer demand. When you talk to one of our battery superheroes, make sure you request to include Backup protection, so your Certified Installer connects those appliances that you require to be functional during a blackout.

Energy intelligence

The Energizer® Homepower’s cutting-edge battery software maximises efficiency while allowing homeowners to manage their system and energy usage remotely via an easy-to-use app. Features include:

24/7 energy monitoring and control
Tracking of energy generation, consumption and export
Available on iOS, Android and the Web
Receive notification regarding your energy use
Virtual Power Plant enabled to allow energy trading
Charge off grid when prices are low, discharge when prices are high to maximise savings

Solar storage is not a one-size-fits-all solution

It’s important to talk to a solar professional when choosing a solar battery. Contact us and let one of our solar battery superheroes help you determine if the Energizer Homepower solar battery is the right choice for your home and your energy needs.

Solar Battery Group has a range of batteries suited to meet even the most diverse requirements.

November 28, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

How solar batteries work

News, Solar Batteries

Adding a solar battery to your rooftop PV system will enable you to store excess energy generated during the day, so you can use it at night and other times of low generation, helping you import less from the grid (lowering your bills too!).

How do solar batteries work? Which technology is the safest to use? Let’s jump straight into some fundamentals for solar energy storage.

Understanding solar battery storage

In essence, solar PV systems transform sunlight into Direct Current (DC). The solar inverter then converts DC into Alternating Current (AC) – the kind of electricity that flows in the grid and that our everyday appliances use.

However, electricity is a one-of-a-kind commodity in the sense that it cannot stop flowing. You either use it at the point of generation or it needs to keep flowing elsewhere via the grid. When you generate more energy than you need (think a sunny afternoon when you’re not home), that energy flows back into the grid and your retailer pays you a Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for this.

Once a battery is added to the system, your switchboard will direct any excess energy being generated into the solar battery first instead of sending it straight to the grid.

Most modern solar batteries do this via a built-in inverter which converts the energy coming from the panels into a form of storable chemical energy which you can use later.

Battery manufacturers can use many different technologies and ways of arranging the components within a solar battery. Nowadays, Lithium-ion is the dominating technology in the domestic storage market because of better pricing, power outputs and depths of discharge, longer warranties and smaller, lighter frames.

Need help? Read our Solar battery jargon buster guide

AC vs DC coupling

The DC produced from solar panels needs to be converted into AC to be used at home – the job of the inverter. Nevertheless, batteries require DC to charge and discharge, so there are 2 ways of integrating batteries into a PV solar system:

AC coupling: Via a battery inverter which receives the AC output of the system inverter and transforms it back into DC. Some batteries, like the HIVE Solar, include built-in inverters for easy AC coupling.

DC coupling: Via a hybrid inverter containing a DC-DC converter.

Depending on where you live in Australia and who your electricity distributor is, there can be export limits to an inverter’s capacity per phase. Some distributors count battery inverters towards this limit, which can only be bypassed through DC coupling. However, AC coupling is usually cheaper and allows for easy retrofitting.

Our battery superheroes are happy to help you find out which option is the most appropriate for your circumstances.

How long can a battery supply energy for?

The answer to this question is, it depends.

Many factors come into play when choosing the right battery. For example, how many people live at home, how much power you need at once, your electricity consumption patterns, how much solar you have generated (and stored), which battery you have, etc.

It may sound counterintuitive, but having the biggest battery is not always the best either. Let’s use an analogy between solar batteries and a bucket of water: your panels are the tap, producing a certain amount of energy through the day. Some of that energy can be stored in a solar battery.

Any power you do not use when generated, gets diverted into the bucket (battery) until the bucket is full… yet what good is it to have a 5-litre bucket if you only have 1 litre of water coming out the tap? Same goes for a 1-litre bucket if there are 5 litres coming out the tap. The perfect solar battery for your home is the one that can charge off the power you don’t use through the day, and that can support your energy consumption through the night and other times when solar isn’t generating.

Get in touch with us about solar battery storage

How safe are solar batteries?

If the prospect of adding a solar battery to your home is making you a bit anxious, we hope the following puts your mind at ease. Energy storage technology has come a long way since its introduction to the residential market. Lithium ion, lead acid, aqueous hybrid ion… most of these technologies are perfectly safe when installed by an accredited electrician and provided with regular maintenance.

Still, the safety of the chemistry behind the functioning of the battery does vary between different technologies. Even then, manufacturer’s quality and installation play a significant role to keep your home safe. In a nutshell, don’t hold back on the quality of the storage system and installation costs.

That’s why all our installers are CEC accredited. Solar Battery Group is also proud to sell the safest battery technology available at affordable prices, with built-in safeguards depending on the model, like extra casings or software integration to protect the battery and your home from any potential damage.

Get in touch with our battery superheroes today and find out how you can fend off those pesky electricity retailers and maximise your solar investment with a quality solar battery.

Get in touch with us about solar battery storage

November 20, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

Solar battery jargon buster

News, Solar Batteries

Solar batteries are increasingly popular in Australia, allowing thousands of households to capture any unused solar generated during the day for later use. Economic, environmental and efficiency benefits have been a real attraction for early adopters, and as solar technology improves, so does the chance that solar batteries become the norm in the near future.

The solar industry uses a lot of jargon, but this doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. Let’s bust some of the most common terms used around solar batteries.

Get in touch with us about solar battery storage

Technical information and specifications

Solar battery technology: Referring to the chemistry behind what allows the battery to store energy. Lead-acid, Li-ion, and flow are all examples of different battery technologies.

The dominant technology in the Australian domestic market is Lithium-ion. Li-ion batteries have better power outputs, higher depths of discharge, longer warranties, competitive pricing, and can be run almost maintenance-free.

All our solar battery range is Li-ion, with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells being the safest from thermal runaway in the market. The HIVE Solar, Energizer and Eveready® Energy Vault solar batteries are all examples of Li-ion technology with LFP cells.

Regardless of the technology and the manufacturer, it is important to reiterate that any solar battery should be installed by an accredited, qualified electrician to keep your home safe.

Battery cell: The whole configuration of components within the batteries which allows them to store energy, usually composed by a cathode, an anode, and a separator.

Imagine a lasagne for a second, with its layers of pasta and sauce going one after the other in order. Solar battery manufacturers use similar sheets, placing a cathode and an anode with a separator in between. They then roll these sheets inside metal cylinders, which we call a battery ‘cell’. A typical solar battery will have thousands of battery cells.

Cells compositions can be different from model to model, even in same technology. For example, both the Tesla Powerwall 2 and the HIVE Solar are Lithium-ion batteries, but the former uses NMC cells while the latter uses LiFePO₄cells.

Nominal capacity: Essentially the total amount of energy the battery can store, measured in kWh (Kilowatt-hours).
Modular design: Battery architecture that allows expanding storage capacity of the main unit via subunits. This design is perfect for those with increasing energy needs who wish to add storage without having to undergo the more expensive installation costs of adding another battery to their system.

The HIVE Solar, Energizer and Eveready® Energy Vault are examples of solar batteries with modular designs.

Depth of Discharge (DoD): Most batteries need to always hold some charge to avoid accelerated battery degradation. The DoD is expressed as a percentage, and it indicates the maximum amount of energy which can be safely used.

For example, a battery with a 100% DoD means that its nominal and usable capacities will be the same.

Usable capacity: The total amount of energy that can be used, after the depth of discharge is considered.
Maximum charge power: The maximum amount of power that the battery can be charged with at once.
Maximum discharge power: The maximum amount of power that the battery can supply at once. Make sure to check as some batteries can only sustain this output for short periods.
Continuous power: The amount of power that can be delivered while the battery has enough charge.
Time to discharge at full power: How long will the battery’s charge last for, assuming you take as much energy as possible at once for that period. If your home’s load consumption is lower, then you can expect a single charge to last you longer.

Time to discharge at full power = (Capacity × Depth of Discharge) ÷ Max. discharge power

Cycle life: The number of charge and discharge cycles that a battery can complete before losing some performance.
Efficiency: How much energy the battery is able to store and send out for every kWh of charge put in.
Lifespan: The expected life of the battery, rated in cycles or years, generally estimated on an average usage. Technical spec manuals can also include the capacity at the end of life.
UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply. Also called blackout protection or backup mode. When a battery is UPS-enabled, it will continue to power the circuits it is backing up when the grid fails. See blackout protection blog entry to read more.

Operating temperature range: Like any other battery, solar batteries operate better within a certain temperature range. Very hot or cold temperatures can cause your solar battery to shut down or degrade faster.
IP protection: Used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture. The first digit, from 0 to 6, refers to how dustproof the enclosure is, while the second digit, from 0 to 9, indicates how waterproof it is.

Most solar batteries are rated IP65, which means they are totally dust tight and are water-resistant against low pressure jets from any angle.

Li-ion: Lithium-ion battery technology, the most used in domestic solar storage applications.
LiFePO₄: Lithium Iron Phosphate cells, the safest Li-ion battery type currently available due to a lower risk of thermal runaway. Used in HIVE Solar batteries for example. Also referred to as LFP.
NMC: Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt oxide cells. Used in the Tesla Powerwall 2 for example.

Solar battery installations

Hybrid solar system: Systems that include solar panels, a battery, at least one inverter, and a connection to the electricity grid.
Off-grid solar system: Systems that are not connected to the grid. The battery is the main power source at night and low-sunlight days. Off-grid systems generally only make sense for remote properties where a grid connection isn’t available or would be prohibitively expensive to install.
Phase: Most homes in Australia have single phase power at around 240V. However, larger homes or higher electricity needs might be connected to the grid by 3-phase power. Having 3 phases allows to have 240V and 415V from the same electricity supply, meaning larger appliances can be run simultaneously without tripping the circuits.

Electricity distributors in Australia impose maximum solar capacities per phase.

AC coupling: Both the PV solar system and the battery have their own inverter. The system’s inverter sends AC to the battery inverter, which transforms it into DC so it can be stored. Some batteries, like the HIVE Solar, come with built-in inverters for easy retrofitting into existing solar installations.

DC coupling: This type of installation requires what’s called a hybrid inverter. This inverter will convert the DC from the panels into DC that gets stored in the battery. The same inverter will convert DC into AC for use by appliances at home.

STC: The Small-scale Technology Certificate inentivises the transition to greener, more sustainable energy sources for every MWh (Megawatt-hour) of electricity generated by your solar system. Depending on where you live, there may be other government schemes aimed at making solar batteries more economically viable for households.
Anti-islanding protection: Most solar inverters will shut down a solar installation entirely in the event of a blackout or grid failure, in order to protect engineers carrying out repair works from being electrocuted. Blackout protection will allow the battery (and in some cases the panels) to keep powering the home.
BESS: Which stands for Battery Energy Storage System, describing the complete package of solar battery, electronics and software used to manage the charge, discharge, DoD level, etc.

Electricity and solar basics

AC: Alternating Current, the kind of electricity that runs in the grid and that most appliances use.
DC: Direct Current, the kind of electricity generated by solar panels.
PV: The effect by which sunlight is transformed into electricity.
Watt (W) and Kilowatt (kW): Units of power. In solar systems, they specify the maximum power an array of panels can deliver. In solar batteries, they specify how much power can be delivered to the home.

1,000 W = 1 kW

Watt-hours (Wh) and Kilowatt-hours (kWh): Units of energy. They measure energy production or consumption over time. A solar panel producing 200W for an hour delivers 200Wh of energy. In solar batteries, the capacity is measured in kWh depending on how much energy can be stored.

1,000 Wh = 1 kWh

FiT: The Feed-in Tariff is the amount you get paid for any excess power generated by the solar panels that gets fed into the grid.

We understand choosing the right battery is of the utmost importance for you. Our solar superheroes have lots of knowledge in the industry and are equipped with the appropriate tools to help you make the best decision for your particular circumstances.

Please get in contact with our team should you require help or have any questions regarding the terms mentioned above.

Get in touch with us about solar battery storage

November 2, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

The ins & outs of Solar batteries + blackout protection

News, Solar Batteries

Blackouts. Many areas in Australia have small, localised power outages each year, caused by different factors not always in our control. Natural events such as storms, floods, lightning, heatwaves, bushfires, or even fallen trees in the right spot can cause a power disruption. Other factors like car accidents, maintenance works, or technical failures can cause blackouts too.

Large-scale blackouts are less common, but quite impactful. A prolonged blackout, like the one affecting Adelaide in October 2019 or the most recent in Queensland in May 2021, can put human health at risk.

It is a common misunderstanding but having solar during a blackout will not save you from a shortage of power supply during such events. When the grid fails, solar inverters are required by law to shut the whole system down automatically to protect any maintenance workers from being electrocuted while carrying repairs. Even if the sun is shining, your PV system will not generate electricity until the grid is restored.

We have good news for you though. A solar battery is not only a great investment to reduce your energy bills and increase your resilience and independence from the grid. With the correct solar energy storage solution, you can keep your home running in the event of a blackout.

What should you expect from this?

Let us dive deep into solar battery’s blackout protection.

What is UPS?

UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply. It is another way battery manufacturers refer to the battery’s blackout protection capacities.

Different batteries can offer different levels of backup. There is:

No backup at all
Backup that takes a few seconds to switch over. While in backup mode, the battery has reduced capabilities
Seamless backup with full battery functionality. However, you won’t be able to charge the battery from the PV system while the grid is down
Seamless backup with full battery functionality to use power in your home that also lets you charge the battery from solar while the grid is down

In order to understand which level of protection is the most suitable for you, it is important you talk to one of our solar battery superheroes to talk through any options available for your specific installation.

Ask us about blackout protection

Which circuits will be backed up?

Although some batteries are marketed as ‘full house backup’, reality is that such an installation can get very pricey very quickly, as it may require substantial rewiring of your home. Backing up only essential circuits – say your living and bedroom lights and certain kitchen appliances, not only will be cheaper but will also allow you to keep the battery running for longer.

Bear in mind certain appliances like air conditioners or washing machines utilise a lot of power, so running them off batteries alone could drain your storage fast. Consider what your essential appliances are, and how long can they run with a single battery charge.

Although the above is good indication of what you can expect from your battery in backup mode, each battery is different in terms of how much of a load it can handle while in backup mode – ask us about blackout protection to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations!

Do all batteries offer blackout protection?

No. When speaking to one of our solar battery superheroes, make sure to ask if the battery you are wanting to purchase comes equipped with UPS if this is important for you. Blackout protection is not included as part of standard installations, and there are costs associated with it that will need to be discussed before you agree to a quote.

How long will the battery last during a blackout?

As mentioned before, there are different levels of blackout protection. If your panels won’t charge your battery while the grid is down, then that means you will depend on how much energy is stored in the battery at the time the grid fails, until the grid is restored. If your battery can be charged off your solar even in a blackout, then that means you could go days without the grid – weather permitting.

Ultimately, what circuits are backed up and how much power you consume is the only indication of how long the battery’s charge will last.

I have a battery with UPS, what do I need to do to make it work?

If your solar system is equipped with a battery that has blackout protection enabled, there is nothing for you to do in the event of a blackout. The battery recognises when the grid fails, switches over to backup mode and will start powering your home.

If your solar system is equipped with a battery that is blackout protection ready but not enabled yet, one of our qualified solar installers can help you wire the circuits to back up at a later stage.

We strongly recommend that if blackout protection is important for you, you make sure to mention it to one of our solar battery superheroes, so they can help you find the best solution for your circumstances.

October 25, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

Power punch your electricity bills with these tips!

News, Solar Batteries

In 2021, many of us are spending more time at home, which can make harder to combat the rising cost of living. However, there are a few steps you can put into action to save energy around the house. Read on below for our top tips to help you eliminate your energy bills for good.

Make the most of your rooftop solar

A system that lets you generate free energy from an infinite source like the sun sounds great huh? Rooftop solar allows your household to save by reducing your reliance on the grid – the less you import from the grid, the less you will have to pay on your bills.

With that in mind, adjusting some basic habits will help you get the most out of a PV solar system.

Your solar produces its power during the day while the sun is shining, so using appliances and energy during the day (like dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers) means you are taking full advantage of your solar.

And if no one will be home during the day, setting up your appliances with timers to set their cycle to run at a time when your solar is producing will still rake in the savings.

It matters how you wash and dry your clothes

Speaking of big appliances, there are a few changes you can implement to save even more.

Washing your clothes in cold water can save you around $115 per year*. You can also save some money by ensuring that you select the shortest appropriate cycle for your load of washing.

Clothes dryers also use huge amounts of electricity per load, so if possible, hang your clothes outside so they air dry naturally.

If your home has rooftop solar, you should look to start your washing and drying loads during the day while your system is producing electricity. Doing full loads instead of the odd item here and there will maximise your savings. You can usually find your appliance’s capacity either in the sticker of the door or searching for your model online.

If you’re not using it, turn it off!

Regular appliances like your TV, speakers, computer, washing machine and dishwasher add up to your consumption, even while in standby!

Lights and appliances left on when not in use can cause your bills to skyrocket very quickly. Every little bit counts, so you can make a difference to your energy consumption by turning these off.

Make a habit of switching the lights off when you leave a room. The same goes for your power-hungry appliances… you can turn off the power points they are connected to until you need to use them again.

Save in the kitchen

Because your fridge and freezer are usually running 24 hours a day, they account for a large portion of your home’s electricity usage. One way to reduce consumption is to set both these appliances at ideal temperatures: 4 to 5°C for your fridge and -15 to -18°C for your freezer. Make sure to check for gaps in the door seals to avoid the motor working overtime to maintain temperature.

Another culprit of high energy usage in the kitchen is the dishwasher. Convenient as they are, more often than not we don’t use them to their full potential. Before switching it on for a full cycle, double check it has been filled up. You can also skip the drying feature if you won’t need to unload it straight after it’s finished. If you can set it on a timer, you should use it during daylight hours to ensure it’s being powered by your rooftop solar.

Manage the heating and cooling of your home

Heating in winter can often account for over 30% of your electricity bill, with every degree above 20°C adding an extra 10% to your heating bill*. If you keep your thermostat set between 18 and 20°C, you can keep comfortable without spending so much in heating.

For summer, setting your air con to 26°C or higher makes it run very efficiently.

Zoning up areas of your home where possible (closing doors and curtains, stopping draughts, etc.) will allow your heating or cooling to be more effective in rooms where you need it the most.

Install a solar battery

Peak solar production happens during the day between 10am and 4pm, which is when most of your appliances should be run. However, a large chunk of electricity consumption happens at night, when the sun isn’t shining and solar isn’t generating any energy.

A solar battery would allow you to store some of that free solar energy generated during the day, so you can use it at night or other times you need it.

To top it all off, feed-in tariffs in Australia can be as little as 5c/kWh. What this means is you are essentially sending your solar power to the grid during the day, only to buy it back for way more than that at peak rates. Storing your free energy will decrease your electricity consumption from the grid – the less electricity purchased from the grid, the more savings you’ll experience.

Try one or a combination of these energy-saving tips and k-runch your electricity bills into oblivion, one little step at a time. Once you reduce your overall energy consumption, you will see noticeable savings over time.

Source: https://www.victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/save-energy-and-money/top-10-ways-to-save-on-energy-bills

October 15, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

Under the spotlight: HIVE Solar Battery

Solar Batteries

Solar battery storage solutions are gaining attention with the Australian public. A right-sized battery can help you lower electricity bills, increase energy self-reliance and maximise the return of solar investments, amongst many other benefits.

Choosing the right solar storage is of the utmost importance. There are literally hundreds of brands, sizes, and models to choose from, so this decision can seem a bit daunting at first. That’s why we’ve put some of the most highly recommended battery brands under the spotlight, to assist making that decision a tad easier.

The HIVE Solar battery at a glance

HIVE Solar Batteries implements cutting edge technology for the use of home solar storage solutions. Using one of the safest battery chemistries available on the market – Lithium Iron Phosphate, extra casing for the batteries and software integration to protect the battery from any potential damage, the HIVE has an all-in-one design.

Pre-engineering and preparation from the factory make this battery popular with installers and homeowners, saving valuable time and minimising the chance of errors during installation. Since the HIVE solar battery is AC-coupled, it is simple and inexpensive to set up to new or existing solar installations, and more efficient at powering high AC loads during the day.

Learn more about Hive Solar Batteries

In addition, its flexibility to add on more battery units with actual plug-and-play installation has been highly sought after in the solar storage market. The HIVE battery is a modular solution starting at 2.9 kWh, expandable to 17.4 kWh.

Optional blackout protection

HIVE Solar Batteries offer the option to add UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), which is particularly attractive if you live in an area prone to brownouts and blackouts.

– all depending on what circuits it is wired up to.

Although not a standard feature, the addition of blackout protection comes at a minimal cost above the standard installation.

HIVE Cloud monitoring

Most modern batteries offer some sort of user-friendly monitoring solution. The HIVE Solar Battery is no exception, featuring a 24/7 monitoring app, making it simple to stay on top of your usage and your solar generation at your convenience.

Its interface allows you to check real-time profit and access to local technical support. On top of that, free upgrades to the monitoring app are included.

The HIVE Cloud gives you all the information of what is happening with your rooftop solar and battery storage system in an easy-to-understand format.

Features include:

Available to use on the desktop, smartphone, or tablet device
24-hour monitoring of your entire solar system and battery
Accurate savings in dollar terms
Changed feed-in tariff? Simply customise your feed-in tariff on the HIVE Cloud app to update your savings calculator
Access to local technical support from HIVE engineers
Remote diagnostic software for when a fault is detected
Free, remote updates online or via USB

Solar storage is not a one-size-fits-all solution

It’s important to talk to a solar professional when choosing a solar battery. Contact us and let one of our solar battery superheroes help you determine if the HIVE Solar battery is the right choice for your home and your energy needs.

Solar Battery Group has a range of batteries suited to meet even the most diverse requirements.

October 12, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

Does a solar battery make sense for you?

News, Solar Batteries

Current battery technology is allowing tens of thousands of Australians to get more out of their solar investments. But does it make sense for you?

Here are a few questions aimed at helping you decide whether a solar battery is the next move for you:

When do you consume most of your electricity?

This one’s important because simply put, you’re financially better off maximising the amount of solar energy you use at home so you can buy less from your electricity retailer.

For most households, energy usage is higher in the mornings and the evenings (peak times). Without a battery, you can only use solar energy while your system is producing – when the Sun’s shining. Unless you are already using most of your energy during the day, you will be getting an electricity bill from your consumption at night and any other times without solar. A solar battery might be a good solution to lower your bills without changing your usage patterns.

Learn more about solar batteries

How much do you export to the grid?

Without storage, any solar power you don’t use when it’s generated gets sold to the grid. For most of us, the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) you get paid will be lower than the electricity rates you pay to your retailer, and these tariffs get lower and lower as more people embrace solar technology. In the current grid infrastructure, systems and areas where solar exports are already limited or banned are not unheard of.

To prevent traffic jams, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has proposed rooftop solar panel owners to be charged for exporting electricity into the grid at sunny times – what advocacy group Solar Citizens has dubbed as a ‘sun tax’. Such a move talks about disincentivising solar to be exported in the future, while making batteries and electric vehicles more attractive.

In short, if you are exporting a decent amount of power to the grid, it is very likely you could use that to fill up a battery instead and save more money.

Is the area where you live prone to brownouts and blackouts?

A solar PV installation is great to gain independence from the grid… until the grid fails. It’s a common misconception, but rooftop solar panel systems won’t work during a blackout.

When blackouts happen, electrical teams are quickly prompted to fix whatever the issue is. Back in the day when the grid worked as a one-way street, maintenance work involving the poles and wires was safe for them to proceed with. Now however, during a sunny day, solar systems would still feed excess power into the grid, essentially keeping poles and wires live. Maintenance work cannot proceed safely until all solar systems are shut down. In the event of a blackout, your system’s inverter will do this automatically.

Adding a solar battery with blackout protection (also called UPS) to your system will provide basic power to your home when the grid fails. It’s important to know your options, as different batteries add different levels of blackout protection. Nevertheless, you can keep your home running at a consistent throughput as long as the battery has been charged. Power outages make solar batteries a necessity in certain areas of Australia.

Getting battery storage

If you consume most of your electricity when your solar is not producing, you export a decent amount of energy to the grid, and protecting your home from blackouts is important to you; then you are a great candidate to add solar battery storage to your existing setup.

Solar storage technology continues to evolve quickly, and there are options galore to choose from. When choosing to invest in a solar battery, your home’s energy consumption, budget and motivations need to be taken into consideration.

That’s why we take our time understanding your energy needs before recommending a storage solution for you. Contact Solar Battery Group on 1300 223 224 or request a quote here. Our experts will guide you through the best sustainable energy storage options tailored to your needs.

Request a call back

September 30, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

Under the spotlight: Eveready® Energy Vault solar battery

News, Solar Batteries

Australians are no strangers to solar. In fact, we have the highest solar uptake per capita in the world. Battery storage solutions complement and maximise solar investments, as a right-sized battery can help you lower electricity bills, increase energy self-reliance and maximise the return of solar investments, amongst many other benefits.

That’s why choosing the right solar storage is extremely important. There are literally hundreds of brands, sizes, and models to choose from, so this can be an intimidating decision to take. Well, despair no more! We’ve put some of the most highly recommended battery brands under the spotlight, to assist you in making a well-informed decision.

The Eveready® Energy Vault Solar battery at a glance

Eveready is a brand associated with quality batteries since the early 1900’s. That same trust, reliability and affordability makes its way into the solar market with this revolutionary product – the Energy Vault Solar Battery. Implementing one of the safest battery technologies available (Lithium iron phosphate or LiFePO₄), state-of-the-art components and sleek design, the Eveready solar battery can help you keep your home powered day and night.

Easy to install and requiring low maintenance, this battery comes with excellent features like 24/7 monitoring, optional blackout protection and is ready for you to join a Virtual Power Plant. The Eveready Energy Vault is AC-coupled, making it simpler and cheaper to set up into new or existing solar installations, and slightly more efficient at powering high AC loads during the day.

Learn more about the Eveready® Energy Vault

The Eveready® Energy Vault is a modular battery solution, which lets you add capacity as your energy needs change – from 5.1 kWh to a massive 20.4 kWh!

Don’t be left in the dark again

Losing power is frustrating, and we all know too well how detrimental blackouts can be to home and work life. One solution to this problem is equipping your home with a solar battery enabled with UPS (colloquially known as blackout protection).

The Eveready® Energy Vault solar battery can be set up to allow you to run your home’s essential appliances and keep the lights on should the power unexpectedly disconnects. Power on with your everyday activities with the Energy Vault’s optional blackout protection*.

* Not included as part of a standard installation. Additional costs may apply.

Web portal and mobile app monitoring

The Eveready® Energy Vault has been developed with a web-portal and a mobile app to help you monitor everything about your home solar storage system. Whether you’re a tech guru needing to adjust and monitor every aspect of your solar system, or just a curious user needing to know when and where your power usage is being used. The Eveready® Energy Vault Monitoring System can give you peace-of-mind knowing your system is running the way you want it to. Every Day. Every Night.

Features include:

24-hour monitoring system via desktop, smartphone, or tablet device
Remote setting/control subject to electricity tariff to maximise profit
Prompt response to any problems with remote diagnostics
Australian-based technical support
Easy to update online or via USB

Solar storage is not a one-size-fits-all solution

The solar industry is still very new to many, and a lot of questions can arise from the information available in the web. It’s important to talk to a solar professional when choosing a solar battery. Contact us and let one of our solar battery superheroes help you determine if the Eveready® Energy Vault Solar battery is the right choice for your home and your energy needs.

Solar Battery Group has a range of batteries suited to meet even the most diverse requirements.

September 12, 2021/by Solar Battery Group

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