I have been in the solar industry for 15 years. Throughout that time, I've designed and installed for residential and commercial customers alike. I love saving people money, adding real value to peoples homes and helping create a greener future.
One of the first questions people ask us when thinking about going solar is, “What size solar system do I need?”.
A few years ago, the answer would have been, “Size your solar system to meet your current daytime electricity requirements.” That may have resulted in a 3kW, 4kW or 5kW solar system.
But these days that advice has changed. Modelling by the Alternative Technology Association shows that bigger is better when it comes to solar, even if you don’t use much electricity.
This is borne out by the statistics. According to the most recent Australian Energy Council Solar Report, the average size Australian rooftop solar system is now 8kW. Our experience is consistent with this trend, with many of our customers installing 10kW-plus solar systems on their homes.
This article takes you through what to consider when it comes to solar panel system sizing. We break the topic into three parts:
The starting point – your requirements
Sizing your system – how it’s done
Reasons why bigger can be better
The starting point – your requirements
Before you start talking to solar companies, it’s a good idea to think carefully about your objectives for going solar. For most people, reducing their electricity bills is the main reason. But often there will be other drivers like becoming more energy self-sufficient, cutting your household CO2 emissions and putting in enough solar to charge a home battery.
Understand your electricity usage
The first step is to understand how much electricity you are currently using.
To work this out, have a look at your electricity bills over the last 12 months. Your electricity bill will state the “kilowatt hours (kWh) used or something similar. Jot this figure down and the period it relates to (usually 30 days or 3 months). From there, you can work out how many kilowatt hours, on average, you use per day at different times of the year.
A single-person household with average electricity requirements may use 8-12 kilowatt hours a day whereas a five-person family home with swimming pool and lots of appliances may use 40-50 kilowatt hours a day. The average Australian household uses around 20 kilowatt hours a day.
Future electricity usage
Are you expecting any changes in your household in the coming 5-10 years? For instance, starting a family, kids growing up (and using more power) or adding an extension?
What about an electric vehicle? Is that on your radar? Did you know that electric vehicles are likely to make up 80% of new vehicle sales by 2030 according to the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre (RACE 2030)?
Are you one of the many millions of Australian households who are keen to get a battery once the economics of solar battery storage stack up in their favour?
And – to add more to the mix – what are your plans with regards to making your home all-electric and moving off gas? The arguments for switching hot water, cooking and heating off gas and onto electric are persuasive. For instance, The Grattan Institute found that a large home in Melbourne can save $1,024 per year by disconnecting from the gas grid.
Whilst you may not have the answers to all these questions now, they’re worth thinking about. That’s because solar energy is a great way to future-proof your home from electricity price rises and take advantage of the exciting new renewable energy technologies that are likely to become mainstream over the next 10 years.
Energy independence
Would you like to become 100% independent of the main electricity grid? For a lot of people, the answer is yes!
The question is, what will it cost – and does it make financial sense?
Whilst 100% energy independence may not be achievable without the addition of a solar battery, it may be worth getting more solar panels now so you’re ready to add battery storage later.
Your household’s carbon footprint
Do you want a carbon neutral home? Are you keen to export clean solar energy to the grid, to offset the grid power from fossil fuels?
Did you know that on average in Australia 75% of grid power is from fossil fuels with most of that from coal-fired power plants? By exporting solar energy to the grid, you are reducing the requirement for power from coal-fired power stations and your clean energy will be used by your neighbours.
One of the quickest ways to get your home carbon neutral is – without doubt – to invest in a large solar panels system. A typical 10kW solar system will make the average Aussie home carbon neutral with immediate effect. How good would that be!
Sizing your system – how it’s done
Calculate the size of your solar system based on current usage
The rule of thumb for working out solar system size is to divide your average daily electricity usage by 3.5. That’s because, on average in Australia, one kilowatt of solar panels capacity installed generates 3.5 kilowatt hours of solar electricity each day.
This rule of thumb approach results in the following size systems:
Current daily electricity usage
Solar system size (kWh /3.5.)
12 kilowatt hours
3.4kW
20 kilowatt hours
5.7kW
40 kilowatt hours
11.4kW
This is a very rough-and-ready approach because it doesn’t consider the time of day when you use electricity. For example, if you use 20 kilowatt hours of electricity over a 24-hour period but 18 kilowatt hours is at night-time then a 5kW solar panels system isn’t going to do much to cut your electricity bills. You might be better off getting a home battery storage system and shifting your electricity usage – using timers etc – to the daytime.
An even bigger reason why this approach is flawed is because it doesn’t factor in your future energy plans. Sizing your system for the ‘here and now’ may not be the best approach as it doesn’t take into account how your requirements may change over the 25-year lifetime of your solar system.
Roof space
Do you have enough roof space for a solar system? How much roof space do you need for a 6.6kW solar system – or a 10kW system?
If you’ve got a tiny roof – or there’s only a small part of your roof that’s suitable – you will be restricted with the size system you can have.
Here’s an example showing the amount of roof space required for a typical 6.6kW and 10kW solar panels system. It shows that for a 6.6kW solar system using 390-watt panels, you’ll need 29m2 of suitable roof space – and for a 9.9kW solar system you’d need 43m2 of roof space.
If your roof space is limited, talk to us about higher wattage panels, i.e., 400-watt plus. They can be a great way to squeeze more solar energy out of each available square metre of roof space.
Network distributor rules
Your network service provider – the company responsible for the poles and lines – will have rules for how much solar energy you can export from your solar power system to the grid. These rules vary state-by-state.
In South Australia, for example, SA Power Networks is the only network service provider. Their rules are:
Single phase home: 10kW inverter limit, 5kW export limit
This means that if you have a single-phase home in South Australia, you could have 13.3kW of solar panels installed on your roof (as you’re allowed to oversize your panels by 33%) with a 10kW solar inverter. However, you will only be able to export 5kW to the grid.
Talk to us to find out what the network distributor rules are where you live and what this means for the size solar system you can install.
Reasons why bigger is generally better
By now, you’ll see why a bigger solar power system can often be better, particularly over the longer-term.
But what about the price tag? Won’t a bigger system be a whole lot more expensive – and make the payback a whole lot worse?
The answer is no, not necessarily.
That’s because solar panels systems have dropped by around 80% in the last 10 years making them affordable for most Australian homes. These days, with federal and state government solar rebates still at attractive levels, the upfront cost of a quality solar panels system may be a lot less than you think.
What this means is that there are significant economies of scale when it comes to installing larger solar systems.
To illustrate the point, the chart below shows the cost per watt of solar panels reduces from 55 cents to 47 cents if you step up from a 6.6kW solar system to a 11.1kW system.
These figures are based on Solar Run’s prices for typical solar panel installations in Adelaide as of January 2023. The value of a larger solar system is quite staggering when you consider than only 5 or 6 years ago, you’d be looking at a least $1.00 per watt for a 10kW solar system.
In conclusion
Not only is a bigger solar panels system better for the environment and future-proofs your home’s changing energy needs, but it’s also better value.
Of course, every household is different, and budgets are budgets! But don’t let that stop you. We can model your electricity usage – both current and future usage – and work out what size best suits your needs. With our Solar Deals, we have 6.6kW and 10kW solar systems that can be installed at an upfront cost of a few hundred dollars.
It’s worth a chat. Get in touch for advice on the best size solar panels system for your home.
You’re in the market for a solar battery. You’re after greater energy independence from the grid, blackout protection, lower electricity bills and protection from escalating electricity prices.
This blog provides you with a 10-point checklist to use to help you choose the best home battery for your home.
1. Battery technology
Until 2015, the main battery technology was lead acid. This needed a dedicated room (normally a shed) and regular maintenance. Since then, advances in lithium-ion technology have resulted in lithium-ion dominating the home battery storage market. Here’s why:
Superior performance (better power output and depth of discharge)
Set and forget, maintenance-free
Longer warranties
Smaller and lighter
Because of this, most home batteries use lithium-ion technology. There are two main types of lithium-ion battery chemistry – Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4). Both are well-suited for residential use.
2. Storage capacity
We’ll cut to the chase; the minimum size battery most Australian homes need is 10kW. That’s 10kW of usable storage capacity (not nominal storage capacity which is a bit more). This advice applies if your electricity usage meets the typical profile of most Australian homes, i.e.:
Your home requires 16-20 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in a typical 24-hour period
Around 60 per cent of that usage in the evening and overnight (i.e., 9.2 kWh to 12 kWh)
Of course, every household uses electricity differently. If you’d like us to accurately size a battery to meet your home energy requirement, get in touch.
3. Power
Continuous power output is the amount of power that can be delivered while the battery has enough charge. If your home needs 7kW and your battery provides 5kW, you will need to buy the extra power from the grid or purchase another battery. Most batteries have a maximum continuous power output of 5kW (although some have less which is something to watch out for).
Maximum/peak power is the most power that the battery can deliver at any given moment, but this burst of power is usually only delivered for short periods. For example, kettles have a high peak power requirement, as do toasters and induction cooktops. The more appliances you have with high peak power requirements, the more important this feature will become in your choice of battery.
It is important to be aware of the power needs of your home when choosing a battery. If you’d like help, get in touch and we can work out your battery power needs based on your actual usage.
4. Depth of discharge
This is like petrol in your car. If you run down to empty, your car won’t go. It’s the same with most batteries. The higher the depth of discharge, the more battery power you can draw on when the sun’s not shining.
Most batteries need a maintain a minimum amount of charge to avoid damaging the damage the battery. With lithium-ion technologies, this is around 80 to 90 per cent. With lead acid batteries, the depth of discharge is only around 50 to 60 per cent. This is a drawback with lead acid batteries as you can’t run them down as far as a lithium battery.
The main point to remember about depth of discharge is the higher the better. All other things being equal, a battery with 90 per cent depth of discharge is preferable to one with 70 per cent.
5. Battery back-up
There are different levels of back-up that batteries can provide.
Some batteries don’t provide any back-up (we recommend avoiding these).
Some provide reduced back-up but won’t charge the battery from the solar panels when the grid is down. This isn’t useful if your home is without power for more than a day.
The best batteries provide a seamless switch to back-up power when the grid goes down, and charge from your solar panels indefinitely.
If you’re serious about having a high level of blackout protection for your property, we recommend you ask for a battery that charges from your solar panels when the grid is down.
6. Efficiency
In a perfect world, you’d get the same amount of power out of your battery as you put in. But unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. There is always a loss of power when you charge and discharge a battery.
That’s why it’s important to select a battery that minimizes the loss of power in the charge/discharge process – and that’s what the battery efficiency rating tells you.
A quality lithium battery should have an efficiency of at least 90 per cent. The higher the efficiency rating, the better the battery.
7. Degradation
Like the battery in your smart phone, solar batteries also degrade with use. The annual degradation of a lithium solar battery is between 3 to 4 per cent a year for the first 10 years.
You can work out the annual degradation rate by looking at the battery warranty; this should state the percentage storage capacity of the battery after 10 years. Tesla Powerwall has 70 per cent warrantied capacity after 10 years, compared to day 1. This works out at 3 per cent degradation per year.
The lower the annual degradation rate, the better the battery!
8. Thermal runaway
Thermal runaway can cause a fire in the battery. The best way to avoid thermal runaway is to choose a quality battery with an excellent reputation and make sure it is installed by a fully accredited Clean Energy Council battery installer. A cheap battery, installed by an inexperienced installer, isn’t worth the risk.
9. AC vs DC coupling
There are two ways of connecting batteries to a solar panel system:
AC-coupled
DC-coupled
AC-coupled batteries
Can be retrofitted to virtually any existing solar panel system
Lower efficiency (around 88%)
Some local electricity networks may not let you add a battery to your solar panel system if that takes the total inverter capacity over 10kW
Example: Tesla Powerwall 2
DC coupled batteries
Require a single inverter for the solar panels and battery (called a hybrid inverter)
Higher efficiency (up to 95%)
Must be installed with a compatible inverter (this is not a problem if you are installing solar and a battery at the same time)
Avoids common system sizing limits for single-phase properties set by some local electricity networks
Example: SolarEdge Home Battery
At SolarRun, we know the system sizing rules for every network distributor in Australia. If you want to know what the rules are for your area, get in touch.
10. Battery warranty
The key points to check with a battery warranty are:
What is the warrantied capacity of the battery at the end of the warranty period?
Most lithium batteries are warrantied for at least 60 per cent battery capacity after 10 years. Anything higher than this is a sign of a good quality battery.
Is there a limit to the number of times you can cycle the battery per day?
Some battery warranties are voided if you cycle the battery more than once a day. In most cases you’ll only be wanting to cycle the battery once a day. But if you decide to join a Virtual Power Plant [link to blog] to get paid a higher rate for your stored solar energy, you may want the facility to be able to cycle the battery twice a day.
Does the warranty just cover you for the battery? Or does it cover the electronics as well?
As home batteries are electronically highly complex, it is a good idea to ensure the warranty covers you for both.
How stable is the manufacturer?
Most battery warranties are for 10 years. It’s therefore important to find a manufacturer that’s financially stable and likely to be around to honour any warranty claim. Big name companies with established Australian support offices are definitely a safer bet than batteries that have been imported with no Australia office.
Find out more
At SolarRun, we supply brand-leading solar battery systems and recommend the Alpha ESS battery and SolarEdge Home Battery for residential and commercial installations.
Alpha ESS SMILE5 battery is a high-performance battery which can be as big or small as you need, with capacity options from 10.1kWh, 13.3kWh, up to 30kWh for residential installations and up to 60.6kWh for commercial systems. Built using lithium iron phosphate chemistry – the safest battery chemistry on the market – Alpha ESS batteries have an excellent safety record. It’s a great choice for anyone looking to add battery storage regardless of whether you’ve already got solar panels or you’re after a brand new solar and battery system.
The SolarEdge Home Battery is particularly well-suited for households who are interested in making their home fully electric. It’s a technologically advanced storage system that’s ready for the world of home EV charging and smart energy management. With SolarEdge, you can reduce your reliance on grid energy to the absolute minimum and enjoy near-zero power bills for years to come.
Get in touch for a quote and consultation about the best battery storage system for your home or business.
Here’s a startling fact about solar panels. There are 5,455 different brands of solar panels from 103 manufacturers on the approved product list published by the Clean Energy Council of Australia.
And here’s another fact. LG, the manufacturer of one of Australia’s most popular solar panel brands, announced its shock decision to quit the Australian market by the end of June. No-one in the industry saw it coming – and now owners of LG solar panels are wondering what that means for their warranties.
So, if you’re planning to install solar panels on your home or business how do you make sure you choose a good solar panel brand – and avoid the lemons? And how do you know if the panel manufacturer is going to still be in business in ten- or fifteen-years’ time if you need to make a warranty claim?
This blog provides a checklist to help you choose the best solar panel brand for your home or business – and avoid the common mistakes people make when buying solar panels.
How the solar panel performs in real-world conditions
Solar panel aesthetics
Solar panel warranties
Checking out the manufacturer behind the solar panels
Solar panel price
A good solar panel provides the optimal balance between cost and performance. So how do you know what price range to expect for solar panels?
The logical calculation is to work out the cost per watt. This tells you how much you are paying for every watt of solar generation capacity you are installing on your roof.
Most solar quotes don’t itemize the cost of solar panels. Therefore, the best way to work out costs is to take the overall system cost and divide it by the size of the system – for example $5,000 divided by 5,000 watts (or 5kW) = $1.00 per watt.
Australian solar websites like Canstar Blue put the average price of a residential solar panel system at around $1.40 per watt at the time of writing (June 2022). However, if you check out our solar deals, you’ll find our prices for quality solar panel systems are a lot more competitive.
Different types of solar panels
Solar panels made with monocrystalline solar cells are slightly more efficient than panels made from polycrystalline solar cells. Monocrystalline solar panels are made from larger silicon crystals which not only improves performance but also looks sleeker.
How the solar panel performs in real-world conditions
Solar panel datasheets look can look daunting – so we’ve boiled it down to the five most important features to check.
1. Solar panel efficiency
Solar panel efficiency relates to the percentage of sunlight hitting the solar panel that converts to electricity. Most solar panels have an efficiency of between 16 and 22 per cent. This means that, for example, 16 per cent of the sunlight hitting a panel is converted into electrical energy.
The higher the efficiency of the solar panel, the more watts of energy you will get for each square meter of roof space. Higher efficiency solar panels tend to be more expensive. But if you have limited space – or want to maximize the solar potential of your roof – paying a bit extra could be worth it.
2. Power output at Standard Test Conditions (STC) – (Pmax)
This is the number that tells you the size of solar panel, for example a 390-watt solar panel has a power output of 390 watts at standard test conditions. This is under perfect temperature conditions where the panel temperature is 25⁰ Celsius and it’s a cloudless, sunny day.
Most of the time your solar panel will be operating in conditions that aren’t perfect, that’s why this is just a baseline figure. You need to compare the other statistics on this list…
3, Temperature Coefficient of Pmax
The “Temperature Coefficient of Pmax” tells you how much power the solar panel loses for every degree Celsius the solar panel is hotter than 25°C. Most panels have a Temperature Coefficient of Pmax of around -0.5% / °C. Anything better than that – for example 0.3% / °C – means your solar panel will work better on hot sunny days. And that’s got to be a good thing in Australia!
Tech tip: When we’re talking panel temperature, we’re talking about a different statistic than ambient air temperature. Because solar panels are on your roof, they get a lot hotter than the surrounding air temperature. The rule of thumb is to add another 20°C to the ambient air temperature to work out how hot your panels will be.
4. Power tolerance
This is the range that the solar panel will vary in its output from Standard Test Conditions. These days, better solar panels will have a power tolerance that’s from 0% + 5 or 10 watts. That means the panel will always perform at its rated output or better. If you have the choice, always pick a solar panel that’s got a power tolerance of 0% and with only a plus side (no negative power tolerance).
5. Annual degradation
All solar panels, no matter how good, will degrade in power output over time. But the extent to which they degrade is important and a good indicator of overall panel quality. The best solar panels will degrade at around 2.5 per cent annually whereas the standard panels will degrade at 5 per cent or more every year.
Solar panel aesthetics
The ‘look’ of the solar panels will come down to personal preference. Some people like the all-black solar panels that have recently come onto the market. They look slick and super-modern, complementing most homes.
On the other hand, black panels with silver lines (bus bars) tend to be lower cost and also look smart. Blue solar panels look outdated, so they’re worth avoiding particularly if the panels will be visible from ground level.
Solar panel warranties
Every solar panel brand will come with two warranties – a panel performance warranty that’s usually 25 years and a product warranty (that’s anything from 10 to 25 years). The solar panel performance warranty sounds great – but it’s not worth much. That’s because claiming on a performance warranty for solar panels is notoriously difficult as most panel manufacturers are adept at wriggling out of it. Even if you managed to claim on it, you’re unlikely to get much in the way of compensation.
The panel warranty to focus on is the product warranty. That’s because you’ll be able to claim on it more easily – and it covers any defects or faults in the manufacturing process. Try to get a product warranty that covers fixing the panel on site, rather than requiring you to ship it back to the manufacturer.
It used to be that only the premium solar panel had product warranties of 15 years or more. But now, mid-priced solar panels are upping their game and offering product warranties of a similar duration.
Manufacturer
A solar panel product warranty is only as good as the manufacturer behind it. You want to be sure that the manufacturer is likely to be around in the next 10 to 15 years to honor any warranty claim you may have.
Whilst there will never be a rock-solid guarantee that a company is going to be around for the long term, you can make sure that the solar panel manufacturer you select ticks the following boxes:
They have a genuine Australia customer support office providing technical support (not just an admin office)
They are on the Tier 1 list of solar panel manufacturers listed by Bloomberg (this is an indicator of the company’s financial stability)
They have been in business for at least 10 years, ideally longer
They have a good reputation for panel quality and customer service in Australia
Get in touch
If you’d like advice on the best solar panels for your home or business, get in touch. We’ll be happy to talk you through the options and provide a quotation that fits your requirements and your budget.
With the cost of electricity and gas rising faster than inflation, now’s a great time to go solar. There are also generous government rebates available to help reduce the upfront purchase cost.
For over six years, Tesla Powerwall has been the undisputed leader in home battery storage. But now, there’s a new contender on the block that promises to give Powerwall a run for its money.
That contender is the SolarEdge Home Battery. Launched in Australia in March 2022, it’s made by a high-tech Israeli solar company with a pedigree stretching back to 2006.
We’ll start by saying that both batteries are excellent.
Both provide excellent power performance, back-up during grid outages, and high safety standards.
Tesla Powerwall is more expensive, but there again, it is a bigger battery.
However, there are some major differences between the two batteries. And it’s these differences which will determine which battery is best suited to your home.
The differences boil down to:
Whether you’ve already got solar panels installed
Where you live and your network distributor’s rules for the size solar system you can install
Whether you intend to fully electrify your home and your car(s)
In this article we will explain the main differences and benefits between Tesla Powerwall and SolarEdge to give you a good understanding of which battery might be best for you.
Because battery storage is such an important investment for any home, we recommend getting in touch with us as early as possible to ensure you get the best advice to base your decision on.
On this blog:
How to decide whether Powerwall or SolarEdge Home Battery is best for your home.
Feature-by-feature comparison: Powerwall vs SolarEdge Home Battery
The verdict
How to determine whether Telsa Powerwall or SolarEdge Home Battery is best for your home
There are three key questions we ask people when advising whether Powerwall or SolarEdge is a suitable battery for their home.
Have you already got solar panels?
OK, this can be a deal-breaker for many people. If you’ve already got a good-size solar panel system that’s working just fine, you’ll probably want to get a Powerwall.
That’s because the Powerwall works with just about any existing solar panel system.
And SolarEdge doesn’t. SolarEdge Home Battery only works with SolarEdge inverters.
At this point, you may decide that Powerwall is best for you. But keep reading, because SolarEdge has some extra-special battery features that could change your mind.
What are the size limits for solar systems set by your local network distributor?
A network distributor is the company that owns and manages the electricity poles and wires in your area. They are also the company that says whether you are allowed to install solar panels and a battery on your home – and the maximum size allowed.
Some network distributors count the capacity of the battery inverter towards the total inverter capacity. That means if you want to install Powerwall – which has its own battery inverter – it will count towards the total allowed inverter capacity.
This could tip you over the total inverter size limit allowed for your property.
The result?
That’s where the SolarEdge Home Battery wins out.
Because the SolarEdge Home Battery doesn’t have a built-in battery inverter, you neatly sidestep most network distributor sizing restrictions.
How so?
It’s because the SolarEdge Home Battery works with a hybrid inverter which does the job of both a solar inverter and a battery inverter. It’s an efficient battery solution (delivering more power) – and the big advantage is you’re less likely to get an arbitrary size limit slapped on your proposed solar system.
But before you decide SolarEdge is the battery for you, ask us what network size limits apply to your property. We’ll check with your distributor. That way you’ll know whether network limits are critical to your choice of battery.
3. Do you already have a SolarEdge installed in your home but without the battery? You may qualify for the TradeUp program
If you have an existing SolarEdge system, and you wish to take thenext tep in your journey towards energy independence with SolarEdge Home Battery with Backup, you may be entitled to a free upgrade to the latest Generation Home Hub inverter for FREE!
4. Do you need the scope to ‘go bigger’ with your solar?
If you’ve been watching the news, you can’t have missed the headlines about the energy crisis gripping the Australian east coast. Energy minister Chris Bowen has warned that the country is facing “a perfect storm” of limited gas supply and electricity price hikes. The Australian National Electricity Market has been suspended – the first time in the nation’s history.
The upshot for households and businesses?
Most experts reckon we should be bracing ourselves for big electricity and gas price increases over the next few years.
The best way to protect yourself from soaring power prices is to get a big enough solar power system to provide most of your household energy needs.
But which battery is going to provide you with more power?
The answer is SolarEdge Home Battery.
That’s because with the SolarEdge Home Battery, you can install up to 300% more solar panels on your home than the capacity of the inverter. For example, if you get a 10kW SolarEdge inverter and a SolarEdge Home Battery, you can install up to 20kW of solar panels.
That’s a lot of solar power; enough to enable most households to switch off the gas and make the move to a fully electric home powered by solar. And power an electric vehicle (or two).
With Powerwall, you don’t get any additional panel capacity over the normal 133% that’s allowed as standard with any solar panel system.
It’s also worth mentioning is that SolarEdge is that it is panel agnostic, meaning you can install any size or brand of solar panel down the track. For example, you could start with 10kW of solar panels. Then, as you make the transition to running your home entirely on electricity, you can add more solar panels later. Whether they are 390 watt or 450 watt, it won’t matter.
Feature-by-feature comparison: Powerwall vs SolarEdge Home Battery
For those who like the technical nitty-gritty, here’s a comparison pros and cons of the key features of Tesla Powerwall and the SolarEdge Home Battery.
Tesla Powerwall
SolarEdge Home Battery
Manufacturer
Tesla
HQ: USA
SolarEdge
HQ: Israel
First released
2015
2022
Price
Approx $16,000 + installation before any rebates
Approx $13,000 + installation before any rebates
Battery size
14 kilowatt-hours
10 kilowatt-hours
Usable storage
13.5 kilowatt-hours
9.7 kilowatt-hours
Continuous power
5 kilowatts
5 kilowatts
Works with any solar inverter?
Yes
No
Only works with SolarEdge inverters
Can be added to any solar panel system?
Yes
Easy to retrofit to most existing solar panel systems.
No
Only works with SolarEdge solar systems.
AC or DC Coupled
AC-coupled
(Includes a built-in battery inverter)
This can be a disadvantage in some areas.
It can limit the size solar system you can install because some network distributors count battery inverter capacity towards total inverter capacity.
DC-coupled
(Does not have a built-in battery inverter)
This can be an advantage in some areas because it avoids size limits set by the network distributor.
This allows you to install the size solar system you want (up to at least 10kW, sometimes more).
Oversizing Your Inverter After Adding Batteries
No – Can only add up to 133% more solar panels
For example, can add 6.6kW of solar panels with a 5kW solar inverter + Powerwall battery
This limits the potential bills savings you can achieve compared to SolarEdge.
Yes
For example, can add 10kW of solar panels with a 5kW SolarEdge inverter + battery
This can provide much greater savings on electricity bills.
Plus, you get more STC rebates as STCs are based on solar panel capacity, not inverter capacity.
Suitable for single-phase homes
Yes
Includes full back-up
Yes
Includes full back-up if you install it with the SolarEdge Energy Hub inverter and Backup Box
Suitable for three-phase properties
Yes
But can only back-up to one phase
Yes
But can only back-up to one phase
Can charge the battery from solar panels during a blackout?
Yes. But only for single-phase homes
Yes. But only for single-phase homes
Round trip efficiency
(This is the amount of energy that is lost between charging and discharging the battery)
85%
94.5%
Dimensions (W x H x D), mm
753 x 1150 x 147
790 x 1179 x 250
Weight, kg
114
121
Noise
< 40 dBA at 30⁰C
< 25 dBA at 1m distance
Warranty
10 years with unlimited cycles, unless you sign up for a VPP
70% of original battery capacity at end of 10 years
Includes labour for repairs/replacements
Includes shipping of parts
10 years with unlimited cycles
70% of original battery capacity at end of 10 years
Includes labour for repairs/replacements
Includes shipping of parts
Operating temperature, ⁰C
-20 to +50
-10 to +50
Add more batteries
Yes
Yes
Indoor or outdoor installation
Yes
Yes
Mounting
Floor or wall mount
Floor or wall mount
Battery chemistry
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC)
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC)
Fire safety
Has a liquid thermal control system that automatically seals off any thermally unstable cells if they pose a fire risk
Temperature sensors
Built-in fire extinguisher
Eligible for government battery rebates
Yes
Yes
Eligible for Virtual Power Plants
Yes
Yes
Meets all applicable Australian standards and approved by the Clean Energy Council
Yes
Yes
The verdict
When it comes to future-proofing your home, our vote goes to SolarEdge. SolarEdge Home Battery proformance offers outstanding levels of expandability for anyone who wants to make the transition to an all-electric home, powered with their own solar – 24/7.
The main drawback with a SolarEdge Home Battery is that it requires a SolarEdge inverter. But if you’re looking to purchase a solar panel system at the same time as battery storage, that’s not an issue.
However, if you’ve already invested in a good-size solar panel system – 6kW or more – Powerwall could be a better choice. With Powerwall, you’re buying a well-proven battery that’s tried and tested. The Powerwall monitoring app is best-in-class (although SolarEdge have a fine one too).
Ask anyone who has a Powerwall what they think of it and almost universally they’ll give it a big thumbs up.
So – there’s no definitive verdict. Both Tesla Powerwall and SolarEdge are terrific batteries. It all depends on the requirements of your home.
Get the experts on your case
If you’d like expert advice on the best battery for your home, get in touch. We supply and install all leading battery brands including Tesla Powerwall and SolarEdge. And because we operate Australia-wide, we know the rules and regulations for each network distributor in in the country.
There are over 800 solar inverters on the Clean Energy Council approved product list. How do you whittle this list down to find the best solar inverters for your home?
This blog post helps you do just that!
We start by explaining what a solar inverter is – and why it’s the most important part of your solar power system. We run through the four main types of residential solar inverters, explaining the differences. Finally, we provide a checklist of the ten most important selection criteria to help you select the right solar inverter for your home.
On this blog:
What is a solar inverter?
Choosing the right type of solar inverter for your roof
Ten most important selection criteria
What is a solar inverter?
A solar inverter is a box of electronics – about the size of a briefcase – that converts DC (direct current) electricity from solar panels into usable AC (alternating current) electricity. It is usually fixed to an outside wall or installed in the carport or shed. If possible, it should be located as close as possible to your switchboard and be well-protected from the weather.
A lot of people think that the solar panels are the most important part of a solar power system. But, in actual fact, it’s the solar inverter that determines how well your solar system works. Investing in a quality solar inverter will pay off over the long term, with more power output and less hassle – not to mention improved safety.
Choose the right type of solar inverter for your roof
Before delving into the top 10 criteria for selecting the best solar inverter for your home, it’s important to decide what type of inverter you need. There are four main options for residential solar power systems:
String inverters – the standard choice for most homes with the widest product selection
Microinverters – good if your roof is partially shaded
Power optimizers with string inverter – another (lower cost) solution for partial shading
Hybrid inverters – a single unit to connect solar panels and a battery
If you have an unshaded roof without any complicated gabling etc., a string inverter is probably the best type of solar inverter for your needs. There are a huge range of string inverters on the market and, as a result, they can be the most cost-effective solution. Goodwe string inverters are a great choice if you’re looking for performance and value, with good Australian support.
Microinverters are excellent solar technology but they are at least 20 per cent more expensive than string inverters. If you have a partial shading issue, power optimizers with a string inverter will be more cost effective and provide similar benefits.
If you’re planning to install a battery at the same time as solar panels, a hybrid inverter could be the best fit for your requirements and work out cheaper all-up. Some hybrid inverters provide a lot more scope for system expansion which might be worth considering if you’re thinking of switching off the gas and going all-electric – and preparing for EV charging from home.
Ten most important selection criteria
Is it approved for use in Australia?
The starting point is to check that the solar inverter is compliant with the relevant Australian Standard (AS4777). You can do this by checking the approved solar inverter product list on the Clean Energy Council website.
A good solar inverter should have a comprehensive product warranty for at least 10 years covering parts and labour. Cheaper inverters often come with a five-year warranty – we recommend avoiding those ones! Some quality inverters like Fronius come with a 5+5 year warranty where the first five years are covered for parts and labour but the second five years only covers you for parts. Ideally you want a solar inverter warranty that covers you for both – for as long as possible.
Manufacturer – do they have a good Australian support office?
A warranty is only as good as the company behind it. You want to make sure that the inverter manufacturer has an Australian office with a technical support team. You’ll also want to make sure that the manufacturer has been in business for at least ten years, ideally longer.
How efficient is it?
Solar inverters should have an efficiency rating of at least 95 per cent; the best ones will be rated at around 99 per cent efficiency. What this rating tells you is the percentage of DC electricity from your solar panels that will be converted to AC electricity for use in your home. The higher the efficiency, the more solar electricity you’ll be able to generate – which ultimately translates into bigger bill savings.
Is it weatherproof?
Any solar inverter worth its salt will have a IP65 weatherproof rating. Check it on the datasheet and don’t go anywhere near any inverter that doesn’t have this rating. You also need to check with your installer that the inverter won’t be in direct sun (avoid a north facing wall at all costs!). If there’s any doubt, make sure the installer puts a shade cover over it.
How safe is it?
Solar system safety [link to blog on this topic] is of paramount importance. With high voltage electricity involved with any solar panel installation, you want to be sure that the system installed on your home meets and exceeds Australian safety standards. Different types of solar panel systems have different safety features so talk to us if you want to be sure you’re getting the safest solar power system for your home.
Does it have a display?
Some solar inverters have a digital display which shows how much solar power is being generated. These displays can be helpful but require a bit of fiddling around to scroll through the various options. You also need to walk outside and make a conscious effort to look at the display – something you might do initially but perhaps not so much once the novelty has worn off.
What’s the online monitoring like?
In our opinion, getting good online monitoring is far more useful than a digital display (assuming you have an internet connection and you’re comfortable using a computer or an app).
All modern inverters provide basic solar generation monitoring. But taking it to the next level – by getting consumption monitoring [link to Solar Analytics blog post] – will provide you with far richer insight into how you use electricity in your home.
Some solar inverters have excellent consumption monitoring as standard – but most don’t. Talk to us if this is of interest.
Is it expandable?
Right now, you may think that a 6.6kW or even a 10kW solar system is big enough for your home. But what if your lifestyle changes? What if you decide to switch over from gas to all-electric? What if you decide to get an electric car – or even two?
In any of these situations, you’ll probably be wanting more solar panels and possibly a battery. So, the question is, will the system you get today allow for expansion down the track?
Some solar inverters like SolarEdge [link to post] are designed to provide huge amounts of expansion, even allowing you to add solar panels that are different sizes and wattages. But most solar inverters are more limiting and won’t let you scale up.
Getting the right advice is important. If you want a solar system that gives you the option to add lots more panels in a few years, let us know and we’ll be able to advise on the best solar inverter technology to meet your needs.
Get in touch
If you’d like advice on the best solar inverter for your home, get in touch. We stock a wide range of the leading brand solar inverters and, as one of Australia’s largest solar companies, we have the in-house expertise to make sure you get the best system for your home and budget.
Free heat pump on the cards for Victorian homes upgrading from an old electric hot water system
Do you live in Victoria? And do you have an inefficient electric hot water system that’s at least three years old?
If you answered YES to both questions, you’re in luck! That’s because you may be eligible for government rebates worth up to $3,720 if you upgrade to an energy efficient heat pump hot water system.
What’s more, if you choose SolarRun as your heat pump provider, the upgrade could be free of charge thanks to our competitive pricing for quality heat pumps.
On this blog:
Why do electric hot water systems get such high rebates?
What are the rebates for upgrading from an old electric hot water system to a heat pump?
Am I eligible for these hot water rebates?
How can I apply?
Why do electric hot water systems get such high rebates?
Victorian households switching from an old electric hot water systems to a heat pump get amongst the biggest government rebates going!
Why is this?
It’s because old electric hot water systems are not only the most expensive way to heat water – they’re also the most polluting.
By switching from an old electric hot water system to a heat pump, the average Victorian home will save around $615 a year on electricity costs. Pair the heat pump with a rooftop solar system and the savings will be even greater.
You’ll also be doing the environment a favour, as the CO2 emissions savings from ditching your old electric hot water system are around four tonnes a year.
What are the rebates for upgrading from an old electric hot water system to a heat pump?
There are three different rebates available to Victorian households switching from an old electric hot water system to a heat pump:
Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs)
Federal Government Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
Victorian Solar Hot Water Rebate
This table shows the value of each rebate for households in Metro Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Metro
Regional
VEECs
$1,540
$1,680
STCs
$1,040
$1,040
Victorian Solar Hot Water Rebate
$1,000
$1,000
Total
$3,580
$3,720
Households in Metro Melbourne can get rebates worth up to $3,580 and those in regional Victoria can get up to $3,270 for upgrading to a heat pump hot water system.
The biggest rebate is the VEECs which are worth between $1,540 and $1,680.
Next are STCs; a federal government incentive to encourage greater use of renewable energy in our homes and businesses.
The solar hot water rebate – worth $1,000 – is from the Victorian Government and is available through the Solar Homes Program.
Am I eligible for these hot water rebates?
STCs and VEECs
If you purchase your heat pump system from an accredited provider like SolarRun and you are upgrading from a conventional electric hot water system, you will qualify for both the STCs and the VEECs. Neither STCs nor VEECs are means-tested.
Victorian solar hot water rebate
To be eligible for the Victorian solar hot water rebate, you must have a household income less than $180,000 and be the owner-occupier of a house worth less than $3 million.
If you’ve already received a solar panels rebate from the Solar Homes Program that’s OK, you can still apply for the hot water rebate (they recently changed the rules to allow this). However, if you’ve received a solar battery rebate from the program then you will not be eligible.
The hot water system to be replaced must be at least three years old. The new heat pump you purchase must be on Solar Victoria’s approved product list and be installed by an approved provider such as SolarRun.
How can I apply?
There’s no need to apply for the VEECs and STCs as we would handle the paperwork on your behalf.
However, you do need to apply via the Solar Homes website for the hot water rebate. The first step in the application process is to get a quote for an eligible heat pump system. Once you have that, you simply go online and provide the supporting documentation.
It’s a straightforward process but if you’d like a hand, we’ll be happy to help.
How can I find out more?
If you’d like to find out more about heat pumps and get a quote, get in touch.
We can explain how heat pumps work and advise you on the best heat pump for your home. We can calculate the electricity bill savings you could expect from switching to a heat pump – and the additional savings you could get by teaming the heat pump with a solar panels system.
Heat pumps are well-proven technology for hot water in Australian homes. And with these generous government rebates and our competitive pricing, you could get one free of charge!
Take the first step towards lower cost hot water – ask us for an obligation-free quote.
Victorian homeowners need to act quickly if they want a $3,500 battery rebate before it drops in value.
Rebate deadline 30 June 2022
The deadline for getting a solar battery rebate is 30 June 2022. After that, the value of the battery rebate drops to $2,950.
Anyone who is approved for the battery rebate before 30 June 2022 will get the rebate at the current higher value of $3,500.
It is not necessary to have your solar battery installed by 30 June 2022 to get the higher value rebate. It can be installed after 30 June.
How to beat the deadline
According to Solar Victoria, which runs the Solar Homes rebate program, the first step you need to take to apply for the battery rebate is to inform yourself about batteries and obtain a written quote from an authorised Clean Energy Council Solar Retailer such as SolarRun.
Anyone who is interested in applying for the higher value rebate should act quickly as there are several steps involved. One of these is applying for approval to connect a battery to the electricity grid and this is something that your solar retailer will do on your behalf.
Approval from the network distributor is required before you can apply to Solar Victoria for the battery rebate.
Another step is providing proof of eligibility which requires paperwork from you such as evidence of property ownership and proof of income.
The application process is quite straightforward. If you have any questions about the rebate application process, the team at SolarRun are happy to help.
Will the rebates run out?
At the time of publishing this post, there were just over 2,790 battery rebates remaining at the higher value of $3,500. Whilst not explicitly stated on the Solar Homes website, the assumption is that once these rebates have been fully allocated, the value of the battery rebate will drop to $2,950.
In any case, Solar Victoria has made it clear that the rebate value will drop to the lower value of $2,950 from 1 July 2022 regardless of whether the current allocation has been fully utilised.
Get an even bigger battery rebate
An even higher battery rebate – worth $4,174 – is available to homeowners who qualify for the solar battery rebate and join one of the state government’s approved Virtual Power Plant Programs or VPPs.
However, there’s no time to lose. This boosted battery rebate is only available until 30 June 2022.
VPPs are a relatively new concept. They are an exciting development for the future of renewable energy in Australia.
VPPs provide an opportunity for you to receive greater financial value from your solar energy than the standard feed-in tariff. The VPP pays you a premium rate for your stored power; in return you allow the VPP to access the power in your battery to provide support to the grid at times when it is most needed.
There are of course limits set by VPPs on the number of times they’ll access your battery power each year – and the better VPPs will ensure you always have power in your battery to cover you in case of a blackout.
you purchase the battery from a Clean Energy Council Solar Retailer who is on the authorised list of providers for the Solar Homes Program such as SolarRun
If you’d like help with the Solar Victoria rebate application process, get in touch.
Are there interest-free loans for battery storage?
No, interest-free loans for battery storage are not available from the Solar Homes Program.
But that’s not a problem because at SolarRun, we can arrange an interest-free solar battery loan through Australia’s #1 rated consumer lender, Plenti.
We’ve partnered with Plenti because:
They offer amongst the best rates in the market
They’ve got more 5-star reviews than any other personal lender
They’re keen on green: having helped over 17,000 households with $120m+ in solar and home battery loans
They have a fast, simple loan application process
Are SolarRun batteries on the approved product list?
Yes, all battery brands available through SolarRun are on the Solar Homes approved product list.
There are lots of reasons why people invest in home battery storage, here’s 10 of them:
Run your home on solar power – day and night
Buy less power from your electricity retailer
Less dependent on the grid
Protection from power outages
Supports transition to an all-electric home
Quiet back-up power
Reduces your household’s carbon footprint
Future proofing the energy needs of your home
Ideal for EV charging
Earn extra income by joining a VPP
Learn more about the benefits of home battery storage.
Request a battery quote
Are you interested in becoming more self-sufficient for your home energy? Wondering if zero-dollar electricity bills are feasible for your household? Curious about the costs and benefits of solar battery storage?
At SolarRun, we’re fully accredited battery specialists. We’re also a Clean Energy Council Accredited Solar Retailer approved to supply and install batteries through the Solar Homes Program.
We stock leading battery brands to meet the different needs of households, budgets and – of course – network distributor requirements.
Battery storage is the way of the future. Solar battery technology is better than it’s ever been. And costs have fallen.
With generous battery rebates and ever-higher electricity prices, now is a great time to invest in home battery storage.
This blog is relevant if you live in the Powercor network area which is:
Melbourne western suburbs
central, western, and north-west Victoria.
Map of Powercor network distribution area
For anyone thinking about installing solar panels in the Powercor network distribution area, there’s a fact you need to know – because it could mean even bigger savings from solar!
The fact is that Powercor does not set an upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, up to 30kW. This applies to both single-phase and three-phase properties.
In contrast, most other network distributors set a strict upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, typically 10kW for single-phase properties.
So, in the Powercor area you have the massive advantage of being able to install lots more solar panels than people in other parts of Australia. That means you have far greater potential to save on your electricity bills – and more scope to make the switch to all-electric (ditching the gas which is becoming exorbitantly expensive) and charging up an electric vehicle (or two!) from home!
There is just one (tiny) fly in the ointment – and that is the 5kW export limit that Powercor sets for single-phase properties.
In this blog we’ll demonstrate that the export limit is nothing to worry about. The bill savings you could achieve with a bigger solar system are far greater than the small amount you’d get paid for your surplus solar (although talk to us if you want a better deal on your feed-in tariff).
On this blog:
What’s the advantage of having a bigger solar panel system?
How much could I save with a 13.2kW system vs a 6.6kW system
What does a 13.2kW system cost and is it worth it?
What’s the advantage of having a bigger solar panel system?
It’s a truism about solar panels that virtually no-one complains about getting a system that’s too small. Instead, most people complain they didn’t go big enough!
Now, with electricity prices set to rise from July 1 – and gas prices rocketing through the roof – the best way to protect your household from escalating power bills is to install solar.
“The outlook is the average household electricity bill could be increasing in the order of 20 per cent this year and 20 per cent again next year unless we can see a change in the cost of electricity,” according to energy researcher Dale Koenders at investment bank Barrenjoey.
Given that most industry experts are predicting an energy crisis in Australia with surging power bills on the horizon, getting more solar – rather than less – makes sense.
If you live in one of the many Victorian homes with a gas supply, you may want to start thinking about slowly transitioning off gas and making the switch to all-electric appliances. By installing a 10kW or even 13kW+ solar power system you’ll have the necessary solar generation infrastructure in place to provide the power that your home requires in coming years.
It’s easy to see how a bigger solar system could work for most homes. The question is how much more could you save? And is it worth the cost?
Let’s start with the first question…
How much could I save with a 13.2kW system vs a 6.6kW system
With a 13.2kW solar panel system you can save up to $4,700 off your annual electricity bill, depending on what percentage of your solar electricity you use in your home.
In contrast with a 6.6kW solar system, you can save up to $2,624.
Electricity bill savings with a 6.6kW and 13.2kW solar panel system (estimated, annual)
Bill savings
6.6kW
13.2kW
50% self-consumption
(export limited to 5kW)
$1,400
$2,624
100% self-consumption (export limited to 5kW)
$2,340
$4,700
The upper figures in both cases assume you use 100 per cent of the electricity from your solar panels in your home. Without a battery this is unlikely, but it gives you an idea of the maximum solar savings you could achieve with each size system.
More achievable are the lower savings figures – i.e., $1,400 for the 6.6kW system and $2,624 for the 13.2kW system. These assume that you use 50 per cent of your solar power in your home, with the remainder (capped at 5kW export) sent to the grid in return for the Victorian standard minimum feed-in tariff which is 5.2 cents per kilowatt hour from July 1 (yes, it’s dropping again!).
These figures also assume that you are paying the average electricity usage rate in Australia which is 27 cents per kilowatt hour. If this rate increases by 20 per cent in the coming year as the industry experts predict, your bill savings with solar will be even higher. (That’s because you’re saving by avoiding having to purchase expensive electricity from the grid).
As a side note: If you’d like a much better rate for your feed-in – 10.4 cents per kilowatt hour – get in touch as we’ve partnered with an electricity retailer who is pro-solar and believes solar households should get a fair deal!
What does a 13.2kW system cost and is it worth it?
You may be thinking this sounds promising. But what about the extra cost of doubling the size solar system from 6.6kW to 13.2kW?
The cost of a 13.2kW solar panel system from SolarRun in the Powercor area is approximately $12,500 before the state government solar rebate.
If you deduct the Solar Vic rebate of $1,400 and take advantage of one of our interest-free loans, the out of pocket cost is around $900.
With electricity bill savings of around $2,600 a year, you should be ahead from day 1. And you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that power price hikes are going to have very little impact on your household budget!
Find out how much you could save
If you’d like to know how much you could save by going bigger with your solar, get in touch. We will model your electricity bill savings using your electricity tariff rates and your usage. That way you get an accurate projection of your electricity savings with solar.
Avoid the power price hikes. Get in touch and take back control of your energy bills.
What can you expect to save off your electricity bill by installing a battery? What are the other financial benefits that battery storage can provide your household – apart from direct bill savings?
These are burning questions for anyone thinking about getting a solar battery. And there’s no doubt that, for a long time, most people have discounted batteries as too expensive. The received wisdom has been to wait until solar battery prices become more affordable.
But that’s changing now. With skyrocketing electricity prices, falling feed-in tariffs, generous government rebates and greater competition, the economic justification for a home battery is getting stronger all the time.
On this blog we explore the typical electricity bill savings most Australian family homes could expect from installing a battery. We’ll also run through the other – less obvious – financial benefits of solar battery storage that are important to factor into any cost/benefit calculation.
On this post:
How much could I save off my annual electricity bill by installing a solar battery?
What are the other financial benefits of home battery storage?
How much could I save off my annual electricity bill by installing a solar battery?
A typical family home with a solar battery with at least 10 kilowatt hours of usable storage will save between $700 and $1,000 a year on their electricity bill.
How did we calculate this?
In this section, we’ll show you how to work out the bill savings you could achieve for your home with battery storage. This will depend on the following factors:
The size battery you install
The difference between your grid electricity rate and the solar feed-in tariff
How many times you charge and discharge the battery every day
Let’s take each in turn.
Battery size
Battery size is determined by the amount of usable power stored in the battery which is expressed as kilowatt hours or kWh. Most home solar batteries are between 10kWh and 14kWh in size.
So what size battery is right for your home?
To work this out, you need to know your total average daily electricity usage (in kilowatt hours) and how that is split between daytime and evening/night usage.
Let’s assume your home uses 20 kilowatt hours of electricity in a 24 hour period. Of that, 8 kilowatt hours is used during daylight hours and 12 kilowatt hours is used once the sun’s gone down.
That would mean you need a battery with 12 kilowatt hours of usable battery storage capacity.
You would also need at least 6.6kW of solar panels to charge the battery and cover your daytime electricity use.
The difference between your grid electricity rate and the solar feed-in tariff
The amount you save with a battery is the difference between your grid electricity usage rate and your solar feed-in tariff.
Let’s assume you pay 27 cents per kilowatt hour for grid electricity, and you’re paid 5.2 cents per kilowatt hour for any surplus solar electricity you export to the grid.
The difference is 27 cents/kWh – 5.2 cents/kWh = 21.8 cents/kWh
This means that the amount you save by using battery power instead of grid power is 21.8 cents/kWh.
What this also demonstrates is the higher electricity prices rise, and the further feed-in tariffs fall, the more you can save with battery storage.
How many times you charge and discharge the battery every day
Typically, most households cycle their batteries once a day. However, if you are away for long periods, your battery won’t be charging and discharging on a daily basis. This means you won’t be saving as much as you could from having a battery.
On the other hand, some batteries are designed to cycle more than once a day without shortening the warranty period. If you can charge and discharge your battery more than once a day, you may be able to save more on electricity. However, to make this work you may need to install a bigger solar panel system to provide additional charging capacity.
Doing the maths
To work out your average annual bill savings with a home battery here’s what you do:
1/ Take the size of your solar battery
For example: 10 kWh
2/ Multiply it by the average number of charges/discharges every day
For example: 10 kWh x 1 charge/discharge per day = 10
3/ Multiple the above result by the difference between your grid rate and solar feed-in
For example: Grid usage rate (27c/kWh) – solar feed-in tariff (5.2c/kWh) = 21.8c/kWh
21.8c/kWh x 10 = $2.18 average bill savings per day
4/ Multiple this result by 365 (i.e., number of days in the year)
$2.18 x 365 = $795.70
There you have it …. Your annual bill savings with a battery!
What are the other financial benefits of home battery storage?
Other financial benefits that owning a battery can provide include:
Earn money from your battery power by joining a Virtual Power Plant Program. Rates paid for battery power are generally much higher than the solar feed-in tariff
Slash your hot water heating costs – by using your solar energy to run an energy efficient hot water heat pump system
Avoid loss of income – if there’s a power outage lasting several hours or days (relevant if you work from home and purchase a battery that has full blackout protection)
Avoid food loss – in the case of a power outage (i.e., use the battery to keep your fridge and freezer running as usual)
Avoid the risk of fire damage to your property – relevant if you rely on electric-driven water pumps and you don’t have a generator
There are also benefits relating to health, safety, and security of having a guaranteed source of power for your home. For example, guaranteed lighting in the event of a blackout which will help make your family safer.
How do you calculate the value of these benefits?
That will come down to the priorities and lifestyle of each household. But what’s clear is that, in many cases, it’s likely to be these ‘softer benefits’ that tip the balance in favour of buying a battery sooner, rather than later.
Contact us for a battery quote
If you’d like to know the costs and benefits of battery storage for your home, get in touch. Based on your electricity usage and your requirements, we can recommend the best size battery for your home and provide you with a detailed quotation showing the costs and savings.
We can also let you know what battery rebates you may be able to apply for – and other opportunities such as joining a government-supported Virtual Power Plant Program. And for those who may be interested, we can also arrange low cost solar finance.
How do you get the best deal for your solar feed-in tariff? And how do you avoid signing up for an electricity deal that charges you over the odds?
A recent ABC report found that, on average, Australian households can save around $200 annually off their electricity bill just by spending 15 minutes or so checking the market each year.
Sticking with your existing electricity retailer is a sure-fire way to spend more than you need on electricity.
Don’t let that happen!
Take control over your electricity costs and find the electricity retailer gives you the best deal and rewards you fairly for your solar exports.
Reviewing electricity deals is worth doing especially if you live a state where there’s a highly competitive electricity market – that’s Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland. If you live in WA, Tassie, the NT or the ACT, the choice is more limited.
On this blog:
Know your energy consumption profile
When a high solar feed-in tariff is a good idea – and when it’s not
Where to look for the best electricity offers
Energy fact sheets. Why you should read them
Electricity deals: what to watch out for
Why the solar feed-in tariff isn’t the main game anymore
Know your energy consumption profile
Before checking out deals from electricity retailers, you need to know how much grid electricity you use and at what times of day.
A great way to get this information is to request a free energy monitor from SolarRun (available to Victorian households). Otherwise, check out the monitoring app that comes with your solar panel system, or give us a call.
What you need to know:
how much solar electricity you are exporting to the grid
whether there are ways you can use more daytime solar electricity instead of exporting it (that’s where the biggest bill savings are to be had)
how much electricity you are buying from the grid, and at what times
When a high solar feed-in tariff is a good idea – and when it’s not
There are always trades-offs when it comes to electricity deals. A high solar feed-in tariff may mean higher charges on other parts of your bill. Likewise, a low solar feed-in tariff may mean you are charged less for general electricity usage.
That’s why understanding when a high solar feed-in tariff might work out for you – and when a lower feed-in tariff might be better.
Higher solar feed-in tariffs are worth considering if:
Lower solar feed-in tariffs are worth considering if:
You use most of your solar electricity during the day
You have a smaller solar system (less than 6.6kW)
You have a solar battery storage system
You are compensated for the low solar feed-in with low charges for grid electricity usage and a lower daily supply charge
Where to look for the best electricity offers
It’s always worth going to your existing electricity retailer and asking them for a better offer.
According to the ABC report, “All retailers have very cheap deals. So, for people who are strongly not inclined to jump online, or can’t jump online, the simplest thing to do is to ring your retailer … and say to your retailer, ‘I want to know if you have a cheaper deal for me’.”
All retailers have a ‘standing offer’ or market offer which is their standard rates before any discounts. If you’re on this type of electricity deal, you will be paying more than you should – so just by calling your retailer you’ll be able to switch to a better deal.
If you reckon it’s worth your time to spend around 15 minutes to save a couple of hundred dollars a year off your electricity bill, the best place to go is one of the government energy comparison websites.
When you search for electricity deals, you’ll get a summary from each retailer which shows the highlights of their deal. This is generally all the good stuff. What they don’t highlight is the not-so-good aspects, like exit fees and any catches in the contract.
That’s why downloading the energy fact sheet for any deal you’re interested in is important. Every deal will have an energy fact sheet which specifies all aspects of the electricity arrangement you’d be signing up for. Nothing is hidden.
Electricity deals: what to watch out for
When reviewing energy fact sheets, the key items to check are:
Overall estimated electricity cost
This is the estimated annual cost of electricity you’d incur
Solar feed-in tariff
This can range from 0 cents to around 20 cents per kilowatt hour
The average is around 7 cents per kilowatt hour
Watch out for any catches – like a higher feed-in for a certain number of kilowatt hours, dropping to a much lower feed-in for any additional exports
Daily supply charge
This is one of the biggest components of most people’s electricity bills
It can range from around 80 cents per day to $1.30 or more
You are charged this amount every day, regardless of how much electricity you use
General usage / peak consumption rate
This is the other main component of most people’s electricity bills
Usage rates can range from 16 cents per kilowatt hour up to 40 cents
Check whether the rate a single rate tariff; or whether it’s a peak / off-peak rate
Check whether it’s a consistent rate, regardless of how much power you use – or whether the rate changes when you exceed a certain number of kilowatt hours
Check if there’s a controlled load rate; this can be useful if you want a lower rate for powering appliances on a specific circuit (such as your underfloor heating)
Fixed contract term
These are to be avoided at all costs if you want flexibility.
Card payment fees
Some retailer charge card payment fees; other don’t.
Exit fees
If there’s an exit fee in the small print, this should be a red flag.
Pay on time discount
Nice, but not necessary if the general usage rate and supply charge are competitive.
Any other conditions
Are they offering you a good deal on the proviso that you buy something else from them? Beware of the carrot of super low-cost electricity in return for the purchase of another product or service. There’s probably a catch somewhere.
Finally, you may want to check out their green credentials. After all, you’ve invested in clean renewable energy. Shouldn’t your electricity retailer be doing the same?
Why the solar feed-in tariff isn’t the main game anymore
Feed-in rates aren’t what they used to be. Despite that, most households are achieving a payback on solar of three to five years. The reason is because the cost of grid electricity is high and what you get paid for solar exports is typically a lot less. So the best way to save money on your electricity bills when you have solar is to use as much of your solar electricity during the daytime as possible.
There are lots of ways to do this, even if you aren’t home that much during the day.
Whether it’s energy efficient hot water heat pumps, reverse cycle air conditioning units which can be controlled remotely, smart appliances, battery storage, EV charging – the possibilities are huge and growing all the time.
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