Households equipped solely with solar panel (PV) systems typically utilise about 25% of the energy they generate. In contrast, those with both solar panels and a solar battery can use approximately 50% to 60% of their generated energy.
When considering a solar battery, it is important to also evaluate your energy usage at home. A family with moderate energy consumption that makes the decision to purchase a solar panel system (PV) and a medium-sized battery (approximately 10kW) can anticipate an annual savings of more than $1,400, with a return on investment within 10 years. So that’s a saving of $14,000 over 10 years!
How Do You Use Your Energy?
Do you consume energy throughout the day, or is your highest consumption in the morning before you head out for work and in the evening when you return home? It is important to evaluate your energy usage habits to determine if a battery can be advantageous for your household. Additionally, it is advisable to take into account your future energy requirements. It would be ideal if the energy produced by your system could be utilised in real-time throughout the day. Utilising the power generated by rooftop PV is the most efficient method to reduce energy costs.
It should be noted that the highest solar production happens during the daytime when most people are at work, school, or outside. On the other hand, the peak consumption of energy usually takes place in the late afternoon or evening (particularly in the summertime) when solar panels are not producing electricity. And most often electricity retailers set peak hours between 3 pm and 9 pm – so you pay the highest rate when your household is likely using the most energy. While setting timers can assist in managing appliance usage during these periods, not all households or appliances have this capability.
Households can store the energy produced during the day with the help of batteries, which can then be used during the evening hours. This not only promotes self-sufficiency but also leads to a decrease in energy costs as less electricity will be drawn from the grid, especially during peak tariff periods.
Utilising the power stored in your battery will maximise your cost-cutting efforts. However, if your system is not generating sufficient energy to fully charge your battery daily, you can also opt to charge your battery from the electricity grid during off-peak hours. This allows you to charge your battery when the rates are at their lowest and use the stored power during peak hours when grid charges may be higher.
We can discuss with you the potential for customising your system to maximise its usage. Additionally, it is advisable to consider whether you prefer the battery to function independently when you are not connected to the power grid for any reason, and if there may be a need for extra wiring or electrical modifications.
What is the Recommended Battery Size?
Selecting the appropriate battery capacity for your requirements will primarily rely on the dimensions of your solar power system, your average overnight energy consumption, and your desire for backup power during a blackout or brownout. Additionally, you may want to consider potential energy usage if you are thinking about buying an electric car or upgrading your gas-powered appliances to electric ones. We can assist in converting many traditional gas products to electric such as;
- Electric heating and cooling
- Induction cooking
- Split system electric heating
- Electric hot water
- Electric vehicle charger
All-electric homes are the way of the future in Victoria, the government has introduced legislation to this effect such as all new homes built must have electric ovens and cooktops.
To achieve maximum savings on electricity bills, it is advisable to get a battery that can be regularly charged and discharged to the recommended level. This will allow for the storage of any surplus solar electricity produced during the day, ensuring that the majority of it is utilised at a later time. We supply and install Tesla and Enphase batteries and we can advise you on the capacity and size. It may even be that we recommend adding more solar panels to your existing system to make the most of your solar battery and therefore get the most savings.
The most effective approach to selecting the appropriate battery for your specific requirements and financial constraints is to seek an unbiased evaluation from a qualified energy specialist, certified installer, or authorised seller. We are a Solar Victoria certified installer and experts, so you can trust us to give you the facts with no hard-selling tactics! You can simply call us or even upload your latest electricity bill here and we will make the calculations and let you know. Just tell us in the comments that it’s for a solar battery quote.
Cost vs Savings
The cost of solar batteries can differ based on their dimensions, standards, and where they are installed. Although a Solar Victoria interest-free loan will lower the initial out-of-pocket expenses at the time of installation, the repayments will require a four-year commitment, with monthly payments of up to $183.34. But Solar Victoria which is an independent government organisation estimates the payback period to be around ten years. The cost of the average Enphase solar battery and installation is similar to Telsa batteries – around $16,000. Remember the average savings a solar battery provides is $14,000 over ten years. By incorporating a battery, your savings on solar bills can be boosted as it allows you to store the electricity generated by solar panels for future use.
Conclusion
Purchasing a solar battery can boost your solar panel setup’s performance and cost-effectiveness. If you hold onto and then use a greater amount of the power you produce, you’ll need less from the power grid. This matters most when power costs a lot, like during busy hours. Sure, a solar battery may hit your wallet hard at first, but think about saving around $14,000 after ten years. For lots of folks, that seals the deal. It’s super important to look at how you use power and what you might need in the future before you pick out a battery. This helps you choose the perfect battery size and setup. Since more houses are running on electricity, adding a solar battery can level up your use of clean energy and make you less dependent on others for power. You should talk to experts who know their stuff to help you decide what’s best for your place and your way of life. And the best experts are our team at Max Power – contact us today and get advice or book in now to be at the top of the queue for the interest-free loan.
