Home batteries are cheaper than ever – here’s what to consider before installing one
Batteries are becoming a more common part of Australia's shift to cleaner energy – both in our homes and as part of our national power grid.
About one in five brand new solar panel installations now come with a home battery, up from one in 20 in 2021, according to fresh data from Jeff Sykes, CEO of comparison website Solar Choice.
And a growing number of Aussies are turning to household batteries to store power generated by solar panels to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
For those keen to make use of batteries, the good news is that the cost and installation process are becoming more affordable and hassle-free for householders.
The advantages of batteries in urban environments
Glen Currie, who resides in a 100-year-old weatherboard house in Boroondara in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, installed a new battery when upgrading his 20-year-old 5 kW solar system to a new 10 kW solar system.
He installed the battery on the wall in a shaded spot on the eastern side of his building, near his solar inverters, which saved him from having to run cables all the way around.
Currie reckons one of the things he likes about the new battery is that it comes with a phone app that lets him check how much power is coming into the battery every day. "We're saving up for an electric vehicle and then we'll be able to charge the EV with all that extra solar power," he says.
Currie suggests people should get a battery before putting up solar panels – that way, you can store electricity from the grid when it's cheap and power your house off your battery when it's more expensive.
“This'll be a breeze for your installer to handle and can be done at a later time too.”
Do you reside in an area with an unstable power supply?
For a few people, batteries have a more down-to-earth use beyond wanting to lower their carbon impact. Those living in rural areas often have to cope with power from the grid being unreliable, so having a good battery can be essential.
For Aussie homes, a not-for-profit that focuses on climate and energy resilience, there are several things to think about before putting a battery in your home.
“It's essential to make sure the system being installed can provide the amount of power and energy needed during outages,” he says, pointing out not all batteries are suitable for grid backup and some may only power essential appliances, like a fridge, so it's crucial to ask questions.
Sykes says one of the key things to consider is getting the right number of solar panels to match your chosen battery. "You ideally want it to be charged from excess solar power throughout the year, including in winter when the sunlight is lower."
Newer models making home installation simpler and more affordable
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“The cost of home batteries has been decreasing at a pretty glacial pace, but it's finally starting to pick up speed,” he says.
One of the key improvements Peacock points out is the shift to 'all-in-one' modular systems that incorporate a solar inverter into the battery system. He says this is now the top choice for consumers, as you don't have to buy an extra battery upfront, and you can add one later at a significantly reduced cost.
Big batteries crucial for Australia's renewable energy shift
In November 2017, measures were taken to stabilise the energy grid and prevent power outages.
A new $370 million, 100MW battery will be built alongside a solar farm in the west of the state. While batteries have become more advanced and popular in recent years, Sykes says this is mainly because they operate on a more appealing revenue stream than a home battery, as they're connected to the wholesale market.
For Australia to shift to 100% renewable energy, we need reliable energy storage," says Peacock. "Traditionally, this has been achieved through pumped hydro systems, but large-scale batteries have become the preferred option for energy companies because they're quick to deploy, flexible, respond rapidly and their costs are dropping steadily.
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