If you’re a resident of Adelaide and looking into getting a solar energy storage system, there’s never been a better time to do so. With various rebates and incentives, purchasing a battery system is one of the best investments you can make for your household by improving its property value and adding savings to your wallet.
However, you might just have a few questions on what a solar energy storage system in South Australia entails. Not to worry: in this article, we’ll run you through the main traits of a solar energy storage system, their benefits, and what stats to look out for when choosing one for yourself.
What is a Solar Energy Storage System
Simply put, storage refers to technology that can capture electricity and store it as energy to be used at a later time. The standard technology for solar storage is via lithium-ion batteries. While the collection and release of electrical energy isn’t always 100% efficient—as energy is always lost in the conversion—the small inconvenience is vastly outweighed by the ability to create electricity at all hours of the day for your household.
The main ways that storage systems differ are in their energy capacity and power capacity. Energy capacity dictates the total amount of energy that can be stored, measured in kilowatt-hours. Meanwhile, power capacity is the amount of energy that can be released at a given time. Understanding both is key to getting the best solar battery for your home.
Benefits of Having a Solar Battery System
There are multiple benefits to having a solar battery system. The main one is the ability for your solar panels to store excess solar energy. This means that when the solar panels are less efficient due to cloudy weather or the absence of sun at night, you still have stored solar energy to fall back on. Owning a solar battery system also independentises you as the homeowner from the electricity grid, meaning if there are power failures, your home still has access to electricity. Plus, it’s cheaper in the long run as you have to pay less for electricity.
What Are the General Costs
The costs of a solar battery can vary based on many factors, but generally, the higher the battery capacity, the higher the expected cost will be. Generally, a lower capacity battery between 5–6kWh will be between $6,000–$10,000. Meanwhile, a higher capacity 13kWh will be between $11,500–$16,000.
Meanwhile, by using SunEnergy’s SunPlus plan, you’re able to get a solar panel and battery installation with zero upfront cost. This budget-friendly option is great to consider as an alternative to traditional retailers.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Solar Battery System
Before choosing a new solar battery storage system, there are a couple of things you have to think about before purchase. Not every battery model or brand will be the best for each household, so it’s important to do your research. Here are some factors to consider.
Warranty
Warranty length is always important to consider when selecting a storage system. Battery warranties can range from 5 to over 15 years. Make sure to consider the warranty with the battery’s expected lifespan, and to compare warranties when looking for a battery. Consider buying one from a local retailer, as it will be far easier and quicker to get a warranty claim.
Battery Capacity
Battery capacity describes how much energy a battery can store. This lets you know how long a battery can power your home after sunset or during a power failure. The size will be determined by the consumption habits of your household.
Peak Power Output
The peak power output of your battery describes the maximum amount of power a battery can provide to a household. This stat is vital for determining how many appliances can run at the same time in your household.
Charge and Discharge Cycles
Every time you recharge a battery and drain it of electricity, it loses a little bit of its efficiency. A battery’s charge and discharge cycle describes how many times a battery can be charged and discharged before it loses capacity.
Types of Solar Battery Systems
When it comes to solar battery systems, they’re all fairly uniform in that they’re all made of lithium ion. However, within this category are subcategories of batteries that have different pros and cons.
Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC)
These batteries are high power, high capacity, and suffer the least amount of capacity loss in their first year. However, they’re known to catch fire more easily.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
These batteries are less likely to catch fire, are a cheaper model, and have a longer lifespan than NMC batteries. That said, they have a lower capacity than their NMC counterparts and lose more capacity within the first year.
Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO)
These batteries can last twice as long as NMC or LFP batteries; however, they have the lowest capacity and tend to be the most expensive type of battery.
Where to Find the Best Solar Energy Storage Systems in South Australia
While there are a variety of places where you can find solar battery systems, there’s none we recommend more than our personal solar installation service, SunPlus. With SunPlus, you can get solar and battery installed with zero cost to you, paying a fixed monthly fee for your electricity.
Already have solar panels installed? No problem. If you’re still missing a battery, we can provide installation services for one that will seamlessly store excess energy to enjoy during peak hours long after the sun has set.
Let SunEnergy Help You Today
SunEnergy has been helping households and businesses all over Adelaide and South Australia for years with their solar demands, and we have created solar energy storage system solutions that have completely transformed their electricity bills and lifestyles.
Unlike other solar retailers, we have a physical office with real on-site staff who are eager to speak with clients and answer any questions they have about solar energy. Book an appointment so we can get started with your solar power journey thanks to our trusty Sun Plus and solar battery installation products.
