Battery Storage Systems for Homes - Energy - Solar Energy
There has never been a better time than now to look at an NRG Solar storage system for your home or business. Advances in technology, coupled with a thriving green energy sector, mean that battery storage systems are more affordable and efficient than ever.
Solar Battery Storage Explained
The information on this page is for anyone who:
- Would like to reduce their home or business power bills further
- Is interested in reducing their reliance on grid power
- Is passionate about renewable energy and sustainable living
- Has a business paying a loading for maximum grid power demand
How does a Solar Battery Storage System Work?
Without battery storage, any excess power produced by your solar system during the day is exported to the power grid. After dark, the panels stop making power and the home or business uses electricity from the grid.
However, with a solar battery storage system installed, any unused solar power generated through the day is stored in the battery for later use.
How our solar & battery systems work
Solar panels convert sunlight into Direct Current (DC) electricity. Solar panels are installed on your roof and positioned to receive maximum sunlight. Good quality solar panels can last 25 years or more.
The inverter converts DC electricity from the panels into Alternating Current (AC) electricity, which we use in our home appliances, store in a battery or export to the grid.
Store excess electricity in your battery for use in the evening. If the battery is full, the excess electricity is fed back to the grid. A battery can also provide electricity to your home in a black out.
A smart meter is used by your electricity retailer to measure the flow of electricity in and out of your home. It sends this information back to your retailer remotely, without your meter needing to be manually read.
The grid is the network of poles and wires that carry electricity. As well as buying electricity, you can export excess electricity into the grid and get paid a feed in tariff from your electricity retailer.
Benefits of NRG Solar clean, green power
The benefits of storing your own clean, free electricity are many, including the ability to:
- Slash your electricity bills even further
- Dramatically reduce your carbon footprint
- Become energy independent
- Protect yourself from power price increases
- Improve your energy security (eg. blackout protection)
- Reduce your peak demand (for businesses)
Can I add a battery to my existing solar power system?
NRG Solar can help you add a battery to any solar power system. If you have a ‘battery ready’ system, it means your existing inverter can easily handle the addition of battery storage.
For ‘battery capable’ systems, it means that a battery inverter is usually required. Some battery systems, such as Tesla Powerwall, come with an inbuilt inverter. Even older systems may be made battery capable.
We would do an on-site assessment of your system and help you calculate the costs and savings.
Importantly, we would also take into account the effect on any existing warranties, the size of your existing system, your current feed-in tariff and other considerations.
How much does a solar battery storage system cost?
How much does a solar battery storage system cost?
At NRG Solar, we design and install energy storage solutions for a range of scenarios. From homeowners who want to save money and live more sustainably, to business customers who want to reduce their maximum power demand or have blackout protection.
The payback period will vary from system to system based on the system size and usage. But it’s common to see payback periods as short as four years. After that, you are enjoying free electricity for years to come. For some customers, the payback period is even shorter.
This is not only because battery storage can help to reduce the payback period on your solar panels and inverter. It’s also because your battery system, coupled with the NRG battery monitoring app, helps to drive lifestyle changes and positive power use behaviours.
Customers using the NRG battery monitoring app save even more because they can see their system in operation and the effect of their energy use. But don’t worry—you don’t have to be a solar technician!
- An easy to use, powerful monitoring app that shows your system in real-time operation
- Practical, step-by-step handover training in language everyone can understand
- After-install technical support anytime you have a question.
(Remember, we’re local, like you!)
Will batteries get cheaper over time?
A common misconception is that batteries will get more powerful and become cheaper over the next few years. This was certainly true five or six years ago, but unfortunately no longer the case. In fact, the last three price changes in South Australia saw the cost of battery systems go up each time.
Battery manufacturers, such as Tesla and BYD, already supply millions of batteries a year. Therefore, their investment in cost reductions through manufacturing automation and supply chain improvement has already been done. Plus, demand for their products is rising year-on-year.
For this reason, the solar industry expects battery prices to continue going up in the years to come.
At the same time, battery incentive schemes may be likely to reduce and there is no guarantee that solar rebates will remain unchanged. (Scroll down the page for information about the SA Home Battery Storage Scheme.)
All of this adds up to why NOW is a great time to join the solar battery revolution.