Before contacting a retailer about installing a solar battery, you should first consider the following questions.
Peak solar generation occurs during the day when many of us are at work, school or out and about. Peak energy usage often comes in the late afternoon or evening (especially in summer) when solar PV is not generating.
Batteries give households the option to store the energy generated throughout the day for use in the evenings.
Consuming what you create will optimize your savings, however if your system is not producing enough to fully charge your battery each day you also have the option of charging your battery from the grid at a time of the day that aligns with your off-peak energy tariffs. This means you can charge your battery when your rate is the cheapest and use the power in your battery at times of the day when your grid charges may be higher.
What is the installation cost vs expected savings?
Solar battery prices vary depending on the size, quality, and installation location. You can expect to pay approximately $1,500 per kilowatt hour (kWh).
Based on this calculation, a smaller 6kWh battery would cost you approximately $9,000 ($1,500 x 6 = $9,000). The larger the battery, the higher the purchase cost.
If your main reason for installing a battery is to lower your energy costs, we strongly recommend that you get at least three quotes of roughly the same system size and functionality.
Make sure the installer is an A Grade electrician, Clean Energy Council (CEC) Accredited with Battery Endorsement, and that the company is a Solar Victoria Authorized Solar Retailer.
