The demand for battery storage has soared over the past month amid cooler weather, government rebates and rising energy prices. Meanwhile, one question remains unanswered: Is it actually worth it?
We’ve been getting asked this question quite a lot from our customers lately, and so we decided to share our expert opinion as to whether or not we believe it’s a feasible option for homeowners.
Now, even though battery systems can provide a range of benefits when used in conjunction with a solar panel system, what most homeowners don’t know is that the return on investment can potentially outweigh the benefits of installing a battery in the first place. Although this can vary depending on the battery capacity, the current estimated payback period for a typical battery is between 8-15+ years, making it a not-so-feasible option for most households. That’s not all, though.
Batteries also have limitations that sometimes aren’t explained well or at all by sales companies. Most will have limitations around the amount of storage a battery has (there is a difference between storage capacity and usability), how much it can discharge at any given time and how much load can actually be backed up.
The question we often get asked is.. what exactly does this mean for me?
Well, if your house is using a constant 1kW load such as TV, lighting, fridges/freezer, standby power etc, a 2kWh battery will most likely be depleted within two hours – not great if you were after backup in a storm. Also, they can only deliver a maximum load at once, so if you turn on any appliance with a heating element such as a kettle/toaster etc (which is not advisable if you have a battery), the chances are it could trip your system off.
Another problem is that in most cases, the solar system can’t charge the battery while there is no grid power. This means if you are off the grid for some time, you really need to monitor closely how much power your household is using to conserve the battery power.
Take June last year for example, where some properties were off for 3-5 days. Even with battery backup power, most of the homes that had batteries eventually ran out of battery power!
Now, the most troublesome issue that we’ve noticed, is that these are expensive even after rebates!
Quite often when we talk to our customers, we listen to what their need for a battery is. Is it financial? Is it about being greener? Or is it purely for backup for when those storms hit? Most of the time, it’s the latter – backup! Whilst we are about being green, reducing our carbon footprint and relying less on fossil fuels, we are also about giving ethical advice that is tailored around your budget.
Installing a backup generator point is the best way to ensure your home operates when the power goes out. In most cases, there is no need to worry about what you’re using, when you’re using it, and how long for. Instead, it’s simply plug in the generator, turn on the switches that we install inside your switchboard, and your home is operating like it was on the grid!
For a limited time only we are running a winter special on our backup generator points, starting from $1,320 incl. GST – generator not included.
If you would like to learn more about how a backup generator can benefit you, or if you have any other questions relating to your solar, call our friendly team today at 1800 765 237.
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