What’s the Best Solar Battery in Australia?

Which are the best solar batteries in Australia?

For those who currently have solar in their homes or are thinking about installing solar in their homes, the question about batteries and whether or not you should get batteries has more than likely come into your mind. Australia has different types of solar batteries. The best solar battery for you depends on what you need and like.

How do you choose?

With so many options, how do you choose the best solar battery for your solar system? A few different variables need to be considered when choosing a specific solar battery for yourself. The main things to consider are:

• Battery capacity – get enough for your family now and in the future. EV charging will add to the capacity need;
• Price – do not go for a price-alone decision, so cheap is not an option; go for a solution that offers value;
• Power rating – A solar battery’s power rating refers to the maximum amount of power it can deliver at a given time. Typically measured in kilowatts (kW). Power rating is important as it shows how much electricity a battery can handle. A higher power rating means the battery can supply more energy simultaneously to power various devices in your home.
• Depth of discharge – how far can you recycle the battery as recommended by the battery manufacturer? If there are two batteries and one has a 90% recommended discharge, you can pull 9 kW of power out of it, but if the competitor model only has an 80% recommended discharge, from full to empty, you will only get 8 kW. An important consideration during a blackout.

More considerations

• Warranty – battery warranties can be confusing, so make sure you check out the various offers and compare apples with apples. Of course, a product warranty is only as strong as the company that backs it.
• Backup capabilities – Interestingly, not all solar batteries have a backup power capability. Many homeowners assume all batteries have a backup capability, as that’s one of the key battery advantages. So make sure you understand what your favourite model offers in case of a blackout.
• A good monitoring app is essential for easy control and optimization, compared to a difficult-to-understand solution. Ask your installer to demonstrate the monitor app of their recommended solution(s).

Some of the best solar batteries in Australia

Tesla – a great overall option

The Tesla Powerwall 2. Yes, that is right, Tesla is not only one of the leading electric car companies in the world, but they are also in the energy storage industry. Their battery is one of the most efficient and advanced on the market today.

Their battery packs use advanced lithium-ion technology for reliable performance and efficiency.

Although it has a slightly higher price tag than competitor models, it has an impressive capacity of 13.5kWh, which for the average home, will power the house through the night and enable the home to be almost self-sufficient. With 13.5 kWh, the unit has more capacity than some of the competing batteries.

The technology includes a battery and inverter, allowing solar panels to power home electricity needs at the same time. The Powerwall has the potential to be installed with any new or existing solar system.

Sonnen – Incredibly advanced solar storage battery

Sonnen is one of the best solar batteries that have been for sale in Australia since 2018 and has an excellent track record. With their German background and reliable technology, they provide a great option for homeowners seeking a trustworthy storage solution.  Their 10-year warranty provides peace of mind, together with a battery chemistry of Lithium Iron Phosphate which adds to the safety aspect of their product.

Sonnen offers a range of solar battery solutions, with options for both Hybrid (DC coupled) and AC coupled with their 9.53 Hybrid package solution modular from 2.5kWh battery packages, up to 15kWh in an option of a 5kWh cabinet or 15kWh cabinet. Sonnen is a German company and technology that had, for a period, an assembly plant in Adelaide.

Customer feedback on the Sonnen home storage solutions is excellent. Their products have been praised for their high quality and performance. Solar batteries are available in various sizes and capacities to meet the needs of different Australian homes. The Sonnen partners are well-trained to ensure product delivery without any issues, a genuinely superb battery solution.

Sungrow – One of the best solar batteries in Australia 

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. is a leading company in the renewable energy industry. They specialise in manufacturing solar inverters and energy storage batteries.

These products are used to harness and store energy from sustainable sources like the sun. Sungrow is known for its high-quality and innovative solutions in the field of renewable energy. Their batteries are popular in Australia and have shown to be reliable with good backup and support in recent years.

The company was founded in 1997 and is located in Hefei, China. Over the past decade, they have improved their battery and inverter production capabilities. This has helped them become a major player in the industry. Sungrow has a well-staffed after-sales service team in Australia should there be an issue with their batteries or inverters.

They offer a modular battery solution with hybrid (DC-coupled) and AC-coupled options. The battery modules are Lithium-Ion technology and come as a 3,2kWh unit that is typically stacked up to a 12.8kWh solution. This offers an option that has been a little cheaper than the Tesla Powerwall but has a solid reputation amongst battery installers across the country.

Enphase Energy – All smooth and smart

The new Enphase IOQ Battery series has just been released in Australia and is expected to have a significant impact on the market. Enphase has been the leading microinverter manufacturer worldwide, and this is their second-generation battery product.

Enphase Energy offers a range of home battery storage solutions, including the Encharge 10 and Encharge 3.

BYD – Reasonably priced and reliable 

BYD batteries are produced by the company that makes the BYD EV cars. This indicates that the battery technology has undergone extensive development and testing. BYD batteries demonstrate a long lifespan, with certain models predicted to exceed competing brands’ estimated 10-year life span.

The BYD battery is safer because it uses Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry instead of Lithium-Ion. This makes it less likely to catch fire. The BYD Batteries come in a 4kwh pack which is expandable up to 24kWh in a single tower and has the potential to expand up to 256kWh use.

These BYD batteries are also highly efficient, as they can store much energy in a relatively dense area.

Qcells – Not just excellent panels

Qcells has been a premium panel manufacturer for close to 20 years and has released its inverter and battery solution under the Q HOME product name. This offers Korean-made hybrid and AC Coupled inverters with 6.8kWh batteries that can be expanded to 20.4kWh with 3 units. It includes a single phase 5kW unit for storage. Qcells have a history of quality and support, and these battery solutions come with a 15-year industry-leading warranty.

Some of the other best solar batteries that are popular in Australia include, Goodwe, Huawei, Pylontech, RedEarth, Redback, Senec and LG Energy Solution.