Fast read
Home batteries and solar storage systems allow extra electricity produced by solar panels to be saved for later use. This is especially useful on overcast days or when several appliances are in use when a household's electricity use exceeds the electricity produced by the solar system.
Batteries can also protect against blackouts and boost a household's solar energy use from 10% to as much as 90%.
How do solar batteries work in combination with a solar system?
Suppose you have a solar system that generates electricity. So if you watch TV, use a washing machine or a dishwasher, that’s where the electricity goes.
Your house may use more electricity than your solar panels can produce. This is especially true on cloudy days when you have multiple appliances running simultaneously. These appliances may include the dishwasher, dryer, and air conditioner.
That would result in more energy consumption than a medium-sized system can generate. So, in that case, you pull additional energy that you may need out of the grid.
In this specific sample, your house has a consumption of 6 kW/h at the time. However, your system generates three-kilowatt hours, so to satisfy the six kW/h demand, three additional kilowatt-hours need to be supplied by the grid.
If you have a minor consumption for a while, your PV system will supply everything you need and potentially a little extra. If you don’t have a home battery storage system, that spare electricity gets exported back into the grid. So how exactly does a solar battery work?
Getting the feed-in-tariff
Unfortunately, feed-in tariff payments have reduced significantly compared to the past.
Ten years ago, the feed-in tariff in some areas of Australia was $0.60. Many energy retailers have reduced the feed-in tax to 5, 8, or 10 cents, which isn’t great.
You purchase it for approximately 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt hour. If you have time-of-day metering, the price can go up to 50 cents.
Afterwards, you sell it to them for 6 to 10 cents. Then you sell it to them for 6 to 10 cents. As a result, the energy retailers are making a high profit margin on that arrangement.
One of the options available is to not send that electricity out of the house and look for other ways to use it on your premises.
When a PV system produces excess electricity, using this excess for a hot water tank is a viable option. Some products will then send that spare electricity your system generates into the electric hot water tank to heat your water.
But a home storage battery is the most obvious solution for any spare electricity. Home batteries take a while to pay for themselves, but they provide great blackout protection.
Solar batteries
Solar batteries let you store solar power instead of selling it to the grid at a low price. This way, you don’t have to buy more expensive electricity from the grid when you need it.
The integration of a home battery system is new for typical solar residences. With this addition, households can significantly boost their use of solar energy through self-consumption. A home with solar panels and a battery can increase its use of solar energy by up to 90%.
Homeowners can store extra solar energy for later use. This is helpful when there is less sunlight, such as in the evening or on cloudy days. Storing the energy allows homeowners to use it during times of high demand or when solar power is not enough.
This allows them to use this energy during times of high demand or when solar power is not enough. Using your own power reduces dependence on the grid, increasing energy independence and saving money on electricity bills.
Solar panels with battery storage enhance the efficiency of solar energy. They also provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for managing power in homes. It empowers homeowners to maximise their investment in solar technology, optimise energy usage, and significantly reduce their dependency on grid-supplied electricity.
Recommendations
Excess electricity generated from your solar panels doesn’t vanish into thin air; it needs a destination. Usually, extra electricity goes to the grid, heats water, or gets stored in a home battery system.
When your solar panels produce more energy than your immediate household needs, this surplus electricity is redirected somewhere useful. Firstly, it often feeds into the grid, benefitting other consumers while earning you credits through net metering.
Some systems use extra power to heat water. This helps save energy in your home and reduces the need for traditional power sources for water heating. Surplus electricity can be stored in a home battery system.
This is done for future use when energy demand is high or solar panels aren’t generating power. Storing surplus electricity increases self-sufficiency and reduces reliance on grid electricity. This increases self-sufficiency and reduces reliance on grid electricity.
Knowing how surplus electricity is used helps homeowners optimise their solar power systems for maximum efficiency and benefits. Using solar panels can help meet your energy needs and save money.
Solar panels can help meet your energy needs and save money. Several ways exist to make the most of the energy generated. You can contribute to the grid, optimise hot water systems, or store excess power in home batteries. Solar batteries work in many different ways and are very beneficial when mixed with a solar system.
