It’s very common to have some hesitancy when it comes to upgrading your solar system. How will spending money on this help me save money? If I get a particular brand, will I be locked into that brand forever? Why should I even do all this? It’s enough to almost make you throw your hands up and be done with it.
Whether you’re adding on to an existing system or starting from scratch, batteries are a part of that conversation. It’s only natural to resist yet another, often expensive, piece of technology.
Adding a battery to your solar system isn’t as scary as all that. Rather than feeling confined or confused, solar batteries offer a wide range of benefits that will enhance your system.
At Penrith Solar Centre, we want to help you charge (pun intended) forward into learning about this evolving technology. Researching without some guidance can be frustrating.
This list of benefits will help inform your decision and reassure you about solar batteries. Wherever you go for your solar needs, you should be well informed about the intricacies of solar batteries first.
In this article, you’ll learn about the benefits of:
- Energy independence with a battery.
- How a battery can lower your electric bills.
- The return on investment for a solar battery.
- How wonderfully low maintenance they are.
- The environmental impact adding a battery will do.
- Future-proofing your solar system with a battery.
- How an upgraded solar system with increase your property value.
Energy Independence:
One of the main benefits of integrating a battery into your solar system is the independence it offers. With a battery, you can store excess energy generated by your solar panels during sunny days and use at nighttime. On cloudy days too.
As weather becomes more unpredictable, extreme weather events are becoming more common. A battery-equipped solar system can provide relief during power outages in storms or other weather emergencies.
With backup power in your battery, you’ll have electricity during blackouts. Essential appliances and medical equipment can keep operating, and cell phones can remain charged. You’ll have greater security over your energy consumption.
Lower Electric Bills
Batteries help you to optimise energy consumption during peak demand hours. Electricity costs can soar during certain times of the day or season. Typically, rates are cheaper during the day and more expensive at night when the electricity demand is higher. By storing energy when rates are low and using it during high-rate hours, you save money every day, leading to substantial cost savings over time.
Solar batteries are programmed with management software to track your system’s consumption. It works with the monitoring app on your phone to keep you updated on when electricity is being used or not. It’s easy to set the battery to charge and discharge when energy rates are high or low.
While solar batteries are not cheap, the investment pays off in the long term. Savings add up to your monthly electric bill. It might not seem like much at first, but within 4 – 6 years, most solar systems installed with a battery pay for themselves.
Solar panels often generate more electricity than your immediate needs. Without a battery, excess energy is returned to the grid. The utility company will give you credit for this energy in the form of feed-in tariffs. They are a payment for any electricity supplied from the home or business back to the electrical grid. They were originally introduced by the government to promote renewable energy.
Unfortunately, feed-in tariffs are depleting in value as more people switch to solar. The range can be from $0.04 – 0.15 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) depending on your utility company. Many homeowners are not benefiting from the feed-in tariff rates as they used to. Having a battery allows you to store that extra energy, maximising your savings.
Low Maintenance
Unlike generators, solar batteries require very little maintenance once they’re up and running. Generators need fuel to run and if you don’t have any, you’ll have to go to the petrol station to get some. And that could be a problem if the power is out there too or if it’s during a weather emergency.
Generators are also incredibly noisy. Solar batteries re-fuel themselves, and they do it quietly. The only real maintenance required is monitoring your battery’s performance to make sure you’re maximising your potential savings.
If it starts functioning in a limited capacity, it’s time to contact your installer for service. Most recommend a checkup every few years. The monitoring app that comes with your battery will let you know when it needs a diagnostic.
Environmental Impact
Integrating a battery into your solar system is helping the environment so much more than solar panels alone. Grid electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. By utilising more of your self-generated clean energy, you decrease your reliance on the grid. Fewer fossil fuels are used to generate power and then contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Every time you use a battery instead of the grid, you’re reducing your carbon footprint significantly. How much that is depends on a variety of factors like the size of your solar system, the capacity of your battery, your energy consumption patterns, and how the system is used.
Future-Proofing Your Energy
As technology and energy storage solutions advance, having a battery in your solar system positions you to take advantage of future innovations. Climate change is now a reality and electricity prices are rising across Australia. As electric vehicles become more popular, energy needs will change for everyone.
A solar battery system directs your electricity. Whether it’s to the home or back to the grid or to the battery for storage, your solar system will be smarter with the addition of a battery so your system can “talk” to advancing technologies. This leads to efficiency, savings, and security in the long term because your solar system will be more compatible with evolving circumstances.
Value Enhancement
The addition of a battery system can increase the value of your property. As energy storage becomes more integral to modern living, potential buyers will see your solar-equipped home as more appealing. And why wouldn’t they? It’s more energy efficient and reliable.
If you’re a homeowner, there is a large chance that this is your greatest financial asset. Why not put that empty roof space to work? The figures for exactly how much a solar system is worth when you’re selling vary depending on the source and factors like the size and efficiency of the system, the location of the property, the local real estate market, and of course the value to the buyer. An older system that only generates a couple of kilowatts and needs an upgrade won’t likely increase the value of your home.
That being said, solar systems, especially systems with a battery, are a marketable asset for your home.
Should You Add a Battery to Your Solar System?
Solar batteries are being added to solar systems for a variety of reasons, and these 7 benefits should help you become a more informed shopper. Now that you know the benefits, you won’t be so overwhelmed by all the questions that pop up as you research and consider adding a battery to your solar array.
Any investment takes time to consider so you can make the right choice for your needs. At Penrith Solar Centre, we appreciate this process and are here to help you on your solar journey.
