The NSW Government has decided to offer a solar battery rebate to homeowners. The range of payments will vary from $1,600 to $2,400 with more funds available if the homeowner joins a Virtual Power Plant (VPP).
This means the VPP operator will be able to take over the running and discharging of the battery during critical periods of grid instability. The homeowner can also decide that they wish to keep a certain percentage of their home storage battery for themselves, so they can set a limit eg 50% of what they seek to make available for the VPP operations.
We at Soltek Energy, based in the middle of Sydney in Silverwater have installed many home solar systems, from Rose Bay to Hornsby and Kenthurst. With over 12,000 solar installations since 2009, we are one of Sydney’s most experienced solar & battery installation providers.
Keep your home comfortable with a storage battery
Imagine it’s a hot day, you come home only to realise there has been a power outage. The food in your fridge is warming up and the food is getting spoiled, the house is hot like an oven, and there are no lights as dawn arrives. The kids need to finish their homework by candlelight and you wish you would have invested in a home storage battery.
Such a home storage battery can act as an insurance policy providing back up power, so you can continue to have electricity even if the power grid is not working.
With the decommissioning of coal-fired power plants in future years there is likely to be increasing instability in the power grid. In addition, the growth of EVs in the vehicle fleet will add further demand pressure on the network. This will most likely result in regular blackouts, especially during periods of heatwaves, when air conditioning use will spike.
So a home battery can help maintain some degree of power autonomy and protection against such power outages.
Why Backup power is important for homeowners in Sydney
When a battery is installed in the home there is usually a dedicated backup circuit connected to electrical equipment you wish to keep on during a power outage.
Usually, the backup circuit is connected to a fridge, a couple of power sockets and a few lights. There may also be a need to keep medical devices powered up during an outage so this equipment also needs to be placed on the dedicated backup circuit.
So depending on the battery you get, the brand and its size during a blackout you will need to be conservative in your electricity consumption, otherwise, you could drain the battery very quickly, especially during hot nights, if you run the aircon throughout the whole house.
It is possible to run your entire house with batteries however the cost for such a battery backup system can be considerable. To check out the amount of capital investment required please click on the Your Energy Answers Battery Size Calculator.
Some batteries on the market have black-start capability which means there is the ability to restart power during a power outage. This feature means that a householder can generate power through the Solar PV system to then charge the battery.
So as long there is sunny weather, the battery capacity is decent eg more than 12 kWh, and power consumption is managed, the home could potentially be without grid power, and still provide all the modern comforts, for many days, as long as there is a decent amount of solar irradiance available during the day.
The bottom line is there is no point investing in a battery if you don’t have enough reserve capacity to power appliances connected to the backup circuit. So the sizing of the battery is very important, and this is where Soltek Energy and our qualified advisors can help.
Increasing the value of your home
The running costs of a property, be it council rates or energy costs are now factored in more and more when prospective buyers analyse their future purchase. Prospective buyers are looking more and more to get a home that is functional, but also energy-efficient and sustainable.
A home that has modern quality solar panels and a battery storage system can stand out in a competitive market, and those features might just make the difference.
Past comparable studies have shown that homes with solar and battery systems often sell for a higher amount compared to similar properties without these features. This is due to the long-term cost savings they offer, allowing purchasers to stretch their budget further.
How solar and batteries work together in Sydney
g a solar panel system with a home battery allows you to maximise the benefits of renewable energy. During the day, your solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, which powers your home. Any excess energy is stored in the battery instead of being sent back to the grid. This stored energy can then be used when the sun isn’t shining, such as during the evening or on cloudy days.
At Soltek Energy, we design and install solar and battery systems that work well together. This gives Sydney homeowners reliable energy solutions. Our systems help you control your energy use better. You can use stored power during blackouts or busy times. This helps you save money on power bills and reduces your reliance on the grid.
By using solar panels with a battery, you can join Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). This lets you earn extra money or rebates from programs offered by the NSW Government. If you are interested in joining a VPP, our team here at Soltek Energy will make sure your system fits all compatibility requirements so you’re able to join the VPP immediately or in the future. This way, you can enjoy all the benefits of solar and battery storage in Sydney.
What batteries do we recommend?
In Sydney, integratin a solar panel system with a home battery allows you to maximise the benefits of renewable energy. During the day, your solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, which powers your home. Any excess energy is stored in the battery instead of being sent back to the grid. This stored energy can then be used when the sun isn’t shining, such as during the evening or on cloudy days.
At Soltek we install the Solaredge battery solution, the Tesla Powerwall 2 & 3 are always popular, Enphase has now released a very highly efficient battery solution and Sungrow hybrid solar inverters and batteries are always a great choice due to their stackability, meaning you can create a solar energy system exactly the size that fits your needs.
So if you’re looking for solar and batteries in Sydney, contact Soltek Energy today, your very experienced solar solutions provider.