What do home batteries do

Batteries provide a range of valuable benefits based on your specific situation. Their main advantages include:

1. Load Shifting: Batteries store cheap energy during the day, whether from excess Solar PV or an inexpensive tariff. This stored energy can be used during peak times (e.g., at night), allowing you to avoid expensive energy rates.

2. Backup Power: In the event of a power outage, batteries can provide power to selected areas of your home. This ensures you maintain some comfort while waiting for the mains power to return.

3. Off-Grid Living: For those living off-grid, batteries are essential for storing energy and ensuring a consistent power supply.

4. Commercial Services: Although a bit complex, your battery can be used to buy and sell energy for profit, often through a mediator such as Amber Electric. Alternatively, you can join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), like those offered by larger power companies, where they compensate you for using your battery.

5. Environmental Benefits: Utilising excess solar energy is generally beneficial for the environment, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

By leveraging these capabilities, batteries can significantly enhance your energy management and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient energy system.

Are home batteries worth It?

As of the start of 2025, the financial benefits of home batteries are still marginal. For more information on the value of batteries, Solar Choice provides a great page here https://www.solarchoice.net.au/solar-batteries/price/. At the end of the page, they answer the question “are we there yet?” – and the answer is mostly “no.”

It’s important to note that while you may not want a battery yet, their prices have been falling dramatically for decades. However, it can take some time for these price reductions to reach the home battery market.

You can check out the Bloomberg battery price chart for more insights.

We strongly advise that understanding your situation in detail is crucial when deciding if a battery is right for you.

Some additional references that may help:

• Solar Choice has a lot of product reviews and general information on batteries here.

• Solar Quotes has a battery savings calculator here

These resources can help you make a more informed decision about whether investing in a home battery is worth it for you.

What are the home battery features I should consider?

1. Energy Storage Capacity: The primary feature batteries advertise is their storage capacity in kWh. To determine your needs, measure how much energy you use during the period you need to cover. Checking your smart meter at the start and end of this period can show your consumption. Typical battery sizes are around 10kWh but can be much higher. As the size increases, the cost per kWh typically decreases.

2. Energy Power Output: While a battery might have enough energy to power a device, it also needs sufficient power output in kW to meet the device’s demands. For example, a 3kW stove cannot be powered by a 1kW battery since it can’t push energy out fast enough. Most people use their batteries for lower-powered devices like lights rather than high-powered ones like stoves or air conditioning units.

3. Backup Power: Owning a battery doesn’t automatically mean you’re covered during a blackout. The battery must be able to disconnect from the grid (to ensure safety for line workers) and have backup capabilities to provide power to specific house circuits. This can be more challenging in three-phase houses.

4. Warranty – Workmanship and Performance: Typical battery warranties last about 10 years, though they often last longer. Besides a workmanship warranty (ensuring it doesn’t break), you also need a performance warranty. The performance warranty guarantees how much the battery’s storage capacity will degrade over time.

5. Advanced Features: Some batteries, like the Tesla Powerwall, come with advanced features. These can include weather checking (e.g., preventing discharge if a storm is coming) and only charging from solar. It’s worth asking your supplier about the features your battery has or doesn’t have.

By considering these features, you can choose a battery that meets your energy needs and provides the best value for your investment

How to find an installer (in Apollo Bay)?

Most Solar PV installers also handle battery installations. For more information and details, check out the Solar PV page. Details here

How do I choose the right products?

The quality of batteries can vary widely, much like other marketplace products. While you can opt for cheaper systems, they often come with reduced performance. To strike a balance, determine which features are essential to you and how much you are willing to invest. Here are some ways to minimize risk:

• Brand Recommendations:

• • Solar Quotes brand recommendations here

  • Solar Choice battery reviews here

• CEC Accreditation:

  • Only use products accredited by the CEC. Lookup CEC accredited batteries here

By following these guidelines, you can reduce risk, get a battery that meets your needs and offers long-term reliability.

How much will I pay?

Rebates

Rebates are state based and currently Victoria does not have one.

Based on the 2025 Fedeal election the federal government is offering a rebate, called the “Cheaper Home Batteries Program,” to help reduce the cost of installing home battery systems. This program, which starts July 1, 2025, aims to lower the cost of battery storage for households, small businesses, and community facilities by around 30%. The details are not fully known so ask your installer of Google the “Cheaper Home Batteries Program,”

Prices

Solar Choice tracks batteries prices here

Combining with Solar – Savings on Steroids

While batteries on their own can address specific issues, combining them with Solar PV offers significant advantages (pun intended). The financial benefits of batteries are greatly enhanced when paired with a cheap power source like Solar PV.

When combining both, it’s important to ensure that you not only have Solar PV but that it generates enough excess energy to fill your battery as needed. Check the size of your Solar PV system against your battery capacity when making your purchase. A simple approach is to ensure that your excess Solar Energy is capable of filling your battery for approximately 9 months of the year.

By doing so, you can maximize the financial and environmental benefits of your energy system.

FAQ

• More information here on the Solar quotes web site here https://www.solarquotes.com.au/101-guides/buying-batteries/