Which home battery is right for me?

Every day, more Australians are looking to add home battery storage to their solar power systems to overcome rising electricity prices. As more electrified products, like vehicles, become the norm, adding a battery helps reduce your grid-energy consumption by drawing on stored excess solar energy to power some of your appliances when the sun isn't shining.

But, with a number of home batteries on the market, choosing the right option for you can be a challenge. In this article, we will explore:

  • Why battery storage is a smart choice
  • The key things to consider when choosing a home battery storage solution
  • Solahart’s range of home batteries

Why Battery Storage?

In most Australian homes, a large proportion of the energy produced by solar power panels is sent back to the grid because it’s generated when it’s not needed. However, adding a home battery to your solar power system allows you to store excess solar energy so you can use it:

  • At night
  • On low sunlight days
  • When utility rates are more expensive
  • During blackouts

Battery storage is a smart way to offset your electricity costs as it helps you optimise your solar energy usage and reduce your reliance on the grid.

Key Considerations

There are a few key things to consider if you are looking for a battery for your home.

  1. Do you know how much power you use on average per day? 
  2. Does your household generally use the most energy at night? Knowing the kWh capacity you will need in a battery is important. You can always refer to your power bill to see how much power you consume.
  3. Is your family still growing, or are you planning on adding smart connected appliances to your home? You may need to oversize your solar power system to accommodate your changing needs.
  4. Round-trip efficiency: Although a technical term, it is necessary to understand this concept as it indicates the percentage of the battery that can be discharged relative to its overall capacity. For example, if a 6kWh battery has 90% round-trip efficiency, the system is designed to not use more than 5.4kWh of energy before recharging. This will improve the life of the battery.
  5. Warranty: Make sure you choose a provider that has been around for a long time in Australia and a good reputation.
  6. Budget: How much are you looking to spend upfront?

Types of Battery Storage Solutions

Another important thing to consider is the type of batteries that are available to you. Here is an overview to give you insight into the key differences:

  • Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular option for solar systems. They are typically lighter and have higher round-trip efficiency than other batteries in the market, typically around 90%. Most new battery technology uses some form of lithium-ion composition, but they are more expensive than lead-acid.
  • Lead-acid batteries are often used in off-grid situations with a much shorter lifetime and lower round-trip efficiency.
  • Thermal storage systems, known as solar water heaters, work just like a battery as they store energy from the sun in the form of hot water for use later. 

Solahart Range of Home Battery Solutions

Solahart is home to a great range of home energy storage solutions.

TESLA POWERWALL

Featuring a large energy storage capacity of 13.5kWh, Tesla Powerwall is a compact battery with a round-trip efficiency of 90%. This means you can retrieve up to 90% of the energy stored in the battery, making it a very efficient option.

  • Includes a built-in inverter, making the battery easy to install
  • It can be either floor or wall-mounted.
  • Completely automated and requires no maintenance.
  • High-energy density offers a reduced footprint, making it an aesthetically-pleasing addition to your home.
  • It can be added to an existing solar PV system.
  • Offers emergency backup power to your essential loads.
  • Expandable to up to 10x Powerwall batteries across three phases.
  • Tesla Warranty: 10 years

GoodWe Lynx

The innovative GoodWe Lynx Battery is one of the latest products in our range of home energy solutions. It is a compact, modular battery, offering 4.8kWh storage capacity, that can easily be expanded as your needs change.

  • For the budget-conscious, or people who only need to store smaller amounts of energy.
  • Thanks to its modular design, it can be scaled up if your family or energy needs grow, with capacity for up to six batteries per inverter.
  • Solahart can retro-fit your existing system to add battery storage if you already have solar power installed.
  • 90% round-trip efficiency.
  • Given its smaller capacity, an affordable option is to combine a GoodWe Lynx battery with a Solahart PowerStore to maximise your energy storage investment.

A trusted Solahart Warranty backs our GoodWe Lynx Battery so that you can enjoy a 10-year product warranty and 10-year performance warranty for extra peace of mind.

 

SolarEdge Energy Bank Home Battery

The SolarEdge Energy Bank Home Battery is the newest in the Solahart range. With a 9.7kWh storage capacity, it delivers more power with an industry-leading 94.5% round-trip efficiency. 

  • When the SolarEdge inverter and Energy Bank battery are used together, the inverter’s capacity can be increased by up to 300%^. In other words, you can add more panels to your PV system than a standard installation, which allows you to produce more energy at a very cost-effective price.
  • Up to three batteries can operate in parallel per inverter to increase your storage capacity.
  • As an exclusive deal for SolarEdge Inverter owners, Solahart is offering a Free Inverter Upgrade* to a SolarEdge Energy Hub Inverter when you purchase a new SolarEdge Energy Bank Home Battery with a backup interface.

The SolarEdge Energy Bank Home Battery is backed by a Solahart Warranty. Enjoy a 10-year product warranty and a 10-year performance warranty for extra peace of mind.

^Design limitations apply. Please refer to your local Solahart Dealer.
*Conditions apply. Excludes SolarEdge Genesis and SolarEdge Energy Hub inverters and does not include installation.

Solahart PowerStore®

Solahart PowerStore® is Australia’s first solar-smart electric water heater. It captures the excess energy from your rooftop solar panels and uses it to heat your water gradually for use at a later time. 

  • Works with both new and existing solar power systems.
  • Stores approximately 13kWh of energy in the form of hot water. It works like a battery in that it uses excess solar energy to heat your water, but is more affordable.
  • It can be combined with a battery to further reduce your reliance on the grid.
  • It comes with a Solahart Energy Management Unit to help you manage more actively how you consume energy throughout your home.
  • Ensures you have a reliable supply of hot water by drawing the minimum power from the grid that is necessary.

Solahart PowerStore® is backed by a 10-year Solahart cylinder warranty. 

If you are looking to add battery storage to save more on your energy consumption, your local Solahart Dealer can identify a solution for you.

Looking to add battery storage to your home?

Contact Solahart today on 1300 721 984 to find out more or enter your details below to get a free quote:

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