More than a solar and battery package

Expanded FAQs

• What Are the Benefits of Solar Batteries?

  Solar batteries have some clear advantages. They are the only means to go completely off-grid, maximise earnings through self-consumption rather than buying and selling from the grid, stop contributing to the burning of fossil fuels, and enjoy being solar powered during all the hours when the sun stops shining.

  A solar and battery package opens the door to:

  • Round-the-clock solar power usage

  • Low to $0 energy bills

  • Complete freedom from energy companies

  • Complete reduction of carbon footprint

• What Are the Downsides of Solar Batteries?

  Although battery prices have only been falling, some homeowners won't be able to justify the added up-front costs of installing batteries in the short-term. Like most newer technologies, the cost can be prohibitive for some households. To assist with this, there is a growing body of rebates and subsidies government is offering to help homeowners afford a solar battery. There are also green financing options provided by corporations or lenders intended to give back to the environment through low to no interest rate loans.

  Ultimately, weighing up the best configurations for your personal usage is much better than blanket statements. Different installers, blogs and even the news will provide varying advice - leaving it up to you to do your research and decide what works best for your situation.

• How Do I Know if a Solar and Battery Pairing is Right For Me?

  A solar panel system generates electricity from the sun, but any excess energy generated during the day is typically sent back to the grid. With a battery system, that excess energy can instead be stored and used when the sun is not shining, such as at night. It also provides protection from blackouts or other power outages.

  For many Aussies, only having their home solar powered during the day isn't the ideal situation - it means you are still paying power bills despite an investment into solar power and it means you are continuing to contribute to the burning of fossil fuels that lead to environmental harm and the depletion of finite resources.

  A combination of solar panels and batteries is an ideal means to achieve complete independence from the grid, by evenly distributing power across the day. They are a great choice for:

  • People who want to be 100% independent from power companies

  • People who want to be 100% solar powered for the benefit of the environment

  • People who want certainty and insulation from rising electricity costs and the energy market

  • People who want to be unaffected by blackouts, particularly important for those living in areas where power can be unreliable

  There are many different types of solar and battery packages available on the market, and the cost and benefits will vary depending on factors such as the size of the system, the type of battery technology used, and the local energy costs. It's always better to get advice on your particular home arrangement to determine the battery capacity you would require and whether the costs are appropriate for your financial situation.

• Is it Worth Getting a Solar and Battery System?

  As governments roll out rebates and subsidies, and financial institutes offer green financing solutions, more and more Australian homes flock to make the switch to clean energy. It's becoming cheaper, being subsidised, and as retail electricity prices soar, making quick financial sense. The advantages of a solar panel and solar battery bundle include:

  • Self-consumption: True savings from solar come from using your energy to power your own home, rather than buying and selling energy from the grid. This is because electricity prices are currently so high and feed in tariffs (what you get paid for selling power to the grid) are so low. This inverse relationship is expected to continue for decades, and it's worth noting that electricity companies control both.

  • Greater rebates: Solar battery rebates are generally larger than solar panels alone.

  • Complete freedom from power companies: The allure of solar power is usually to cut ties with power companies for good. Retail electricity costs are high and only growing, and the cost to the environment from burning fossil fuels is even greater.

  • Maximise your solar panels' potential: Solar panels harness the vast majority of their energy during the middle of the day, when many are at work or school, and when electricity prices are often off-peak regardless. By the time many families get home, the sun has gone down and they're forced back into paying for power generation for the remainder of the day, while missing the times when energy was most efficient.

  • Battery storage can pay for itself: Stored power is power that can be traded when the market is more favourable. Time of Use (or TOU) Tariffs result in higher charges when the sun is inactive - early morning and early evening. This is due to demand, and means you'll pay more for electricity at 4 PM than you would at 10 AM. The reverse is also true - as falling Feed in Tariffs are bringing lower margins for the excess power you do produce during the day. Smart systems that leverage peak trading times and avoid very low times can result in a better return than solar systems with no means of balancing when their trading happens (this includes all solar panels without a battery).

  • Avoid new Peak Demand tariffs: Unfortunately, electricity is at its most expensive during the hours when the sun goes down and solar panels stop producing energy. Storing solar power for these hours is always a good strategy.

  • Immunity from power cuts: A battery gives you the option to include blackout protection. This means you won't be affected by power outages that affect users dependent on the electricity grid. Especially pertinent as disruptions continue to Australia's coal supply.

   

  While everyone's circumstances are different, solar panels on their own often don't provide relief from rising energy prices and sinking feed in tariffs (or FiT). They may offset light household usage patterns, but they ultimately still leave users dependent on energy companies.

  For users who can afford a solar and battery system, the long-term outlook and reliability of a transition to renewable energy can look far brighter. According to solar.vic.gov.au, households with batteries save up to 71.91% more on their electricity than households with solar alone.

   

• When Are Solar Batteries Not Worth It?

  Where a solar battery might make less sense would be if a household typically had a very low electricity bill - for example, if a household only spends $500 on power bills per annum, that amount across 20 years would only equate $10,000, which is getting close to what many home battery storage systems might cost. While this would still offset their carbon footprint, there isn't the same cost benefit to such households.

• How Much Money Can a Battery Save Me?

  The amount of money that a solar panel and battery package can save you depends on several factors, including the size of your solar panel system, the amount of sunlight your location receives, and the cost of electricity in your area.

  It's important to note that solar panels and batteries have a long lifespan and can provide savings for up to 25 years for panels and up to 10 for batteries, which can amount to significant savings over time.

  Most solar systems will provide a long-term payoff rather than a short-term one. For instance, we all know we will continue to need electricity and we can estimate what it will cost us based on our current annual electricity spend. If we calculate what we spend on energy bills per annum, and multiply that across the next 20 years, we'll arrive at a big number. For the average Australian, that number is around $40,000 before we factor in electricity price rises. It's based on an annual electricity spend of $2000.

  A solar system that costs even half that would therefore save the average household $20,000 across the 20 year span. In the process, it would eliminate their carbon footprint.

• What's the Bare Minimum Solar System?

  Any solar system requires at base solar panels and a solar inverter. The solar panels absorb the sunlight, but only generate what is referred to as direct current, or DC. The inverter is what translates that into alternating current, or AC, which is the form the electrical grid can use. Energy is then available for use by your household appliances.

  With this basic arrangement, any power needs to be consumed as soon as it is generated. Neither part can store the energy generated.

• Do You Sell Just Batteries or Just Solar Panels Separately?

  We do not currently offer solar panels or batteries independent of each other due to our No Bill Power Plan. In order to guarantee you no bills, we require homes to be outfitted with a solar and battery package.

• Can I Combine Solar Panel and Battery Government Incentives?

  Sometimes. For instance, the Victorian government solar panel rebates of up to $1,400 can be combined with their solar battery green loans.