How To Choose the Best Battery for Solar in Australia
With new rebates and incentives for installing solar batteries, the top question for Queenslanders is now not, ‘are solar batteries worth it’, but rather ‘what is the best solar battery to get?’
What makes the best solar battery depends on several factors which we’ll go through in the below article.
Which is the best solar battery? — five factors to consider
Batteries for solar power are a major investment for the average Queensland household, so it’s important to do your research before deciding. There is no one definitive answer for best solar battery as there are several variances you or your solar installer should know about. If you’re in the market for a solar battery and are comparing your options, here are some important factors to consider:
Battery type
Generally speaking, solar batteries are classified into two categories, flooded and sealed. Flooded batteries are the more common type of batteries installed, as they are more affordable, can be easily cleaned and serviced and have better longevity. Sealed batteries are more complicated and cannot be serviced or cleaned because they are sealed.
Power rating
The power rating of a battery refers to the kilowatts (kW) of power the battery can provide when in use. This gives you a good indication of how many and which appliances your battery can power at once.
Another important feature to note with the battery’s power rating is that there are generally two versions — a continuous power rating and a five-minute power rating, which provides more electricity in shorter bursts. This is important to know if you have appliances that require a large amount of power to turn on.
Battery capacity
Battery capacity refers to the amount of power your device can store and supply your home with. This is often expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), giving you a rough estimate of how long your battery will last when powering your home. Naturally, your electricity supply will run out faster. On the other hand, if you’re only looking to use your battery to power a handful of appliances, your battery is expected to last longer.
How much energy can a solar battery store?
This will depend on the battery you install in your home. Battery storage capacity can vary between 1kWh to over 10kWh, though the average household battery is around 10kWh.
When determining the correct solar panel battery storage for your home, consider how much solar power your panels produce and export to the grid. For instance, if you’re considering installing a 5kWh battery, ensure your solar panel exports a minimum of 5kWh to the grid daily.
Battery lifespan
Like your solar panels, if well maintained, solar batteries can last up to 25 years. Three things can influence your battery’s longevity: depth of discharge, cycle life and temperature.
- Depth of discharge — This is the percentage of what has been discharged relative to its total capacity. For example, if you manage to discharge 6kWh from a solar battery with a maximum capacity of 8kWh, the battery’s depth of discharge would be 75%. Though it’s important to note that batteries degrade as they are used, which can reduce their capacity over time.
- Cyclic life — This refers to the number of charges and discharges a battery has over its lifetime. Depending on the battery you opt for, battery cycles can range from 300 to 700 cycles.
- Temperature — While batteries are designed to resist heat and cold to extend their cyclic life, the chemical activity that occurs when a battery stores electricity increases its temperature. To ensure your battery lasts as long as possible, install them in a temperature-controlled room.
Round-trip efficiency
The round-trip efficiency is a measurement, written as a percentage, of how well your solar power system converts and stores electricity. For example, if 80kWh of electricity is transferred to a battery and it outputs 70kWh, the round-trip efficiency of the battery would be 70%. Naturally, you should consider solar batteries with high round-trip efficiency for your home.
Cost
Potentially, one of the biggest factors for Queenslanders to consider is the cost of battery storage for solar panels.
The current solar battery rebates are cutting down an average of 30% of the upfront costs of buying solar batteries. With time limits on how long the discounts will last, there’s high demand for installing solar batteries in Queensland.
If you’re short on cash but don’t want to miss out on the benefits of solar batteries, Green Energy Technologies can help, working with trusted partners to offer $0 upfront finance on solar batteries.
Maximising your energy savings with a solar battery from Green Energy Technologies
Thinking about going green with your energy supply? Look no further than Green Energy Technologies. As a leading solar energy specialist in Queensland with local installers, we provide tailored solar energy solutions to homes and businesses across the Whitsundays, Townsville and Mackayareas. Call us today at 07 4940 2900 to discuss your options, or head online for a quote.
