Why I Added A Battery

More and more Australian households are installing solar and it's not just for those tech lovers or those who want to be off the grid. It makes sense because we want to save money using the power from the sun and allowing us to store that power and use it at nighttime when we're all at home and really need to use it. If you're one of those people considering whether you should install batteries in your own home, then let me share with you why I think it's a great investment.

A stack of GoodWe batteries lets you easily get to the size that's just right for your home.

We installed solar panels as part of our renovation and it's great because it allows us to collect energy from the sun and of course use it during the day, but we don't have that energy stored for us to use at night when we're all at home and really need it. Unfortunately, now we're also being penalised because all of the energy we're creating during the day is going back into the grid, causing an overload, and it doesn't make financial sense for us.

So, the time has come for us to install a battery, allowing us to store all of the energy we create during the day and use it at night when we're all home and we need it the most.... watch the video below for more info.

The battery we've got is the GoodWe Generation 2. It's a 3.2 kWh module box. It's what we call Lego stack. We've stacked six of them on top of each other so it gives us 19.2 Kw hours of storage. And we've coupled that with the new 8.6 kW EHB GoodWe hybrid inverter. Having a larger hybrid inverter means that we can charge the battery faster at a higher rate as well. (Installation by Freedom Solar And Batteries).

So I can hear you ask, has installing batteries changed the way we use power? Well, the answer is yes. Firstly, lower power bills. In fact, in our case, almost zero. The other benefit is that we can draw on the battery power during a blackout because all of the energy is stored here. If there's a blackout, maybe due to strong storms and wires going down, we can draw on the power from our batteries to run our fridge, our lighting, and our cooking needs. Another benefit is that I can fill up my electric car for free. This means that I can use all of the energy stored in the batteries to charge my car during the day or the night. Not last, batteries add great value to your home. It's an investment that pays for itself in a few years. This is great if you're living in your home for long term or if you're selling.

The benefits of adding a battery:

1. Better self-consumption & lower electricity bills - Excess solar energy generated during the day can be stored instead of being sent back to the grid at low feed-in rates. You then use that stored energy in the evening or during peak tariff periods, reducing how much you draw (and pay for) from the grid.

2. Time-of-use arbitrage / tariff optimisation - Batteries let you “buy” electricity (or absorb surplus solar) at low-cost times and “spend” it when prices are high, thus taking advantage of time-of-use or peak-demand tariffs.

3. Backup power / resilience during outages - In a grid outage or blackout, a battery (if configured appropriately) can power essential loads (fridge, lighting, communications, medical gear, etc.). This is a strong selling point in many parts of Australia, especially with extreme weather, storms or grid stress.

4. Greater energy independence & grid “hedge” - You become less reliant on the grid (and its price fluctuations or supply vulnerabilities). Especially when electricity costs are rising, having stored energy gives you more control.

5. Environmental & emissions benefits - Using more of your own solar power (versus importing from the grid) reduces reliance on fossil-fuel generation and helps lower your household’s carbon footprint. Broad uptake of storage also helps the grid better integrate renewables.

6. Incentives, rebates & improved economics - In Australia, government programs (such as the “Cheaper Home Batteries Program”) are making battery installations more financially feasible. Those incentives reduce upfront cost, improving the payback period. Also, as feed-in tariffs have declined, the relative advantage of storing your own power has increased.

7. Increased property appeal / future readiness - Homes with solar + battery systems are increasingly attractive to buyers who value energy efficiency, lower running costs, resilience and sustainability. It can contribute positively to a home’s market perception.

In conclusion, the installation of the battery combined with our solar panels is a game changer. Our house runs smoother. Our energy bills are virtually zero. And of course, it's fantastic to know that all of the energy we use is energy that we produce ourselves (with a little help from mother nature :)

James Treble has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. James is also an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for plenty of Design information. Watch his free Online Series to see how an Interior Designer renovates his own home.