Like any electrical device, batteries carry some risk, but advances in technology and strict safety standards make them a reliable way to store the excess energy produced by your home solar system.
Understanding the risks of solar batteries
The main concern people have is the risk of a fire. Older lithium-ion batteries, such as those once used in laptops and phones, occasionally made headlines for catching on fire.
This was often caused by a process known as thermal runaway – a rapid, uncontrolled rise in temperature that could be triggered by overcharging, prolonged exposure to heat, or the use of unsuitable chargers.
Modern home solar batteries are different. Most now use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry, one of the safest and most stable types of lithium technology. They are also equipped with advanced battery management systems that continually monitor voltage, temperature and current. If anything abnormal is detected, higher quality batteries automatically shut down to prevent overheating or damage. Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC) are also extremely safe, as every cell is being monitored for voltage and temperature, which is locked at a max. of 50 degrees Celsius.
This means that when you purchase a reputable brand that is correctly installed, the risk of a fire is extremely low.
The top safety features to look for when choosing a solar battery system
At The Energy Experts, we only install premium solar batteries that meet strict international Standards. Here are some of the safety features you can expect from the leading brands we recommend:
- SolarEdge: one of the first residential batteries to pass the strictest UL9540A unit level test for fire safety hazards. The SolarEdge Home Battery offers industry-leading safety capabilities from panels to battery, including Rapid Shutdown, SafeDC™ and a built-in series of multi-point temperature sensors to mitigate the risk of a battery overheating.
- Tesla Powerwall 3: uses liquid thermal management to regulate temperature, has a weather-resistant IP67 rating to withstand Australia’s harsh climate, and automatic shutdown if a fault is detected.
- SigEnergy: features smart battery management with AI monitoring, internal temperature sensors, a decompression valve and an internal fire extinguisher.
- Fronius: provides multi-stage protection including cell balancing, temperature sensors and short-circuit protection.
- Sungrow: has an advanced battery management system that continuously monitors and balances the cells to protect against overcharging, deep discharge and overheating.
Why low-cost battery brands are best avoided
Not all batteries are created equal. Lower-cost battery brands often make trade-offs in quality to lower their price point.
As a result, these batteries may have:
- Less sophisticated battery management systems, resulting in faults potentially going undetected.
- Lower-quality components that may fail sooner or be more susceptible to overheating.
- Weaker product warranties and limited after-sales support.
Our commitment to safety
At The Energy Experts, safety is our top priority. We not only recommend and install trusted, high-quality solar battery brands that have proven safety records, but every installation is carried out by a CEC and SAA-accredited installer and checked by our Head of Safety, so you can be confident your system exceeds Australian Battery Standards.
