But choosing the right size battery is important. A battery that’s too small may not meet your household’s needs, while one that’s too large could mean paying for storage capacity you just don’t use.
What to consider when sizing a home battery system
1. Your household energy consumption
Check the daily kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage on your electricity bill. Then estimate how much of this is daytime consumption (am-4pm) vs late afternoon/evening/overnight/early morning consumption.
If most of your energy is consumed during the day when your panels are generating the most power, a smaller battery may suffice. However, if your household energy use peaks in the late afternoon or evening, a larger battery would be recommended to store enough of your solar energy to power your home once the sun goes down.
2. The main purpose for installing battery storage
Do you just want to use stored solar energy when sunlight isn’t available, keep essential appliances operating during brief blackouts or provide backup power for extended outages?
A battery sized for occasional outages looks very different from one designed to keep your household powered during multi-day outages.
3. Your local climate
Sunshine charges your battery each day by powering your panels, which in turn, allow you to store surplus solar energy in a home battery system. If you experience frequent overcast weather, a larger solar power & battery storage system will help your home stay powered for longer – particularly on low solar generation days. When sizing a home battery, it’s good to consider your solar panels’ expected production across all seasons, not just during summer.
4. Critical household requirements
If you need reliable power for medical equipment, such as a CPAP machine, or to keep medication refrigerated, then battery backup is essential. You can choose to have specific circuits backed up; or potentially your entire property. If you back-up your whole property in the event of a grid outage, your batteries will discharge much quicker than if you only back up a few dedicated circuits. eg. 2 power circuits & 2 lighting circuits.
5. Future energy needs
If you’re planning to purchase an electric vehicle, install a pool, add air conditioning or go off-grid entirely, factor that future demand in now. It’s more cost-effective to install a slightly larger system upfront than to retrofit or add extra batteries later. This is because you can only claim the Federal government Cheaper Home Batteries Rebate once; and because you’ll have to pay for a call-out fee for a return visit.
Get the right size battery for your home
Choosing the right battery storage system involves more than simply selecting the largest option available. Every household’s energy needs are different, and bigger isn’t always better.
Most households are installing solar battery storage systems that store around 20kWh to 30kWh. The average Australian household can be adequately powered by a battery system with a capacity of between 10kWh and 24kWh.
The Energy Experts can assess your energy usage, household demands and future energy needs and recommend the right size battery for your home.
