Understanding the hype behind residential energy batteries

Australia is at an energy cross roads — thanks to the rising cost of electricity and the inconsistency of grid services, consumer dissatisfaction is at an all-time high. One thing is clear, consumers have had enough and are now looking for solutions that help them reclaim power over their energy and provide protection against blackouts or power disruptions. Leading the charge are Energy Storage Systems (ESS), enabling consumers to store power, generated from PV solar panels, and save it for later use.

Though ESS is not a new concept to the Australian market, as battery systems have been available for the past few years, 2017 has seen a new-found interest thanks to the Tesla effect, and Elon Musk’s promise to solve South Australia’s energy crisis in 100 days, or it’s free.

There’s no denying Musk is a great industry ambassador; he’s put ESS on the map and opened the door to an entirely new audience. But, great as this hype and publicity is, ESS is more complex than just saying we can fix the grid or cut your electricity bills by half. Yes, most consumers want to save money and have more stability, but there will always be gaps within the grid system, and the costs could far outweigh the benefits and predicted savings if a solution isn’t tailored to individual needs.

It’s time consumers look past the hype and headlines to understand how to actively take back control of their energy use. Currently, there is a lot of hype around a one-size-fits-all AC coupled solution, but this solution doesn’t offer all consumers flexibility or true cost saving, and most private households won’t utilise the amount of stored power available. Blinded by the monetary savings promised to them, consumers are not understanding energy storage and its true benefits.

It’s important to note, not all ESSs are created equal, and consumers should consider two key features when choosing battery storage:

Energy output

The Australian ESS market offers a selection of low- and high-voltage battery systems with a range of kWh models. To determine the most suitable system for a household or small business, installers must understand the intended use.

To select the right battery, the following questions need to be considered among others: Will it be used for off-grid capabilities, or back-up power during blackouts? How many residents live there? What appliances need to be supported?

If the right model is not chosen and tailored to specific needs, the longevity and effectiveness could be impacted. By choosing the right-sized system, upfront expenses can decrease, and the system can reach optimum life and higher performance.

Inverter choice

Inverters play a critical role within any system by converting stored battery or generated solar DC power into appliance-friendly AC electricity. Two main inverter types are available that operate with batteries; the first is ‘AC coupled’, which converts AC electricity back to DC to charge a battery system from the grid or another solar inverter. The second is a hybrid DC coupled inverter; this intelligent system operates as a solar inverter and battery charger all in one. These inverters can also charge from AC, like AC coupled inverters, if required. With a hybrid inverter, the solar system can also still generate solar energy in a blackout, unlike a typical AC coupled system. If the wrong inverter is used, this could counteract why the ESS system was installed, or in some cases decrease efficiency and return of investment.

It’s time consumers looked past the headlines and understand how they can truly regain control over their power and become independent of the grid with a sustainable system tailored to their energy needs.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/malp