Solar energy storage from a battery nerd

As a growing number of Australians leave the electricity grid, many are turning to Melbourne entrepreneur Anthony Violi — a self-confessed ‘battery nerd’ and managing director of power management company Fusion Power Systems.

The company’s Fusion Titan energy storage system, launched earlier this month, is designed to thrive in Australia’s tough climate for up to a decade. According to Violi, “It’s unrivalled in terms of performance and safety in residential solar energy storage systems.”

Violi says his team “searched the globe for the right battery technology and supported it with an Australian-designed and -built inverter and charge controller to meet the demands of our clients”. As a result of the search, the Fusion Titan is made up of battery components from Aquion Energy utilising technology invented and manufactured in the United States.

“The saltwater technology allows it to tolerate extreme temperatures,” Violi said. “There is no risk of it overheating, meaning it is extremely safe and efficient in our conditions for up to 10 years.”

According to Violi, the Fusion Titan is “manufactured completely carbon neutral” and free of lithium, lead and acid. In addition, the technology is “the only Cradle to Cradle Certified battery technology in the world”, Violi said.

The product’s environmental credentials were a big motivating factor in Queenslander Colin Robinson’s decision to invest in the Titan 3. Robinson operates a commercial hydroponic vegetable-growing business that relies on constant flowing water, 24 hours a day. Solar panels play a large role in the operation’s power generation, although it remains on the grid.

“With our business, we can’t afford power outages so have relied on a backup generator. With a Fusion Titan we maintain the 24-hour supply at a similar establishment cost, but with virtually no maintenance or running costs,” Robinson said.

“The system also fits with our overall philosophy of organic, low-impact production. The Titan is environmentally friendly. The system is chemical-free, which meant we were very comfortable making the investment.”

Robinson says his first electricity account following installation showed a marked decrease. He is further impressed with the longevity of the battery, which has a 100% depth of discharge when used with the purpose-built inverter.

“One of the biggest bug bears in the industry is the 3–5 year life of a traditional solar inverter,” Robinson said. “The Fusion Titan system is a hybrid with expandable battery capacity — it is maintenance-free and has an eight-year system warranty.

“We’ve also invested in a custom-designed and IP56 certified case to ensure it looks good at home and protects all components from the elements. You can even monitor its performance online and via an app with Fusion Pulse.”

The Titan comes in three models with storage capacities of 4–16 kW.