Solar Power and Battery Storage Systems for Australian Homes

Now is the time for every Australian household to consider solar power for their home and business. There have been many advances in solar power and battery technology in recent years, giving homeowners a wide range of affordable and efficient solar power and battery storage systems to choose from.

The information presented here is helpful if you’re looking to:

• Reduce your home or business power bills
• Reduce your reliance on grid power
• Use more renewable energy
• Have a more sustainable lifestyle

Rooftop solar power systems convert energy from the sun into electricity you can use in your home or business. Any electricity you don’t use is fed into the main electricity grid.

A solar panel system is made up of solar panels and a solar inverter. A solar inverter absorbs the direct current (DC) from the panels and converts this energy into a 120- or 240-volt alternating current (AC). An inverter is needed to convert DC to AC because all the devices and appliances in your home operate on AC.

A solar storage battery can be connected to a solar power system for the purposes of storing energy generated during the day that is surplus to your needs, ensuring that excess energy doesn’t go to waste. This stored, surplus energy can be used at night or in poor weather when your solar power system isn’t generating much energy.

With or without a battery storage system, a solar power system will help you save money. Using the electricity generated by a solar power system during the day means you won’t need to buy as much electricity from the grid, which can help reduce your electricity bills. To make full use of your solar powered energy, align your electricity consumption – like running the washing machine, dishwasher, or air conditioning – to times when your solar generation is highest, as opposed to running them at night when you’ll have to buy electricity from the grid.

Yes, a solar storage battery can be added to a new or existing solar power system.

Solar power systems are either ‘battery ready’ or ‘battery capable’. In turn, some battery systems come with an inbuilt inverter. We will assess your existing solar power system and provide you with battery options that are compatible with the existing system and local electricity grid.

Glow has a wide range of solar battery storage systems on offer, such as the following:

Measuring the true cost of a renewable energy system involves the system size and usage, and estimated payback period. It generally takes a few years to pay off your system through energy savings, but after that you’ll enjoy free energy for many years to come.

A battery storage system can speed up the payback period, however, there is a bigger outlay at the beginning for both a solar power and battery storage system. A solar power and battery storage system should be seen as a long-term investment that will pay itself off over several years.

It’s difficult to say whether battery storage systems will get cheaper over time because it’s a rapidly developing area. According to Clean Energy Council’s Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, ‘the commercial case for batteries will continue to improve as battery technology advances and new markets are established to reward the services they provide.’ Source

At Glow, we like to think that the choice comes down to time. While waiting for battery prices to fall, you may end up spending the same amount of money as the cost of a battery on energy bills that could have been significantly reduced by using a battery storage system. If you can afford the upfront cost of installing both a solar power and battery storage system right now, we would recommend making this worthwhile investment, both for your wallet and the environment.

We work with all the reputable brands available in Australia, such as Jinko, Fronius, SolarEdge, SMA, Trinasolar, GoodWe, Q Cells, Canadian Solar, and REC.

JinkoSolar
JinkoSolar is the world’s largest solar module manufacturer. Their panels are durable against extreme environmental conditions and come with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Fronius
We work with the following Fronius inverters: Symo, Primo, Galvo and Eco. Fronius Symo is a three-phase inverter for systems of every size. Fronius Galvo is especially suitable for households with small self-consumption systems. Fronius Primo is a single-phase inverter ideal for private, owner-occupier households. Fronius Eco is for large-scale installations.

SolarEdge
SolarEdge inverters are backed by a long-standard warranty of 12 years, extendable to 25 years. They fit nearly any roof with no restrictions on tilt, orientation, shade, or panel type.

SMA
The SMA Sunny Boy inverter is small, simple, and convenient. Its automatic inverter monitoring analyses operation, reports irregularities, and thus minimises downtime. SMA Sunny Boy is the complete solution for 100% ease and comfort.

Trina Solar
The Trina Solar Vertex S solar panels are small in size but big on power, generating up to 405 watts. It is compatible with existing mainstream inverters, optimisers, and mounting systems. Trina Solar panels come with a 25-year product workmanship warranty.

GoodWe
The GoodWe NS Series Inverter is a single-phase inverter ideally suited to new-build housing projects or small domestic applications.

Q Cells
Engineered in Germany, Q Peak Duo solar panels are the ideal solution for rooftop arrays on both residential and commercial/industrial buildings. They are a reliable investment backed by an inclusive 25-year product and linear performance warranty.

Canadian Solar
The HiKu solar panels are a high power 360-380W module that comes with a 25-year product and performance warranty.

REC
The REC N-Peak Series is a premium mono N-type solar panel with world-class performance. It comes with a 20-year product warranty and 25-year power output warranty. The REC Alpha Series is a 380W module with a 25-year warranty. It was also the 2020 winner of the Inter Solar Award.

Follow the link below for more information on solar panels and solar inverters.

We work with reputable brands available in Australia, such as LG Chem, Sonnen, MPS, Selectronic, BYD, and Hive.

LG Chem
The LG Chem RESU is compact, powerful, and flexible home battery. It comes in a range of sizes and can be wall or floor mounted. LG home batteries can be AC- or DC-coupled to perfectly suit your needs.

Sonnen
Sonnen Batterie is a complete system comprising durable battery modules, an inverter, an intelligent energy manager, and all the technology and software required for smooth operation.

MPS
MPS offers both residential and commercial solutions. The MPS residential inverter is a single-phase inverter from 2kW up to 20kW. MPS Commercial is a three-phase inverter from 25kW up to 1mW.

Selectronic
The Selectronic SP Pro AU Series is a bi-directional inverter charger. It is Australian designed and manufactured and has more features included as standard than any other inverter charger. The SP Pro AU Series is available in single, dual or three phase.

BYD
The BYD Battery-Box is a lithium battery unit with a battery control unit for usage with an external inverter. It is a high voltage battery that is flexible and modular, with no cables inside. The parallel connection of multiple identical Battery-Box HV allows for higher energy storage capacity.

Hive
The Hive Solar Battery is a 2.9kWh solar storage system that is expandable to 14.5kWh. It has a built-in inverter, 24/7 monitoring, and blackout protection day and night.

Follow the link below for more information on solar battery storage.

Glow is a New Energy Tech Approved Seller, abiding by the consumer protection standards as outlined in the New Energy Tech Consumer Code. We have also been approved by the South Australian Government as a Qualified System Provider of home batteries.

New Energy Tech Approved Sellers have a commitment to responsible sales and solar industry best practice. An accredited technician will install your solar system.

Glow installs solar panels, solar inverters and solar storage batteries to residential and commercial buildings and has been in the heating and cooling industry for 25 years. We are a South Australian business servicing all areas of metropolitan and regional South Australia, with showrooms in Warradale and Goolwa.