Solar Batteries

Solar power is not a trend; it’s a revolution. As homeowners across Perth, Western Australia, continue to adopt this sustainable energy source, one question often arises: “How do solar batteries work?” Understanding the role of solar batteries in a solar panel system can help you maximise your investment and pave the way towards energy independence. So let’s dive in, shall we?

The Basics

In a traditional solar panel setup, sunlight is converted into electricity during the day. This electricity either powers your home directly or is sent back to the grid. However, what happens when the sun sets or it’s a cloudy day? This is where solar batteries come into play. They store excess energy generated during the day so you can use it when you need it most—be it at night or during a power outage.

Anatomy of a Solar Battery

A solar battery functions like any other battery: it stores energy in a chemical form. When electricity is required, the stored chemical energy is converted back into electricity and supplied to your home. Solar batteries are typically lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries, known for their high energy density and long lifespan.

Why Are Solar Batteries Important?

1. Energy Independence: When you can store excess energy, you rely less on the grid.
2. Cost-Efficiency: Utilising stored solar energy during peak electricity rates can save you money.
3. Backup: In case of power outages, solar batteries can provide electricity, ensuring that essential appliances stay on.

You will probably have heard about solar batteries if you consider switching to solar power. These devices store the energy generated by solar panels, allowing you to use it when the sun is not shining, such as on cloudy days and at night. In this comprehensive guide, we hope to answer all your questions about solar batteries and help you find the right solar battery system for your home.

How Solar Batteries Work

Solar batteries store the excess energy generated by solar panels during the day so that you can use that electricity when the sun is not shining. They are essentially large rechargeable batteries that can store electricity for later use. You will also need a solar battery system installed when solar panels are installed. Otherwise, you may not have electricity available at night or overcast days.

What To Look For When Choosing a Solar Battery?

As outlined below, it would be best to consider several factors when choosing solar batteries.

• Capacity: The capacity of a solar battery is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and it determines how much energy the battery can store. The larger the power, the more fuel you can store and use later.
• Depth of Discharge (DoD): The DoD is the percentage of the battery’s capacity that can be used before recharging. A battery with a higher DoD can store more energy and provide more power during outages.
• Efficiency: The efficiency of a solar battery refers to how much energy is lost during charging and discharging. A more efficient battery will waste less energy and provide more usable electricity.
• Lifespan: The lifespan of a solar battery is determined by the number of charge cycles it can undergo before it needs to be replaced. A battery with a longer lifespan will naturally save you money in the long run.
• Cost: Finally, you will need to consider the price of the solar battery. Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive than lead-acid batteries, but they also last longer and require less maintenance, saving you long-term money.

Can I add a solar battery to my existing solar power system?

With solar battery storage systems becoming more affordable and accessible, many homeowners are considering solar batteries for their existing solar power systems.

Solar batteries provide many benefits to their owners, including the ability to utilise more of their solar power generation, backup power in case of an outage, and increased energy savings, so it’s not hard to see why there has been an increase in demand recently.

While many people interested in solar batteries include them in the initial investment in their solar power system, adding a battery to your existing system is possible down the track.

Before purchasing solar battery storage for your existing solar power system, we believe you should consider the following factors first:

The Size Of Your Solar System

If your current solar energy system only generates enough solar power to meet a small portion of your electricity needs, it may not be worth purchasing a battery. Although, if you’re consuming most of your solar generation, there will be minimal solar power leftover to store in your solar battery storage. Instead, it would probably be worth considering expanding your solar power system.

Suppose your solar power system generates more than enough solar power for your energy needs. In that case, a solar battery will help you consume more of your solar power generated and displace a large proportion of what you would need to buy from the grid at night when your solar power system is not generating energy. Read More

Huawei Luna Battery – Product Spotlight

The Huawei Luna Battery

Solar energy storage systems are becoming more and more attractive to Australians nationwide as prices continue to fall and more incentives become available, which is why we wanted to go through the Huawei LUNA battery with you, one of the best investments you can make if you’re looking for a top-quality solar battery.

Scalable from a compact 5kWh up to an incredible 30 kWh, the Huawei LUNA’s modular design makes it a flexible and practical investment, able to be adjusted to your energy needs, whatever they may be. Coming from one of the most trusted manufacturers in the solar industry, it’s hard to deny the value presented to homeowners by the Huawei LUNA battery.

Huawei, Technology Experts

Huawei may be best known for its smartphones and other communication technologies, but its presence in the solar energy industry is undeniable. They have made their name with fantastic inverters that are easily monitored with their proprietary app, allowing users to control their energy more than ever before.

They have applied the experience they’ve gained in various other industries to their solar technologies, integrating cutting-edge digital, Internet and PV technologies to make their FusionSolar SmartPV solution the best it can be.

Their systems have a reputation for being safe and reliable, achieving a better return on investment through higher yields while experiencing lower maintenance costs than other similar systems. Read More

Solar battery storage is it worth it?

Solar battery storage

A solar battery captures unused solar power generated during the day, used later at night and on low-sunlight days. Solar installations that include batteries are becoming increasingly popular. There is a natural attraction to being independent of the grid: for most buyers, it isn’t just an economic decision but an environmental one. For some, it expresses their wish to be independent of energy companies.

If your solar panel array and Battery included are large enough, you can run your entire home on solar power. Using the energy from your Battery can be cheaper per kWh than using electricity from the grid, depending on the time of day and electricity tariffs in your area.

Grid-connected vs off-grid

Your home can be set up for electricity supply in four main ways.

Grid-connected solar (no solar battery storage)

The most general set-up for homes with solar panels. The solar panels supply power throughout the day, and the home typically uses this power first, resorting to grid power for any extra electricity needed on low sunlight days, times of high power usage and at night.

Grid-connected no solar

The most generic set-up, where all of your electricity comes from the primary grid. The home has no solar panels or batteries installed. Read More

The ever-increasing customer demand for premium solar and battery solutions continues to evolve. At Westsun Energy, we choose Q CELL and Q.Home.

Providing our customers with excellent products at a competitive price is something we are very proud of.

Products that are made to last in the harsh Australian climate.

Q CELL and Q.HOME is designed to last in Australia. The products are put through numerous tests leading to IP 65 Outdoor rated, with the flexibility to install indoors or outdoors.

The tests include hail damage testing, where they shoot large amounts of ice at the products—and desert testing at the Knowledge Australia Solar Centre in Alice Springs. Where products are tested for resistance to harsh desert climates, the results are compared in real time and can be found here. Read More