Benefits of investing in solar batteries
Solar batteries are designed to capture the surplus energy usually exported to the grid, storing it for use later in the day, to save you from buying in electricity when the sun isn’t shining. They can be easily added to an existing solar PV system with minimal disruption.
How do solar PV batteries work?
Solar batteries work by converting the DC energy being produced by your solar panels and storing it as AC power for later use. When you install a solar battery as part of your solar panel system, you are able to store excess solar electricity at your home instead of sending it back to the grid.
During the day:
- The solar PV system generates solar electricity.
- The battery storage system will check if all the generation is being used to power your lights and appliances.
- If you’re not using all the electricity, any surplus energy is used to charge the battery.
- Once the battery is fully charged, if there is still more solar electricity being generated, this will be exported to the grid.
- Excess energy can be sold back to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
In the evening or at time of low solar generation:
- The solar PV panels have a reduced output.
- If your demand is greater than the electricity generated from your solar panels, it can be diverted from your battery. This ensures that you are making full use of the solar power that you have captured.