If you’re scratching your head over buying home batteries, here’s the solution: a video guide from Finn Peacock, the brains behind SolarQuotes. This guide is jam-packed with all the latest info you need, delivering the lowdown on the battery-buying process with the clarity and precision you’ve come to expect from SolarQuotes.
Cut through the noise of 2023 battery buying with this video, adapted straight from Finn’s regularly updated Battery 101 buyers guide webpage. This thing has already racked up almost 40,000 views and it’s easy to see why. This guide is about levelling the playing field and equipping Aussie buyers with the knowledge to confidently install high-quality solar batteries without getting ripped off.
Here’s a list of topics that our video and article guides cover in detail. Click on any of the links, and you’ll be taken to that specific section of the Battery 101 webpage. If you’re more inclined towards the visual, hover over the video’s progress bar above to identify the individual chapters. Have a specific segment you’re interested in? Go right to it! However, we recommend watching the video from start to finish for a more comprehensive understanding.
- Is solar battery storage right for you?: Exploring the five main reasons to buy a battery – money isn’t everything!
- What you can expect to pay for a suitable battery: Reasonable price ranges, and a discussion on what can increase installation costs.
- What are the best solar batteries?: Finn’s take on which brands are worth buying.
- What size battery system do you need?: There’s a sweet spot unless your electricity usage is crazy high.
- Rebates and VPPs – making batteries more affordable, at a cost: Learn the ins and outs of rebate and VPP incentives.
- Common techniques of dodgy battery salespeople: They use three main techniques to get their foot in your door.
- Backup – know what you should be asking for: Don’t assume that you’re automatically protected in a blackout just because you have energy storage.
- “Thermal runaway”, aka “Why you shouldn’t buy a cheap battery”: Don’t gamble with your safety to save money.
- Like solar panels, batteries degrade – but faster: Once a solar battery reaches the end of its warranty, degradation is not linear. Sharp declines are likely.
- Battery warranties – tricks, traps and caveats: Learn some common “gotchas” in warranties.
- What to consider for an optimal installation: Location, location, location.
Once you’ve absorbed the information and are ready to request quotes from installers that Finn has personally vetted and trusts, or if you’re already determined to install a home battery system, click here:
Check Out Finn’s Other Comprehensive Guides
Every year, Finn updates a prequel and sequel to the original guide:
- Understanding Home Battery Storage: The fundamentals of home energy storage
- Owning A Battery System: Consider the life-changing aspects of owning a battery, and get guidance on monitoring and upkeep.
Finn’s also published a comprehensive 3-part guide to solar power:
- Understanding Solar: An introduction to residential solar power and an in-depth look at the key elements that constitute a system.
- Buying Solar: Everything you need to know when buying a solar system.
- Owning Solar: Your system has been installed. Now what?
Further details on the full 101 series can be found here.
About Finn Peacock
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I had a quick look at the Buying Batteries but had a minor question and an observation.
As regards #3 Best Solar Batteries, is that image the standard SQ table of left side = cheap\entry level, right side = top end\expensive? It doesn’t show the axes so I’m not sure I’m interpreting it correctly. When comparing a 12.8 kW BYD and Sungrow battery, the latter is far cheaper yet appears to offer far better specs. Perhaps I’m making assumptions I oughn’t, or I’m misunderstanding something, but I am a little confused.
As regards cost, assuming no reduction in maximum capacity over 10 years (I believe 30% degradation is the norm over this period), and ignoring lost interest on spent capital, or inflation, and using the formula of Cost / (X kWh x 365 days x 10)
5 kWh: 49.3c to 38.4c per kWh
10 kWh: 38.4c to 30.1c per kWh
15 kWh : 32.9c to 27.4 per kWh
Assuming my maths is correct today (and honestly it’d be pretty unsurprising if it isn’t) then while high energy users might already be able to break even or better with batteries, low users might need a 50% INCREASE in electricity prices to justify the switch. That’s considerably more than I was expecting!!! I also wasn’t expecting such a radical difference – a small installation can be almost twice the price of a large one on a per kWh basis!!!
Is my maths badly wrong, are solar batteries really that variable, or am I looking some obvious things?