According to Sunwiz, Australia’s battery market grew by 55% in 2022. With the increasing trend towards batteries, increased electricity prices, and availability of some great battery technologies, it is beneficial to offer customers batteries for their homes in addition to solar.
When choosing a battery to install for residential applications in both Australia and New Zealand there are some key considerations:
1. Complete solution
There are inverter manufacturers who also manufacture batteries. Choosing the same brand as other components of the solar installation can simplify the installation process, with often only one training session, one distributor, and one manufacturer to deal with when installing and maintaining the system.
2. Capacity
The size of the battery system is important and the ability to increase the capacity if and when required. Some batteries are easily scalable, and others cannot add additional storage capacity.
Larger batteries offer higher energy storage capacity, reduced cycling for longer lifespan, and higher power output. On the other hand, smaller batteries provide increased flexibility for installation and usage, modularity for expandability, and redundancy if faults occur.
3. Warranty
While most solar products have a warranty lifespan of 10 to 25 years, batteries usually have shorter warranty periods than solar panels or other solar components.
Solar battery warranties typically involve three areas: years, cycles, and percentage output. The warranty duration is stated in years, covering defects or malfunctions during that period. Cycles refer to the number of charge and discharges the battery can undergo within the warranty timeframe and percentage output refer to retained capacity.
4. Commissioning
Each manufacturer has their own commissioning process, often accompanied by specific software, tools, and resources to simplify and expedite the process. They provide dedicated apps that offer features such as system setup, configuration, and performance monitoring.
Overview and Battery options for new solar installations
There are two battery topologies available on the market. AC Coupled and DC Coupled.
AC Coupled Batteries
AC Coupled batteries typically come with a separate monitoring system to the inverter except for the Enphase IQ battery 5P when used with Enphase microinverters.
Enphase IQ Battery 5kWh (with IQ System Controller)
To install this battery, you need to be accredited by Enphase University.
AC Solar Warehouse is providing practical training to make it easier to obtain the required certification. The practical training sessions are taking place in July in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and tentatively in August in Adelaide. You can find all the information and register here to secure your spot and download the data sheet & installer brochure. Participants will be eligible to receive 30 CPD points.
Below are some of the key features of the new Enphase IQ Battery 5kWh (with IQ System Controller)
- Backup and PV circuit management (via the IQ System Controller)
- High Energy to Power ratio 4.96kWh/3.84kVA
- Can combine up to 4 x IQ Batteries from the one IQ System Controller
Let’s apply the key considerations to the Enphase IQ Battery 5P.
- Complete solution: The Enphase IQ Battery 5P is an all-in-one AC-coupled storage system. Each battery includes multiple bi-directional IQ8 microinverters while the IQ System Controller offers backup power from the battery.
All in-one system: Whole home:
All in-one-system: Partial home
- Capacity: 5kWh – Enphase IQ Batteries are built on a distributed architecture platform. This modular design means you can expand the system as energy needs grow. The battery’s total capacity is five kilowatt-hours (5 kWh), which means it can store up to 5 kWh of energy. However, it’s important to note that the usable capacity is not the same as the total capacity. While the data sheet may indicate that it’s 5 kW usable, it doesn’t mean the battery can be completely drained down to zero. The 5 kW usable implies that you can use up to 5 kWh of the battery’s capacity. To maintain the battery’s health and longevity, it is advised to avoid fully depleting it and instead, keep a reserve, ideally not going below 10% of its total capacity.
10% is the minimum reserve for IQ7/S-series with EES 3.0, this is required for starting the battery in a loss of grid event in the evening. 10% reserve would leave an available battery capacity of 4.5 kWh. IQ8 will have a lower reserve minimum as IQ8’s are grid forming. - Warranty: IQ Battery 5P will be backed by an industry-leading 15-year limited warranty up to 6,000 cycles as standard. (>60% capacity, up to 15 years or 6,000 cycles)
- Commissioning: Commission in < 60 mins – One of the industry’s fastest commissioning times. With Enphase Enlighten monitoring app installers can monitor and manage the battery system.
SonnenBatterie Evo 10kWh
To install this battery, it is necessary to obtain accreditation from the manufacturer’s resources, specifically the Sonnen Academy
Sonnen Batteries Evo 10kWh have integrated a complete solution in one unit (with integrated backup).
To learn more features of this battery and access to the data sheet visit SonnenBatterie Evo product page.
Let’s apply the key considerations to the SonnenBatterie:
- Complete solution: SonnenBatterie is designed to be compatible with a wide range of solar systems and inverters. It can work with both grid-tied and off-grid solar installations. The sonnenBatterie Evo is a fully integrated AC coupled solar battery storage system.
- Capacity: Nominal Capacity 11kWh – Usable Capacity 10kWh
- Warranty: Up to 10 years or 10,000 complete recharge cycles.
- Commissioning: The commissioning process for the sonnenBatterie consists of five steps: installation, connection, testing, commissioning report, and certification. Sonnen provides a helpful video that explains these steps in an easy-to-understand manner for installers. You can watch the video below.
sonnenBatterie – Commissioning Process – CA 2 0
The Installation Commissioning Report needs to be submitted to sonnen to lodge vital data.
DC Coupled Batteries
DC Coupled batteries are a good option for new installations, since the solar system and the battery can be monitored and commissioned from the same platform, usually the app from the manufacturer.
Another special feature of the DC coupled batteries is that PV oversizing can be higher than AC batteries.
SolarEdge Home Battery 10kWh
- Compatible with SolarEdge 5kW, 6kW, 8.25kW & 10kW 1ph Home Hub & Genesis inverters
- Options for backup, EV Charger, panel level monitoring
- Can have up to 3x 10kWh batteries off the one inverter
- Installer accreditation required, SolarEdge EDGE Academy.
- See more features, date sheet , installation videos and price*on the SolarEdge Battery product page. *To check prices, availability and to buy online you need to register.
Let’s apply the key considerations to the SolarEdge Home Battery:
- Complete solution: SolarEdge offers a complete solution. The compatible SolarEdge inverters for the Home Battery is the Genesis single phase inverters and the Home Hub single phase inverters.
- Capacity: The SolarEdge Home battery 10kWh has a usable energy of 9.7kWh and a 100% depth of discharge capability. The continuous output power is 5kW with a peak output power in backup mode of 7.5kW for 10 seconds. Up to 3 batteries can be installed on the same inverter providing a capacity of up to 29.1 kWh
- Warranty: 10-year limited warranty from the installation date. Configuration Energy Retention 70% at the end of the Warranty Period – Unlimited cycles.
- Commissioning: Commissioning SolarEdge installation is quick and simple with step-by-step instructions and easy to read menus. Solar installers need the SetApp installed on their smartphones and follow the instructions provided. Watch here the SolarEdge Video where the commissioning process is explained step by step.
Sungrow Battery Modules 3.2kWh
Sungrow is the only manufacturer that doesn’t require any specific training to install their batteries. Its main features are:
- Use with Sungrow 5kW & 6kW single phase, Hybrid Inverters and 5kW and 10kW 3ph Hybrid inverters
- Integrated backup (in Hybrid inverters)
- 9.6kWh to 25.6kWh stacks available can have up to 4 stacks off the one inverter
- Learn more about Sungrow Batteries & Sungrow Inverters
Let’s apply the key considerations to the Sungrow Battery:
- Complete solution: Sungrow provides a comprehensive solution for solar energy systems, offering a wide range of inverters to meet all needs and applications.
- Capacity: Up to 4 Sungrow LFP battery units can be paralleled together giving a battery capacity of up to 32 x 3.2kWh stackable battery modules.
- Warranty: 10 Year Limited Performance Warranty – The performance warranty guarantees that the battery maintains at least 60% of the initial battery’s capacity.
- Commissioning: There is a detailed installation guide and videos available that describes installation
Selectronic SelectCell 13.44kWh
- Use with Selectronic SP Pro On-Grid/Off-Grid inverters (48V: 3kW to 7.5kW, 120V: 7.5kW to 20kW, can have multiple inverters combined up to 240kW)
- Integrated backup & generator control (in SP Pro inverters)
- 13.44kWh to 3MWh stack configurations available
- See more features, data sheet and video by visiting our Selectronic SelectCell Battery product page
Let’s apply the key considerations to the Selectronic SelectCell:
- Complete solution: Complete inverter & battery solution. SelectCell battery was designed specifically to match Selectronic Australian-made SP Pro inverters.
- Capacity: It has a modular unit capacity of up to 13.44kWh and it can be scaled on system sizes from 40kWh to 3MWh. Currently, the battery is available for all Selectronic SP Pro 120V systems. A battery for 48V systems will be available later this year.
- Warranty: SelectCell has a product warranty of 8 years, while the performance warranty covers 60% of retained capacity after 10 years or 35.6MWh per battery.
- Commissioning: Selectronic held training courses to ensure fast and efficient installation. The second module of the training is exclusive to prepare installers for the installation commissioning. The training covered the following topics:
- Preparation before going to site, tools needed, components required and compatibility of components.
- Installing the SP PRO(s), placement, wiring.
- Installing SCERT Solar Inverters.
- Installation of MPPT
- Navigating SP LINK.
- Checks before Power Up
- Powering Up
- Commissioning
If you missed the training get in contact with your Account Manager at AC Solar Warehouse so we can provide the most up to date information.
Our Engineering and Account Management team’s knowledge across all solar and energy storage equipment ensures you can navigate any technical issues or support required.
Feel free to contact us for assistance, system design or further information. We are here to guide you to the best solution for your solar installations.