Your Ultimate Guide to Solar Batteries for Homes in 2025
Solar panels have completely revolutionised energy production, but what about when the sun goes down?
Common concerns about solar often include:
Does my solar power still work at night and in low-light conditions?
What happens to the excess energy my solar panel captures?
Can we count on solar power to provide most of our energy at home?
This is where solar batteries come in.
Key Takeaways:
Solar Batteries Enable the Full Potential of Your Solar System
Solar batteries increase self-consumption rates by enabling households to utilise excess solar energy for nighttime use or cloudy days. They reduce reliance on the grid, lower electricity bills, and maximise your return on solar investment.
Battery Basics Matter When Comparing Options
Understanding terms like Peak Draw, Battery Cycles, and Depth of Discharge helps you make informed decisions. These factors directly impact how long your battery lasts and how much usable energy you get.
Battery Prices Vary – and So Do Incentives
Prices range from $7,500 to $22,500, depending on capacity and brand. In Victoria, you may be eligible for an $8,800 interest-free loan, while green finance options exist in other states.
Your Installer Matters, Just as Much as the Battery
The best battery won’t perform well if it’s poorly installed. Choose an experienced installer who uses quality brands and is CEC-accredited for warranty protection and long-term support.
Cut Grid Dependence with a Solar Battery
Thanks to advancements in technology, solar power is now more dependable than ever. For example, microinventers make solar panels work efficiently even when partly shaded.
On top of that, solar batteries help solar power systems perform even better. It enables the optimisation of energy consumption. They store excess energy for use during periods of higher demand or when solar panels generate less power. Solar batteries are essential if your goal is to reduce grid dependence during outages or peak usage.
If you've read this far, you're likely considering purchasing a solar battery for your home. But before jumping right into it, let us guide you in making the right choice for your home. We could help you avoid later disappointments and maximise your solar savings.
Solar Batteries 101
Before we dive in, it's best to familiarise yourself with some key terms that you'll be seeing a lot when doing your own research:
Peak Draw: It's the maximum power you can draw from the batteries at any one time. The higher the Peak Draw, the shorter the life of the battery itself.
Solar Battery Cycles: A ‘battery cycle’ is one complete discharge and recharge. The life of a battery is measured by the number of cycles you would be expected to get from it.
Depth of Discharge: This means how deeply you can discharge the battery per cycle. For example, if a 10kWh battery has a DOD of 90%, you could use 9kWh per day/cycle. If it has 50%, you can use/draw 5kWh and so on.Advantages of Solar Batteries
How Do Solar Batteries Work?
Solar batteries play a crucial role in maximising the benefits of your solar system.
During daylight hours, solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity through a process called photovoltaic (PV) conversion. This energy is then available for immediate use in your home.
However, not all the electricity generated by your solar panels is consumed instantly. The surplus energy is stored in the solar battery system for later use.
Inside the solar battery, chemical reactions take place to store this surplus electricity as potential energy. Think of it as charging up a giant rechargeable battery.
Now, let’s fast-forward to a cloudy day or nighttime when the sun isn’t shining.
When you turn on your lights or appliances in your home, the stored energy in the solar battery is converted back into usable electricity.
The battery seamlessly supplies power to your home during these periods when the power generated from solar is insufficient.q
Advantages of Solar Batteries
While the return on investment is often a focal point of discussions surrounding solar energy systems, the conversation shouldn't end there. Solar batteries offer a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond mere financial gains. Here are a few key ones:
Save on Your Power Bills
Any excess energy produced by your solar panels is stored in the battery, acting as a personal power bank.
When the sun sets or cloudy weather limits your panels' production, the battery powers your home. It eliminates the need to draw from the grid, especially during peak demand hours when electricity rates are typically higher.
This self-reliance reduces your dependence on the grid, resulting in lower electricity bills.
Protect Yourself from Blackouts
Solar batteries, offering a lifeline during power outages. Solar batteries serve as a resilient backup, ensuring continuous electricity supply when the grid fails.
In regions prone to frequent blackouts or areas with unreliable grid infrastructure, such as remote locations or storm-affected areas, solar batteries provide uninterrupted power for essential appliances and critical systems. Beyond immediate convenience, blackout protection enhances safety and security, particularly in emergencies, by maintaining lighting, communication devices, and medical equipment functionality.
Reduce Reliance on the Grid
By storing surplus energy generated during peak sunlight hours, you can then sell this excess electricity to utility companies. This not only offsets your own energy costs but also aids in balancing the grid by providing additional renewable energy during times of high demand.
Choosing Solar Batteries
Picking the right solar battery brand for your home is essential to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of your solar energy system. Here are some quick tips:
Assess Your Energy Needs
It's crucial to understand your household's energy consumption patterns. Consider factors such as peak energy usage times, the number of appliances you use, and your overall electricity usage habits. This assessment will help you determine the size and capacity of the solar battery required to meet your needs.
Assess Installation Requirements
Consider the installation requirements and compatibility of the solar battery with your existing solar power system. Ensure the battery integrates seamlessly with your solar panels, inverter, and other components.
Consult Experts
Speak with solar energy experts or installers who can provide valuable insights and recommendations based on your specific requirements and budget.
In Australia, there are several solar battery brands available, but based on our experience, we only recommend the three best ones based on their performance, warranty, price, and VPP-capability.
Tesla Powerwall 3
Tesla Powerwall continues to be one of Australia's most popular and trusted home battery systems. It is well-suited for covering the evening and overnight energy needs of most households, as well as powering multiple appliances simultaneously.
Key Features:
13.5 kWh usable energy storage: Easily covers the average household’s evening and overnight energy needs.
11.5 kW continuous power output: Supports high-demand appliances and allows for seamless whole-home backup.
Built-in solar inverter: Simplifies installation by combining the battery and solar inverter in one integrated unit.
Backup power during outages: Automatically powers your home when the grid goes down.
Tesla app for real-time monitoring: Track energy usage, solar production, and battery status from anywhere.
10-year warranty: Backed by Tesla’s strong reputation for quality and long-term reliability.
Enphase IQ Battery
The Enphase IQ Battery is a smart, modular storage solution that helps homeowners get the most from their solar system. With intelligent software and a unique dual-cycle design, it offers flexible, safe, and scalable energy management.
Key Features:
Modular and expandable design: Start small and add more capacity over time as your energy needs grow.
Two cycles per day: Enphase can charge and discharge twice daily, reducing the total capacity required and lowering upfront costs.
Industry-leading safety: Utilises lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is one of the safest battery technologies available.
Enphase Energy Management System: Delivers real-time energy monitoring, remote updates, and seamless integration with Enphase solar systems.
Smart learning software: Adapts to your household’s energy usage patterns to optimise performance and efficiency over time.
1KOMMA5° Battery
The 1KOMMA5° solar battery is part of an integrated, German-engineered energy ecosystem that combines advanced hardware and software to deliver maximum solar self-sufficiency. It is for homeowners seeking full control, all under one brand.
Key Features:
Stackable & modular design: Start with the capacity you need and expand as your energy needs grow, from small households to high-usage homes.
Built for earning, not just storage: The battery reacts within milliseconds to energy market signals using advanced microcycle technology to maximise both performance and your financial returns through active market participation.
AI optimisation with Heartbeat platform: A smart software that learns your household energy patterns and optimises when to charge, discharge, or sell energy.
Long-lasting warranty: Includes a 12-year product warranty plus a 30-year workmanship guarantee through the 1K5° Care program.
The Price of Solar Batteries in Sydney and Melbourne
The price of solar battery storage varies depending on factors like your surplus solar power, energy consumption, and specific goals. Generally, the average price of a 5kWh battery storage starts from $7,500 and goes up to $22,500 for a 15kWh system.
What Are the Financial Options Available?
Previously, Victorian homeowners could access an interest-free loan of up to $8,800 to help cover the solar battery installation. However, this program has officially ended and is no longer accepting applications.
In its place, a new federal battery rebate is now available to eligible households across the country. Unlike the loan, which had to be repaid over several years, the rebate is an upfront discount that goes straight into your pocket.
If you're not eligible for the federal rebate or need additional support, green loans and interest-free payment plans are available through select providers. Just be sure to read the terms carefully to make sure they align with your budget and long-term goals.
Finding the Right Solar Battery Installer
There are a number of companies claiming to be expert solar battery installers but you need to be careful selecting one. You're investing towards your home and you want this to be done right.
The key things to look at when choosing an installer are:
Years of experience in the industry
Good quality battery brands
Reputation and reviews
Whether they're using CEC Accredited Installers
More Solar Batteries Resources
This solar battery guide should be enough to give you the confidence to make the right decision before purchasing a solar battery for your home. But if you're looking for more information about solar, we've got a few more for you:
Blog: Solar 101: Everything You Need To Know Before Investing In Solar For Your Home
Free Download: Solar Battery Storage Guide
Free Download: Solar Power Guide
1KOMMA5° Blog
Need more information?
Head over to the 1KOMMA5° blog for more helpful tips and other important guides on everything solar, from inverters, panels and batteries to how to make the most of your investment for years to come.