As more households switch to solar, what difference could solar batteries make?
Have you ever wondered how much impact initiatives like state government solar schemes can have on the electricity grid? For example, the Victorian Solar Homes Program offers eligible households a rebate to install solar panels, solar hot water systems or solar batteries. And research shows that the more people take up the opportunity to install solar batteries, the less reliant we’ll be on the grid.
Traditionally, energy generated from solar systems must be used straight away. That means we still need to draw power from the grid when the sun goes down.
However, as solar batteries become more popular and affordable, households can store solar energy in batteries and use it when it’s needed the most.
Storing energy generated by the sun in daylight hours to use at night may help to lower household energy bills.
And research shows it also has the potential to ease the pressure on distribution networks.
As a long-term advocate of solar batteries in homes, we were happy to participate in a 2020 study by RMIT University to investigate the impact of batteries on low-voltage grid conditions.
Using 12 months of AGL and other providers’ residential battery operational data, the team at RMIT University investigated how grid conditions might change as more batteries are installed in more households.
The study, supported by the Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET) and Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), showed batteries could improve distribution networks by acting as a natural ‘firming’ resource. This is done by making use of excess daytime solar and reducing evening peaks.
The study also found that coordination of battery operation – such as with a Virtual Power Plant – could provide network support and help maintain a smoothly operating network. As an operator of one of the world’s largest retail-led Virtual Power Plant, it’s encouraging to learn our customers are contributing to improving energy conditions around Australia.
With residential batteries still a relatively new technology, there’s still a lot to learn – but it’s exciting to understand their potential in Australia’s energy future.
With more Australians looking to find ways to improve their energy efficiency, we’re proud to offer market-leading solar and battery bundles. See what's right for you and if you can connect to a Virtual Power Plant.
