It is one of the most frequent requests from clients for battery storage (or solar in general for that matter).
I want batteries to cover my bill.
It is unfortunate but the way battery storage for residential applications has been marketed to the general public is a little misleading. The days of ‘zero’ or ‘credited’ bills are well and truly over and no matter how much solar you put on your roof, the concept of disconnecting off the grid is fairly far fetched.
Our mindset for ‘bigger is better’ is reflected greatly in the selection of electrical appliances throughout our home. Ducted air conditioning, coffee machines, laundry dryers are all components which greatly limit the possibility of a household disconnecting off the grid.
Not only this, our mindset in the event things were to go pear shaped also inhibits us from truly unleashing ourselves from the connection costs of the grid. God forbid we were to have a cold shower or eat our food cold for a night because power wasn’t available. We unfortunately do not have the mindset to think seriously about our power usage and use less at certain times to avoid the nuisance of a power outage.
Not to mention, the design of an off grid system is totally different to designing one connected to the grid; requiring a battery bank large enough to sustain three days of apocalyptic conditions (See Cover Photo).
Hybrid Solar Systems are to supplement our power usage, offering a variety of cheaper alternatives with the grid
Don’t get me wrong though, I am right there with you. My power usage habits are by no means what you would call “suited to off grid”. Like most people I do enjoy the comforts of an espresso coffee or total climate control.
But rather then expecting to reduce our bills to zero, we should be looking at the situation a little more strategically and a little less in black and white.The intention of Hybrid solar systems is to ‘supplement’ our energy usage, offering a variety of cheaper alternatives to the grid at any one time. Obviously, power from your solar panels directly is by far the cheapest which is why I preach highly of the concept of Load Shifting.
A little further down the road you will find that the installation of a battery bank will again be cheaper then the grid and will be able to be used as an alternative energy source for more of your smaller energy using items like your lighting and general power.
This then leaves you to use the grid for your higher consumables (obviously in conjunction with the other two sources) as a means to indulge on such things as the dryer, ducted air conditioning and underfloor heating which like any sugary treat, should be taken sparingly and only if you have earned it!
Despite the availability and necessity of the grid and the growing potential for Hybrid solar systems, taking an ‘Off Grid Mindset’ still could go a long way in improving both your bottom line and general way of life.
Matt Simms – Simmark
