Question 1

Is the battery or inverter noisy?

Accepted Answer

In short, no. Noisy batteries are a result of cooling fans installed to regulate temperature - the batteries we use (Fox ESS) rely on passive cooling instead. When inverters are working at full capacity they'll be audible at 35dB (usually only on the sunniest, longest days) - that's generally regarded as ambient noise in a rural setting. A fridge, by comparison, gives out 45dB.

Question 2

Can I run my house on renewable energy during a power outage or blackout?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you get something called islanding (or as one of our customers called it, the zombie switch). Islanding is a piece of hardware that disconnects your house from the grid if there's a power outage: whether that's a tree falling on the wires, or a local blackout. If you have islanding included in your system, you'll be able to operate off your battery, even if the power is down.

Question 3

Could we set up a community battery for the whole street?

Accepted Answer

The concept is sound, but the practicalities matter. A battery installed behind a home's existing meter is far more cost-effective than a standalone community battery in a public space. The most effective version of a 'community battery' is coordinated batteries across multiple homes, managed together.

Question 4

Does the battery need maintaining?

Accepted Answer

Neither needs regular maintenance, just keep them clean. The battery will gradually lose some capacity over time; after 12-15 years it may be at around 80% of its original storage. At that point you can add another battery alongside it or replace it. Battery costs have continued to fall, so the replacement cost in 15 years is likely to be much lower than today's.

Question 5

How do solar, battery and tariffs work together?

Accepted Answer

Solar systems generate electricity during daylight hours. When you use energy in the day, you draw from what's being generated on your roof. A battery stores surplus energy for later use, or so you can sell (export) it back to the grid. Charge your battery from the grid overnight on a cheap ToU rate; use solar generation during the day to power your home and top up your battery; export surplus electricity during high-demand peak hours on a SEG tariff; use battery energy during the evening peak to avoid paying peak import rates.

Question 6

Is a bigger battery a better option?

Accepted Answer

That depends on your home, energy usage, and your goals. Bigger batteries can store more, which means you are less reliant on importing energy, and can profit more from selling your excess back to the grid. If you have islanding, you have more energy as a back-up option. However, cost scales with battery capacity, but batteries degrade with cycling - if you aren't filling and draining your battery regularly, and leaving it full with unused excess energy, you're not realising the full value of the battery you've bought.

Question 7

Should I wait for better battery technology before installing?

Accepted Answer

The honest answer: if the system makes financial sense for your home now, the savings you'll see as soon as you install are worth doing it now. Waiting costs you years of savings. Cheaper or different technology may arrive, but you can't reclaim the years of bills you'd have paid in the meantime.

Question 8

What are best-practice smart energy strategies once I have a battery and/or solar installed?

Accepted Answer

With a battery and ToU tariff: charge from the grid at the cheapest time (generally overnight); discharge during the evening peak to avoid peak import costs. If you also have solar and a SEG tariff: top up from solar during the day at no cost; export surplus solar and battery power during peak periods for a profit. Some high-rate export tariffs require you to import from the same supplier; others are open to all - shopping around can get a better deal.

Question 9

What should I do after installation regarding tariffs?

Accepted Answer

Make sure you have a smart meter; speak to your current supplier about (and shop around for) SEG and ToU tariffs; and let POP know if you're planning to add an EV, ASHP, more batteries or solar panels, since this can change which tariff makes sense.

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