Saving Energy with the LG Solar Battery

When most people think of LG they generally think of general home appliances and mobile phones. The reality is that LG has been pioneering the development of energy storage systems since 1995. Developed through their sister company, LG Chem, their batteries have been used in everything from mobile phones to the spacesuits used by NASA astronauts. Using lessons learned from these applications they have produced some of the best lithium-ion solar home batteries on the market time and time again. We thought we should take a look at how you can benefit from a LG solar battery.

While there was initially a small install base for solar batteries in Australian homes it has started to rapidly increase in recent years, with 2017 seemingly being the year things ramped up. As more and more people adopted solar and saw the savings it brought they have looked to increase the value of their system even further. A battery is a great way to do this as it not only extends the effectiveness of your solar system into the evening but can be used to contribute to virtual power plants.

What are the benefits of a LG solar battery for your home solar setup

Further Reductions in Energy Bills

When you are not producing solar power you are buying from the grid just like everyone else. It probably sounds silly but the amount of people that just assume a solar power system is going to produce around the clock would surprise you. Energy is charged at different rates depending on the time of day and when most of us are home in the evening we are on “peak” rates. By having a battery we effectively reduce a reliance on “standard” power, using our own energy harvest by the sun well into the evening.

Independence From The Grid

This is a similar point to the one we just made but it’s worth iterating the benefit of not having to rely on existing infrastructure for supply of power when you need it the most. While the idea of selling power generated by your solar panels during the day back to the grid is an enticing one, having the peace of mind that you have your own source of power should anything go wrong is another benefit. This does lead us into another benefit however…

Blackout Protection

Blackouts can be a way of life depending on where you live in Australia (looking at you SA) and it can be an extremely annoying occurrence. With a LG solar home battery installed in your home you can immediately switch over to stored power when a blackout happens. This is an automatic function that kicks in when the system has determined the grid is dead. Should you live somewhere that is prone to extreme weather (shoutout to QLD) then a battery only makes more sense as violent storms can take power lines and grids down for days.

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A Greener Tomorrow

One of the driving forces behind the mass adoption of solar power across the world is the acceptance of climate change and our role in it. Using fossil fuels to generate power is not only unsustainable from a supply point of view, but from an environmental one as well. It really comes down to simple facts: the power in the grid comes from fossil fuels for the most part and the less you use it, the more of a difference you make.

Looking at data from 2019, we see that NSW, VIC and QLD are the most coal hungry states and fossil fuels make up 79% of all the electricity produced. The data also shows that 14% of the power produced was generated outside of the electricity sector! This is a perfect example of what we call “people power”. We also want to give a nod to Tasmania and their utilisation of hydro power which is another sector we are extremely excited about.

Money For Power

Having a LG battery installed in your home means you can act like a mini power plant. LG has energy trading partners that are able to utilise special software to manage energy transfer between you and the local grid. With these tools you are able to sell the energy stored in your battery to the grid at the best rates possible and even take power back for storage at a time where rates are lower. This means you get a premium price for the power you have generated and still pay a reduced rate on the power you home actually consumes.

Solar Battery Rebates

If you live in Victoria then the benefits of a solar battery are only further increased through the extension of the Solar Homes Program battery rebate. A recent expansion in November of 2020 allocated a further $191 million towards the program and saw restrictions lifted in terms of postcodes that were eligible for the battery rebate previously. 17,500 battery rebates are being made available over the next 3 years which means there has never been a time to start saving more with a solar home battery.

We recently did an article on the Vicotrian solar rebate program so you can jump over to that to get the full details but it’s worth noting there are requirements that need to be met before you can take advantage of the battery rebate. If you are confused by any of these requirement or would like someone with experience to go through them with then feel free to give us a call on 1800 255 474 to talk with an expert solar consultant

Property already has solar panels installed which have a capacity equal to or greater than 5kW
You are the owner-occupier
You have approval by the Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP) stating that is safe for a battery to be connected to the grid
The energy storage unit is listed on the Solar Victoria’s Approved Battery List and the applicant has not already installed an energy storage unit before
Total household taxable income is less than $180,000 a year
Home is valued at less than $3 million
The applicant agrees to receive information from their Distribution Network Service Provider about battery trials and the potential benefits
The applicant agrees to have the possibility of free safety inspection and/or audit as directed by the Solar Victoria Audit Program
The property has not partaken in the Solar Homes Program previously

The Right Inverter Matters

In order for a battery to be able to function you need to make sure the inverter you are using actually has backup capabilities. If you install a battery into an existing solar power system with an inverter that does not have this function there is a risk it will not be able to charge the battery when a blackout does happen. It is for reasons like this we always recommend talking with an experienced solar provider to make sure all bases are covered.

We have taken a look at the Delta E5 Hybrid Energy Storage System before and while this package comes with its own Panasonic battery the E5 inverter itself can be supplied separately and paired with a LG solar battery. We have found the E5 to be a fantastic performing inverter and we can put together a great package that will save you money and keep your home powered during a blackout.

Solar Power With An Edge

As you can see from the benefits listed in this article, getting a solar battery is a great way to further the savings you already enjoy from your existing solar system and even provides the opportunity to profit. In the coming weeks we are going to be taking a look at Virtual Power Plants and why they are becoming an increasingly useful tool for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

At first even having a solar power setup was a bit of a novelty but the reality is the sun shines on everyone in this lucky country and with it comes the potential to harness the power we need to push humanity further into the future than we ever thought possible. Now that solar has become so wildly popular the next step is helping bridge the gap in power demands between those who have it and those still relying on the fossil fueled traditional power grid.

If you are interested in purchasing a solar power system with a LG solar battery or would like to know if your existing setup can be retrofitted with one, we encourage you to give us a call and talk with an expert, experienced solar professional who can take you through the process step by step, checking for rebate eligibility and finding the right output for your home’s needs. Call us on 1800 255 474 to find out more or you can also get in touch with us by filling in the quote form on this page to have a consultant get back to you when it suits.