On-Grid Battery Storage with Solar Power Presented by: Simon Reid BREAZE Energy Solutions simon@breaze.org.au 0434 76 97 22
On-Grid Battery Storage with Solar Power the next big thing???
Should I add batteries to my EXISTING Solar Power System? Should I include batteries with my NEW Solar Power System? Should I wait until Batteries come down in price but install a NEW Solar Power System now that is Battery Ready? Should I consider disconnecting from the Mains Grid completely? Are there better ways to invest in the sustainability of my household?
Big Picture: Where are we going? Homes will be All-Electric (no Mains Gas) Solar Power will be NORMAL on Homes Batteries will be NORMAL on Homes Solar Hot Water or Heat Pumps will NORMAL on Homes New Homes will need little or no Heating and Cooling (8 to 10 Stars) Homes will get Smarter - with Energy Management Systems (for Elecricity) Some Homes will be NET Exporters of Electricity Electric Cars will be replace Petrol Cars The Mains Electricity Grid will disappear in Many Remote Rural Areas
Big Picture: How did we get here? * Government Incentives for Renewable Energy particularly Rooftop Solar * Huge Fall in Price of Solar Panels (80% over 5 Years from 2008 to 2013) * Increased Energy Efficiency -> Reduced Demand * Business Model of Centralized Generation entering The Death Spiral * On the brink of a Revolution: Central Generation to Distributed Generation and Storage
Closer to Home: Feed-In Tariffs Good Ole Days: 60c+ Premium Rate Later: 25c+ Transitional Rate 2014: 8c (New) Standard Rate 2015: 6.5c (New) Standard Rate 2016: 5c (New) Standard Rate 2017: End of Transitional and (New) Standard = 0c!?! 2024: End of 60c+ Premium Rate
Excess Generation: Sell to Grid
Excess Generation: Peak Shift
It s a Beautiful Idea but right now Batteries are still expensive * The Economics are not Compelling * 15 to 20 Year Paybacks * Although it is an Investment in your Home (which paying a Bill for 15 Years is not!!!)
But WITHIN FIVE YEARS it will be Compelling Between 2008 and 2013, the price of a Solar Panel came down about 80% the same process is starting with Batteries
So what to do Now? 1) Reduce Demand 2) Demand Management (Shift Demand to Time of Generation) Manually Timers Sensors 3) Other Forms of Energy Storage
Solar Hot Water Flat Plate Evacuated Tube
What is a Heat Pump? Old Proven Technology (Refrigerator, Air-Con, ) A different way to collect Solar Energy (The Sun makes the Ambient Air Warm) 3 to 4 Times as Efficient as an Electric Element
If you have a Solar Power System 3kW 5kW and about to lose your Feed-in Tariff Install a Heat Pump HWS
Back to Batteries
How can Batteries be combined with Solar Power? 1) Retrofitting Existing Systems 2) New Systems with Batteries now 3) New Systems without Batteries that are Battery Ready
The Marketing is ahead of The Technology which is ahead of The Regulators
What do you want Batteries to do??? 1) Peak Shifting 2) Backup (Partial) 3) Backup (Full) 3) Go Off-Grid
Should I go Completely Off-Grid? If the Mains Grid is there, using it will probably be the economic choice. Mains Grid = Back Generator Buy or Hire??? Remember Electric Cars
Should I go Completely Off-Grid? Mains Grid will remain in Urban Areas But if you are Remote from an Urban Area, you should be ready for the possibility of being forced to go Off-Grid Chose a Solar Inverter now that will give you an upgrade to add Batteries that has Flexibility to stay On-grid or go Off-grid On-Grid Solar starts to look like Off-Grid Solar
System Architectures: 1) AC Coupled (Unmanaged) 2) AC Coupled (Managed) 3) DC Coupled
1) AC Coupled (Unmanaged)
2) AC Coupled (Managed)
3) DC Coupled ( Hybrid )
System Architectures: 1) AC Coupled (Unmanaged) 2) AC Coupled (Managed) 3) DC Coupled All include Solar and Battery Inverter-Charger AC Coupled is a 2 Box Solution DC Coupled is a 1 Box Solution DC Coupled Hybrid for New Systems AC Coupled for New or Retrofit
Other things to consider: Can replace Old Inverter: Trigger upgrade to current Wiring Rules? If larger kw Ouput than Old Inverter, need Pre-Approval from Powercor If add Panels to System: Lose old FiT (60c+), go onto current (5c?) If AC Coupling (Unmanaged): Tech Support & Warranty??? Use DC Coupled Hybrid Inverter Secure Powercor Approval But pay more now
Want (Option) to Go Off-Grid? * Need a True Off-Grid Inverter * Off-Grid Batteries typically 12V, 24V, 48V (On-Grid eg. Telsa higher)
What do you want Batteries to do? 1) Peak Shifting 2) Backup (Partial) 3) Backup (Full) Off Grid Ready 3) Go Off-Grid
Questions
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From Centralized Generation To Distributed Generation and Storage
This is a Revolution We will Win