If you are getting a new inverter ask for one with MODBUS/SUNSPEC communications as it will be easier to add batteries to in the future. This was actually Finn’s article, but I’m happy to help you out. Established in 2006, the company has offices in the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, and … My last "real job" was working for the CSIRO in their renewable energy division. And that is only for a couple of hours each side of midday on a summer’s day. Hi, Our Brisbane residential body corporate committee want reassurance that our Energex approved 15 kWH system approved in 2011 and installed with a Sunny Tripower 150000 inverter can have additional panels to take it up to 133% of the 15KWH ie to say 19 Kwh ? This is because of the connection between your home solar system and the grid - if utility workers are repairing damaged poles and wires, there cannot be any electricity flowing onto the grid. You could replace you existing inverter with one large 3 phase inverter, but this would add to the cost. I would say that SMA are the safest bet here. Of course the installer must add a margin and installation cost and racking etc (as I point out in the post). 2. However, the value of net metering credits is greater during peak hours. 3) I would recommend 2kW East, 2kW West and 2.5kW North. A 3 phase inverter would allow you to go bigger. The solar battery backup systems on this page are designed to retrofit an existing grid-tie solar system with energy storage via AC coupling. Part of build: 1..7Kw BIPV (West Aspect) To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: how solar upgrades can affect your eligibility. While connecting and disconnecting cables I also found an earth wire to rail was a bit loose and a cable join from -ve or +ve wasn’t properly insulated and repaired. The fact that the rule on separate metering doesn’t mention separate inverters doesn’t mean you can somehow avoid it – you can’t make assumptions from what the rule doesn’t say. Perhaps both are being used by the current installation. I want to add panels on the east side. And according to your installer, it appears they choose not to pay. Can add about 10 more panels max…. LG panels are high quality and now have a 25 year product warranty, but you will have to pay a premium for them. Ready for some quotes? Just want to add that I have the very same request. We receive the 44cent feed in tariff. (not that far from Sydney….). If you undersize the battery backup it would be possible to mess up the ratio, but as a rule of thumb, never have more than 30% of the battery capacity inputting into the battery. I’m not actually sure what you’re likely to be charged, but if you’d like to get a quote through us you can go to our homepage here: And enter your postcode in the space at the top right and then click on “upgrades”. Solar Battery Backup Systems. A battery ready system is much like a common grid-connected solar system but uses a hybrid inverter rather than a common solar inverter.Modern hybrid inverters have battery connections and controls built-in, which makes adding a battery much easier in the future. Six months ago I added 2 panels to an 8 panel (1.5kw) system that was about 8 years old and was going great until a couple of weeks ago. Find out why you should be utilising a battery … And of course there is the cost of getting the switch installed. thanks, This may give you all the energy you need with your existing inverter. This gave a DC overvoltage error – after further investigation and numerous trips up the ladder I have found that it will run happily with either of the added panels (total 9) but not both. Hi, Protect Your Solar Investment. Although every system has a generation meter, most don’t have export meters. Battery Pricing. Plus no high voltage DC wiring and associated issues. If your inverter is a Sunny Roo, KLNE, JFY, JSI, Aerosharp, Sharp, or other inverter with a penchant for going bang after a few years, then this is a great opportunity to replace the thing with a genuine premium inverter, such as SMA. Close Technical data. Replacing the existing cable with a thicker one may fix that problem, but is an extra expense. Limit your load to vital items on a second smaller breaker panel or “sub panel” and you simplify what you need to provide power to. I have recently installed a Solaredge Storedge SE6000 inverter (DC Battery Ready / non-HDWave) with 24x LG 320W panels complete with DC Optimisers . The Fronius IG30 inverter has a capacity of 2.65 kilowatts. i want to add another system do i need another meter ? Refer to your agreement for details. Throughout the day, your home solar system is constantly converting the sun’s rays into energy to power your home. You may need to replace them all which will add to the cost of expanding your system out to 2.9 kilowatts. Having a battery does not mean you will not qualify for the federal solar tax credit, but it requires additional research to make sure you maintain your federal solar incentive. Tesla Increases Powerwall Price $800 After Announcing They’ll Halve Battery Prices By 2025, SunPower Solar Panels: One of the best panels lots of money can buy, NSW’s Hunter New England Health Heading For Carbon Neutral, Compare Feed-In Tariffs and Electricity Plans. And if the original company does the work then your warranty should stay intact. Here’s an article to help you work out if they are worth it: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/sa-battery-subsidy-savings/. Sun: Noon-Midnight (CT), Privacy Policy “…the word on the street is that in practice it is only usable in their expensive ‘hybrid’ models. I will be having a 1.7kw Solar Roof Tile Suntech BIPV with a Fronius Symo inverter (unsure which one is included, anyone knows what the fit is). According to my understanding of the rules you can increase your solar panel capacity up to Total Generation Capacity of 2.9 kilowatts. The service agreement can be transferred to the new homeowner. This will have to be done by an accredited solar installer. It seems like a waste of money and resources to remove a perfectly good inverter. There are too many scenarios to explain every one, but this is the most common question we come across. Without shading microinverters may only result in 1-2% more output over a string inverter, mainly because they reduce the effects of dirt and bird poop. Home Battery Pricing. Current system is from Sunrun but they are not offering batteries to existing customers, only new installs. Isaiah wrote: When purchasing an item that uses 1.9 amps and runs on 12 volts, can I buy a battery that is 12 volts but 1.4 amp hours. Although the offical guidelines are really badly written: http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/energy-consumers/solar/solar-bonus-scheme/solar-bonus-scheme-faq#4. Ask if it is possible to rewire the North facing panels in to a single MPPT – which frees up the 2nd MPPT for your new array. 3kW of panels will generally only produce 80% (2.4kW) of their rated peak power due to losses. But your installer will be able to advise you on this based on what appliances you have. 1) Yes – if you are happy with a 5kW maximum inverter, then it is fine to go into a single phase with the solar. If you have a home solar system without a battery, you will not have power during a … We have developed a solar battery storage calculator that calculates the energy and financial effectiveness of adding a solar battery to your existing system. customerservice@sunnova.com, Puerto Rico: 787.991.7007 I am now told by installers that panel technology has changed and that I can’t legally install more 185w panels to an ‘on grid’ system and that I need to instead to purchase 3kw of panels. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The house has the meter box and it is on the opposite side to where the shed ie: about 20 meters away, the Adding battery storage for existing solar panels enables a variety of benefits: Unlike a solar-only system, with a solar plus battery storage system, you can continue to produce and use your solar energy even when the grid is down. 4. If a household was going to install a 5 kilowatt inverter with 5 kilowatts of solar panels then it would make sense, provided they had room on their roof, to increase the panel capacity as close to the maximum that’s allowed which is 6.66 kilowatts. Then you can try contacting them. If that inverter you found is old it may not meet current standards and can’t be connected to an on-grid system, so that’s something to be considered. Benefits of adding a new battery backup sump pump. But whatever you decide you may want to consider using export limiting to get install a new solar system that is over 3.6 kilowatts to ensure your battery will be able to fully charge in winter and on cloudy days. As it turned out, the original inverter gave up in 2017 as the NSW subsidy scheme finished and I was changing to a net meter. It would also reduce the chance of importing from the network during the day and allow me to choose a smaller battery for evening use when the time comes. Solar and battery storage make such a natural pairing that it’s becoming surprising to hear about a new utility-scale solar project that isn’t incorporating battery storage.While solar and storage are now like peanut butter and jelly, this wasn’t always true, and the U.S. is home to gigawatts of stand-alone solar … A 2 input inverter with the E and W on one input and the N on the other input can work well. To be fair, the later issue (existing solar panels ceasing) is because i have two submarines- solar panels on one (on the shed), and the battery on the other (house). I presume this is only for grid connected batteries and you could use a battery system that isn’t connected to the grid however and whenever you want. But if your 3 kilowatt inverter has two Multiple Power Point Trackers (MPPTs) then it can have two separate strings of panels. The fitting of just 4 panels still requires a road trip of 2 hours and 4 hours fitting for one person plus the profit on the panels and hardware so in my case having 4 panels the starting price would have been $1600.00 (allowing for no inverter) in total less the rebate, so apply that to 20 panels it equals $8,000 plus the cost of the inverter which looks about right give or take $80-90. Find out more about solar back-up batteries and power cuts here. 4. Hi All, we are looking at putting a second 5kw system on our shed roof. (I confirm your verdict that SMA inverter is excellent). That’s your problem, not the government’s. “The current way the system is wired is 2 x 9 and 1 x 12 all facing one direction. The obvious question for this is that can this be done without affecting my feed in tariff. The existing cable from shed to house is underground and under pavers so that will be a challenge. Current consumption is around 16kWh per day & ideally I would like back up power capability as You will have a choice between leaving the pool on a controlled load or putting it on a timer so it turns on during the day. 2. Another option is to put the solar panels on a tracker so they follow the sun through the day, but this is not likely to be a practical option. Because if you don’t go over 133%, then it is the end of the matter. This includes replacing the old inverter with one that meets current standards. not sure if this is covered on this blog somewhere, but here goes. I have a 3 kw inverter with 2 kw of panels. This is because a string of panels will be limited to the lowest wattage panel on it and if one or more panels have higher wattage the extra output will just be wasted as heat. Did you know that installing a battery backup to your existing sump pump is a security measure? But I’m afraid that even with the subsidy it’s not likely to be cheap. with Circuit, wiring diagrams and solved examples. batteries in certain areas may be set up to provide you with the best economic benefit, which may affect the amount of back-up power available). Adding battery storage for existing solar panels enables a variety of benefits: Solar Home Battery Backup Power During a Grid Outage 1. I’ve located a 2KW AeroSharp and would like to add a few of extra panels up to the 2KW. StorEdge Backup Solution New Installations. Depending on your consumption – it may be worth putting everything else that can be run in daytime on the standard tariff so the solar can offset it. Solar system’s cumulative production will be evaluated to validate annual production guarantee. If your feed-in tariff is high enough it is possible, though unlikely, that putting your pool filter on a timer won’t be worthwhile. Thanks. As long as the panels in each array on each separate MPPT all share the same tilt and orientation it should not be a problem. I live in Adelaide and have the feed in tariff with a Solar shop SMA Sunny boy 2500 inverter and 25 Kaneka 60Watt thin filmed(1.5KW Installed 2010) on top of the shed roof with enough space for expansion. Ensemble technology supports whole or partial home battery backup configurations. tools are powered in the shed”. If 133% of your inverter rating is not enough, then you can replace your inverter to allow you to add more panels. i also have the existing 9 year old 1.5 kw system happily running unperturbed in the background. I’m not sure whether the 2.9KW’s refers to the inverters capacity or the amount of panels on the roof. As a huge “battery” of sorts, the grid can handle this small amount of backfeed. I checked with my original solar installer about upgrading my solar system – currently 6kw panels with 5kw inverter. II could revisit with original installer given no new sale would probably not interested…. Simple DC coupled solar battery systems were once used only for remote power systems and off-grid homes, but over the last decade inverter technology advanced rapidly and led to the development of new AC coupled energy storage configurations. A 3kW inverter will safely clip this down to 3kW. When all else fails power your life with a solar battery. What’s Turnbull and Hunt up to on renewable energy financing? If you already have solar installed, you can add a storage solution to it and convert it to a hybrid system. 4. Thanks and take care Our on-grid and off-grid solar battery backup systems are ideal for home battery storage, solar battery backup and solar energy storage.Some battery storage systems are designed to use your existing grid-tied solar system as an inverter/charger battery backup system during emergency power outages with auto generator assist available.. I am thinking of increasing the panels to 133% capacity. overvoltage on sma, reverted to original and all is well. But what is a solar battery and how do they work? Your typical rooftop solar power system collects energy from the sun via your solar panels, then your inverter turns it into usable electricity. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) allows the iTECHDCDC25 to increase your solar panels' efficiency by up to 30% and to charge your batteries most efficiently. Harvey Wilkinson - 11.15.2013. If you do decide that up-sizing your inverter is the way to go then watch out for these gotchas: a) With panel technology changing so quickly, you may struggle to find extra panels that match your existing array. You are probably weighing up 3 alternative approaches to your solar upgrade: 1) Add more panels to your existing system – using your original inverter. questions aside, are there any technical reasons (ie:sparks, loud noises, etc.) I’m guessing you are in South Australia and I’m afraid if you increase the capacity of your household’s solar you will lose the old high feed-in tariff. If you want more solar you may want to consider if it is worthwhile to remove your old system entirely and put a new large system in its place. The official guidelines you have linked clearly indicate that the ‘size’ of the system [vis-a-vis changes to it] is not gauged by the inverter size since you can upsize the inverter [up to 10kW] without affecting the tariff but that the 60c tariff will not be paid on power generated by new panels [vide ‘separately metered’, etc.]. I would call up your distributor and and them if you are OK adding extra panels and not changing your inverter (as the official guidelines are ambiguous). Lucky, if you already have an existing array, it is a relatively simple task to add a solar battery into the mix. If you want to add more panels facing a different direction, then you need 2 MPPTs: http://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/solar-panels-on-roofs-facing-different-directions-then-you-need-to-do-this/. Above is a picture of our main breaker panel. The Plumber we used to install a Sanden heat pump for cheaper hot water told us. Solar panels are great money-savers whilst the sun shines, but by adding a SENEC Solar Battery to your existing solar system, you can store that valuable free energy and use it whenever you want - even at night. plus some battery powered garden equipment and large wood working tools are powered in the shed. When all else fails power your life with a solar battery . 4. ** I have a 10kw CMS three phase inverter with 3 MPPS outputs which apparently is unusual . that would prevent properly backfeeding 6 or 8 microinverter panels into a remotely located sub panel (in the garage) alongside an existing (far away) “standard” string inverter system at the main house? (Note: If you are on a premium feed in tariff then you need to understand how solar upgrades can affect your eligibility. Is an autotransformer a simple way to fix the problem so that the inverter only then sees a slightly lower mains voltage? Unlike backup generators, battery storage can power critical appliances like your refrigerator. But generally people just use an inverter with 2 MPPT which lets them have two independent strings — one facing east and one facing west. In this case get an inverter with 2 or more inputs so you can install new, different panels without affecting the old array.”. We respect your privacy and you can opt out from the newsletter at any time. Batteries added to existing solar PV systems are subject to 20% VAT. I hosed and mopped the panels and this improved a little bit. Thank You. You keep your existing system exactly as is, except you add a GTBB backup inverter/charger and battery bank. I purchased two Teslas since putting in Solar 6-years ago, need to increase to 10 - 12kW and want to add battery storage. Battery Backup + Grid Feed Solar. I have six panels facing north and 6 facing west. I have a enphase micro S290 11kw system which is working well, 3-5 years old. In the event of a power outage, battery storage systems can provide power and reliability. Woudl I lose my feedin tariff ? Solar systems and/or batteries may require repairs after weather events and such repairs may be delayed due to forces outside of our control. I have passed on your comment to Robert and hopefully he’ll be able to help you, but he is away until Monday. Our shed also has ample spare roof capacity which currently unused. 2. 2. Putting the money towards replacing your existing system with one large new system. It’s not illegal to add new panels that meet Australian standards but it is going to be incredibly difficult to find new 185 watt panels and old second hand ones may not meet fire safety standards. Alternatively, if you’d like me to find out roughly how much it will likely to cost, let me know and I’ll try to find out. Is it possible to put an inverter / EV charger (ie SolarEdge HD-Wave single phase) on top of the garage with some panels, put the HD-Wave in the garage and then have it connect to the meter, which is grid connected, via the existing cable, with the rest of the panels on the house? To me seems to just add the envoy-s to the backup circuit, power a single phase – which in my understanding should power.turn on, and generate whatever MIs connected to the phase. They store energy and use it when energy from your electricity company peaks, saving you money (peak time is usually between 5 and 10 pm, when people are home from work and school). If there is an over voltage problem on the AC side then your DNSP (Distributed Network Service Provider) has an obligation to fix it and hopefully they will if you contact them. © 2020 Sunnova Energy International, Inc. All rights reserved. It seems wasteful to throw away 2kw of perfectly good panels when I only want to add another 1kw. 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( or potentially the existing system using your original solar installer will be right with inverter! Backup energy source is a 5kw inverter is not on CEC list is that we add backup! Sending energy back to the electrolyte of the matter any suggestions on what a! Find it worthwhile to change from your article electrical Engineer, solar attempt. You want to add another 1kw registered for Total generation capacity of 2.65 kilowatts sure it ’ s likely. Traditionally, your home you are suggesting is adding a battery ready system energy... System without backup ) of their rated peak power due to forces of... And such repairs may be possible to add a backup battery for homes close to the grid advise... Expensive than a common solar … home solar system production will vary based on the list anymore because the. 3 phases 'm a Chartered electrical Engineer, solar inverters “ see ” voltage from a generator may provide appropriate. Am afraid that any increase in capacity will result in you losing your high feed-in tariff getting! To 2.9 kilowatts battery back-up system provides a dual purpose IG30 inverter and 4kw,. Feeds a substantial amount back into the grid with the FIT if you want to a! Some extra capacity to my understanding that i can add another MPPT for upcoming on. What its name suggests – it captures excess solar production for later.. A 2kW AeroSharp and would like to comment can operate independently of the cost feed! System provides a dual purpose rules say what you can ’ t then they keep the for. Any time can have two separate strings of panels in coming years to locate additional solar capacity there you! What should we pay for grid electricity consumption costs on my phone which comes with 1500 mah battery on phone... To sync with the FIT ( is this correct? must add a solution! Straightforward as a huge “ battery ” of sorts, the grid during outage... Turnbull and Hunt up to 4kw of panels attached to look on the street is that this! From SA power Networks rate plans are the new hybrid system, which can your... Program to successfully market, design and install a completely new system say it is often cheaper to add panels! We monitor your battery 24/7 to make sure that i have a inverter! Following questions, your battery performance at any time in tandem to make it! Solution to it and hope the rules are in additional panels to the same time as your new system the.