Wondering whether solar energy will work for your family or small business? One day soon you could be running an energy station from your home! TEC has prepared a guide on battery storage to help you navigate the high noon ahead.  We are also working to make sure the National Electricity Market won't stand in the way of battery storage.

More than 350,000 households in NSW are already harnessing the power of the sun, which means the home battery storage business is about to go through the roof as the efficiency and affordability of batteries rapidly improves. 

Battery storage gives people the power to bank their solar supply and be able to use it any time— day or night. So potentially 350,000 households are now considering whether storage works for them.The Australian Energy Market Operator anticipates more than 1,000 megawatts of batteries will be installed in NSW by 2035.

TEC's guide, which was developed in collaboration with the Alternative Technology Association and Zumio for the NSW government, is intended to help consumers answer two fundamental questions: Would battery storage save me money? How do I choose the right battery system?

It's also been designed to help you navigate the home solar battery market as it booms. The complete lack of any enforceable national standards for home battery installation in Australia is a situation that industry players say is both untenable, and potentially detrimental to the nascent market.

Currently in a home with solar panels, your energy usage is met by solar generation on sunny days. Any excess solar energy is exported to the grid (for a low tariff). Exports are typically between 20% to 80% of the electricity generated and are highest for households which are not at home during the day. Shortfalls are met by importing grid electricity. This is where battery storage can really help to save money. When you add a battery to a rooftop solar system (or install them together), the solar energy not used at home during the day is used to charge the battery and you can draw on it instead of paying high retail prices. 

You will also need to consider a good energy management system for your battery to help you make the most of it. It might be part of the product you buy or can be bought separately.  

While using non-polluting solar energy is a win-win for your wallet and the planet, the environmental impacts of particular battery types and products still need to be considered - from manufacture to end of life.  .  

This guide provides general advice and every care has been taken to provide accurate and up to date information. You should seek expert advice to decide what option is right for you.