Get More From the Solar You Already Have
Adelaide homes generate plenty of solar through the middle of the day, then buy it back at peak rates in the evening. A battery stores that daytime energy so you use your own power when it costs the most, instead of exporting it for a few cents and buying it back for far more after dark.
For most households a battery comes down to three things: lower evening bills, more independence from the grid, and backup when the power goes out. How much of each you get depends on the system and how it’s set up, which is exactly the conversation we have before recommending anything.
We’re CEC-accredited installers and licensed electricians, so the battery, the inverter side and the switchboard work are all handled by the one team. The switchboard and protection side is exactly where battery installs go wrong when they’re rushed, and exactly where our electrical background matters.
How a Home Battery Works With Your Solar
It’s simpler than it sounds. Through the day your panels make more power than the house uses, and a battery soaks up that surplus instead of sending it to the grid for a small feed-in payment. Come evening, when rates are highest and your panels have stopped, the house runs off the stored power instead of the grid.
Get the sizing right and you can run most of your evening and overnight load on your own solar, only drawing from the grid when the battery runs low. Add a compatible setup and the battery can also keep essential circuits running through a blackout, and take part in a Virtual Power Plant where you’re eligible. The trick is matching the battery to your actual usage, not just buying the biggest one on the shelf.
What a Battery Installation Includes
- Assessment of your solar, usage and switchboard
- Battery sizing matched to your evening usage
- Supply and installation of a quality battery system (Tesla, Sungrow, Redback, Alpha ESS and more)
- Hybrid inverter or retrofit setup as required
- Switchboard, protection and compliance work
- Backup/island wiring where supported
- Commissioning, testing and monitoring setup
Why Adelaide Homes Add a Battery
- Use your own stored solar instead of paying peak rates
- Reduce how much you draw from the grid
- Keep essential power on during an outage
- Get more value from solar than a low feed-in tariff returns
- VPP participation where eligible
What to Expect During a Battery Installation
A battery install is as much an electrical job as a solar one, and we treat it that way:
- We assess your solar, evening usage and switchboard, and confirm the right battery and setup before quoting.
- We install the battery and, where needed, a hybrid inverter or retrofit unit to work with your existing solar.
- We do the switchboard, protection and compliance work properly, the part that’s easy to rush and dangerous to get wrong.
- Where you want it and the system supports it, we wire backup circuits so essentials stay on in an outage.
- We commission and test the system, set up monitoring, and show you how to get the most out of it.
Sized for Your Home, Not Oversold
A battery that’s too big is wasted money; too small and it’s flat by mid-evening. We size it on:
- Your evening and overnight usage
- How much surplus solar you currently export
- Whether an EV charger is coming
- Your backup priorities if the grid drops
- The SA battery incentives you’re eligible for
What Affects the Cost of a Home Battery
Battery pricing varies more than most people expect, because the right system depends on your home. The main factors are:
- The battery’s storage size (kWh) and the brand you choose
- Whether it’s a straightforward retrofit or needs a new hybrid inverter
- How much switchboard, protection and backup wiring the install calls for
- Whether you want whole-home or essential-circuit backup
- Any incentives or VPP offers you’re eligible for at the time
We quote after assessing your home and explain where the money goes, so you can weigh up the payback. Flexible payment options are available through Brighte.
Our Approach to Battery Installation
Advice first, install second.
- Assess your solar, usage and switchboard properly
- Recommend a battery sized to how you actually live
- Install it safely, with the electrical side done right
- Stand behind it with a lifetime workmanship warranty
No oversizing, no pressure, no shortcuts on the safety side, and the work done by our own employed technicians, not subcontractors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a home battery worth it in Adelaide?
For many households, yes. Adelaide’s strong daytime solar, high evening rates and low feed-in tariffs mean storing your own power and using it at night can offset peak costs. The payback depends on your usage and system, which we assess before recommending anything.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar?
In most cases yes. Depending on your current inverter, we either retrofit a battery or install a hybrid setup. We check what you’ve got before advising.
Will a battery keep my power on during a blackout?
Only if the system is set up for backup. Not every battery or install includes it, so if outage protection matters to you, tell us up front and we’ll size and wire for it.
Can a battery power my whole home in a blackout?
It depends on the battery’s size and how it’s wired. Some setups back up the whole home; others cover just essential circuits like lights, fridge and power points. We size and wire it to your priorities.
What size battery do I need?
It comes down to your evening usage and how much surplus solar you have to store. We size it to your home rather than selling you the biggest unit.
How long does a home battery last?
Modern home batteries generally come with warranties around the ten-year mark, and we’ll talk you through the specific warranty on whichever system suits your home.
How long does a battery installation take?
Most installs are completed in a day, depending on whether it’s a straightforward retrofit or a hybrid setup with switchboard work. We confirm the timeframe up front.
Are there SA rebates or incentives for batteries?
Incentive schemes change, and eligibility often depends on the battery being VPP-capable. We’ll let you know what’s current and what you qualify for at the time of quoting.
Is finance available?
Yes. We offer flexible payment options through Brighte, and your technician can talk you through it on-site.
Who does the installation?
Our own CEC-accredited installers and licensed electricians, no subcontractors. The electrical and switchboard side is done properly, not handed off.
Try it yourself: Curious about the payback? Try our free solar and battery payback calculator for a quick guide.
