If you're in Australia and you currently have solar + batteries + a grid connection...
Do you allow your system to 'export' power back to the grid or configure it so that doesn't happen? Are you willing to permit energy you have collected using your own equipment being used to 'prop up' the regular power grid?
What does your system do with any transformed electrical energy if not exported, or do you have it all well-matched so the batteries will never get to the point where they are fully charged during a 'peak summer day' and power from the solar panels cannot be accepted?
Do you have your system configured so power from the batteries is used first then if they 'run dry' is power then taken from the grid (both to run your property and perhaps to recharge the batteries)?
Do you use lithium-based battery modules, or a different battery technology (like industrial scale lead-acid batteries) instead?
Did you pay the *full* cost yourself *without* taking any government incentives/rebates and did you pay the final cost outright or have to get finance to fund it either through a bank (special loan, or either re-draw from or extend a home loan), or a finance arrangement through the installation company?
Do you have enough battery capacity to run your home fully off-grid for 24 to 48 hrs or longer if the grid connection fails for more than a day?
What other considerations do you have with a solar + batteries + grid connection setup?
How long do you believe the life of your solar panels is and what plan do you have to either upgrade/replace them and how will you deal with recycling or scrapping them once they become unservicable at end-of-life?
What plan do you have if solar panels get damaged/destroyed in weather events and need to be replaced? How often do you get up to where the panels are to clean them?
How long do you believe the life of your battery system and inverter/charging system is and what plan do you have to either upgrade/replace that equipment and how will you deal with recycling or scrapping it once it becomes unservicable waste at end-of-life?
What plan do you have to deal with the potential risk of fire at the solar panels, or at the inverter/charging system, or in the battery system? The biggest risk with all battery-powered devices is during charging, or if they get physically or electrically damaged.
What does your system do with any transformed electrical energy if not exported, or do you have it all well-matched so the batteries will never get to the point where they are fully charged during a 'peak summer day' and power from the solar panels cannot be accepted?
Do you have your system configured so power from the batteries is used first then if they 'run dry' is power then taken from the grid (both to run your property and perhaps to recharge the batteries)?
Do you use lithium-based battery modules, or a different battery technology (like industrial scale lead-acid batteries) instead?
Did you pay the *full* cost yourself *without* taking any government incentives/rebates and did you pay the final cost outright or have to get finance to fund it either through a bank (special loan, or either re-draw from or extend a home loan), or a finance arrangement through the installation company?
Do you have enough battery capacity to run your home fully off-grid for 24 to 48 hrs or longer if the grid connection fails for more than a day?
What other considerations do you have with a solar + batteries + grid connection setup?
How long do you believe the life of your solar panels is and what plan do you have to either upgrade/replace them and how will you deal with recycling or scrapping them once they become unservicable at end-of-life?
What plan do you have if solar panels get damaged/destroyed in weather events and need to be replaced? How often do you get up to where the panels are to clean them?
How long do you believe the life of your battery system and inverter/charging system is and what plan do you have to either upgrade/replace that equipment and how will you deal with recycling or scrapping it once it becomes unservicable waste at end-of-life?
What plan do you have to deal with the potential risk of fire at the solar panels, or at the inverter/charging system, or in the battery system? The biggest risk with all battery-powered devices is during charging, or if they get physically or electrically damaged.
