When More Solar Isn’t Necessarily the Answer
15kWh Battery | 5kW Inverter | Existing Solar | Grid Charging Strategy
When Dylan and Tess purchased their home in Maslin Beach, South Australia it came with a small, older six-panel solar system that wasn’t producing much electricity.
Their initial thought was straightforward: replace it with a bigger solar system and start reducing their electricity bills.
But after looking at how they actually used electricity, we suggested a different approach.
The Challenge
Dylan and Tess are both away at work during the day. That meant installing a large new solar system wouldn’t necessarily give them the return they were looking for because much of the electricity would be generated when they weren’t home to use it.
Their real objective wasn’t simply to have more solar panels on the roof.
It was to reduce their electricity costs.
Their household was using around 10–15kWh of electricity per day, so we explored whether battery storage and strategic grid charging could achieve that goal with a lower upfront investment.
Our Solar Battery Storage Solution
Instead of replacing the existing solar immediately, we installed a Alpha ESS 15kWh battery with a 5kW inverter.
The strategy uses a three-hour free-power window to charge the battery from the grid. By around 3pm, the battery can be fully charged and ready to supply the home for the remainder of the day and overnight, alongside electricity generated by their existing solar system during daylight hours.
It was a very different solution from the one Dylan and Tess originally had in mind—but one designed around their actual usage rather than simply installing more equipment.
The Result
The combination of their existing solar and 15kWh battery has made their electricity costs effectively cost-neutral under this strategy.
Just as importantly, the battery-only approach required a significantly smaller upfront investment than replacing the solar and installing a battery together. Reefe estimated the solution came in around 40–50% cheaper than the larger solar-and-battery option they had initially been considering.
For us, this project highlights something important: the best solar solution isn’t always the biggest solar system.
Sometimes good advice means recommending less equipment and finding a smarter way to use it.
Solar & Battery Systems For Adelaide Homes Tailored For You
At Solar Energy Adelaide, we don’t believe in pulling a standard solar or battery package off the shelf and hoping it suits your home. We look at how much electricity you use, when you use it, your roof orientation and shading, your existing solar, future plans such as an EV, and what you’re actually trying to achieve.
As a local, family-run South Australian business with more than a decade of solar industry experience and a 5 star Google rating, our aim is to give customers straightforward advice so they can make an educated decision about the right solution for their current and future energy needs.
Whether that’s solar panels for your home, solar battery storage, or an upgrade to an existing solar system, we’ll help you understand your options before deciding what to install.
Thinking about solar or battery storage in Adelaide? Contact Solar Energy Adelaide for a tailored assessment and free quote.
