Australian Homeowner Battery Readiness Checklist

Start with your current solar setup

Before researching a battery, understand your existing or planned solar system.

• Do I already have solar installed?
• What size is my solar system?
• What inverter do I have, and is it battery-ready?
• How old is my solar system?
• Is my solar system performing as expected?
• Do I have monitoring data showing solar generation and household usage?
• Am I exporting a lot of unused solar during the day?

Why this matters: a battery decision should start with your solar setup, generation pattern, and evening or overnight usage.

Understand daytime and evening usage

Battery storage is often researched when a home generates solar during the day but uses significant electricity later.

• Do I use most electricity during the day or at night?
• Is anyone home during the day?
• Do I use air conditioning in the evening?
• Do I use electric cooking, electric hot water, pool pumps, or other high-usage appliances?
• Do I have regular evening or overnight electricity demand?
• Do I have enough excess solar during the day to charge a battery?

A battery is not automatically useful just because you have solar. It depends on spare solar and when your home uses energy.

Review your electricity bill and tariff

Battery value depends heavily on how your electricity plan works.

• What is my electricity usage charge?
• What is my daily supply charge?
• Do I have a time-of-use tariff?
• Are evening electricity rates higher than daytime rates?
• What feed-in tariff do I receive for exported solar?
• Could my tariff change after installing a battery?
• Should I review my electricity plan before making a decision?

Battery payback claims can be misleading if they rely on outdated tariff, feed-in, usage, or rebate assumptions.

Check your solar export pattern

A battery usually stores excess solar that would otherwise be exported.

• How much solar do I export during the day?
• Is my system export-limited?
• Do I often export more solar than I use?
• Does my monitoring app show unused solar generation?
• Are there seasonal differences in how much I export?
• Would a battery have enough surplus solar to charge regularly?

Red flag: be cautious if a battery recommendation is made without reviewing solar generation, export pattern, and household usage.

Clarify your main reason for considering a battery

Different goals may lead to different battery choices.

• Am I mainly trying to use more of my own solar?
• Am I mainly trying to reduce grid electricity use?
• Do I want backup power during outages?
• Am I trying to manage time-of-use tariffs?
• Am I preparing for an EV or future electrification?
• Am I comparing battery options because I was offered one in a solar quote?

A battery chosen for backup power may need different design considerations from one chosen mainly for solar self-consumption.

Understand backup power limitations

Not all battery systems provide whole-home backup, and backup features may cost extra.

• Does the quoted battery include backup power?
• Is backup whole-home or only for selected circuits?
• Which appliances can run during an outage?
• How long could backup power realistically last?
• Will the battery recharge from solar during an outage?
• Are extra components needed for backup?
• Are there limitations during storms, low solar production, or high household load?

Backup performance depends on system design, battery capacity, solar generation, household load, wiring, installation configuration, and product features.

Consider battery size and usable capacity

Battery size should match your usage, solar generation, and goals.

• What battery capacity is being quoted?
• What is the usable capacity, not just the headline capacity?
• How much of the battery can be used each day?
• Is the battery size suitable for my evening usage?
• Is it larger than my solar system can regularly charge?
• Can the system be expanded later?

Red flag: be cautious if the battery size is recommended without explaining usage, solar generation, and expected charging or discharging patterns.

Compare battery brands, models, and warranties

Make sure you know exactly what battery product is being quoted.

• What battery brand and model are included?
• What usable capacity is included?
• What warranty applies, and how many years does it cover?
• Are there throughput or cycle limits?
• What performance level is warranted over time?
• Who handles warranty claims?
• Is monitoring included?

Battery warranties can vary. Look beyond headline warranty length and ask what is actually covered.

Check installation location and safety requirements

Battery installation location matters.

• Where will the battery be installed?
• Is the location protected from weather where required?
• Is there enough wall or floor space?
• Are there clearance requirements?
• Is the area suitable for access and maintenance?
• Are there restrictions around doors, windows, exits, meters, or living areas?
• Will extra electrical work be required?

A battery cannot always be installed wherever it is most convenient. The installer should assess site suitability and explain requirements.

Ask what is included in the battery quote

A battery quote may include more than just the battery unit.

If the quote is unclear, ask for a written breakdown of what is included and excluded.

Review whether your current inverter is suitable

Some battery installations require inverter changes or extra hardware.

• Can my current inverter work with a battery?
• Do I need a hybrid inverter?
• Do I need an AC-coupled battery solution?
• Will adding a battery affect my existing solar warranty?
• Is extra metering or monitoring required?
• Will the battery system integrate with my existing solar monitoring?
• Are there limitations with my current solar setup?

Adding a battery later can be more complex than installing solar and battery together. Ask whether your setup is suitable before comparing quotes.

Be careful with payback and savings claims

Battery payback can vary significantly between households.

• What assumptions are used in the savings estimate?
• What tariff is assumed?
• What feed-in tariff is assumed?
• What daily usage pattern is assumed?
• What solar export level is assumed?
• Are future electricity price changes assumed?
• Are rebate or incentive assumptions included?
• What happens if my usage or tariff changes?

Red flag: be cautious if a battery is sold mainly on a simple payback number without clear assumptions.

Check rebates, incentives, and eligibility

Battery rebates or incentives may change and may depend on eligibility.

• Is any rebate or incentive included in the quote?
• Who confirms eligibility?
• Is the rebate applied upfront or claimed separately?
• What happens if I am not eligible?
• Are there product, installer, location, or household requirements?
• Are there deadlines or funding limits?
• Can the provider show current source information?

Do not assume you qualify for a rebate or incentive until your eligibility is properly confirmed.

Compare at least two or three battery quotes

Try not to rely on one battery quote only.

The cheapest battery quote is not always the best value. The most expensive quote is not automatically the best either.

Watch for common red flags

Final questions before choosing a battery

• Do I understand why a battery is being recommended?
• Do I have enough excess solar to charge it?
• Do I use enough energy in the evening or overnight?
• Do I understand the tariff and feed-in assumptions?
• Do I know whether backup power is included?
• Do I understand the battery capacity and warranty?
• Do I know where the battery will be installed?
• Have I compared more than one quote?
• Am I being given enough time to make a considered decision?