A 32 kWh Sigenergy Battery and 10 AIKO Panels in East Ballina: Case Study

A battery-first job in East Ballina: a 32 kWh Sigenergy battery with four modules on a 10 kW controller, ten new all-black AIKO panels, and the existing solar upgraded to keep working in blackouts.

Our own in-house team designed and installed the system in March 2026.

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Storage was the gap

This brick home already had solar on its green concrete tile roof. Most of the design went into storage: four Sigenergy battery modules, about 32 kWh. One straight row of ten new AIKO panels added daytime generation, and the existing system was upgraded so it also feeds the new battery and keeps producing in a blackout.

A battery spot away from the switchboard

The best place for the battery was under cover against a brick wall, some way from the switchboard. That meant an extra AC cable run, planned on the site visit. The SigenStor stands on its feet with the conduits clipped straight up the bricks, out of the rain and direct sun.

What went in

• Solar: 10 new all-black AIKO Neostar panels, with the existing solar kept and upgraded
• Energy controller: a 10 kW Sigenergy single-phase SigenStor controller
• Battery: four Sigenergy battery modules, about 32 kWh (32.24 kWh)
• Extra AC cable run to the battery position
• Smart load control, monitoring and app training

Adding storage to older solar in East Ballina

Plenty of East Ballina homes put solar on years ago and send most of it to the grid in the middle of the day. Adding a battery, plus a few panels if needed, is often the next step. Just down the street from jobs like this one, see a 40 kWh Sigenergy battery in an East Ballina garage and Jinko solar and a Sungrow battery in Ballina.

The steps, start to finish

It starts with a free energy assessment from one or two power bills (or a call on 0483 903 020). We design from your real usage and take the federal battery rebate and solar STCs off at point of sale, with the paperwork done for you (your rebates). Before install day we come out for a face-to-face site visit: battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, and what stays on in a blackout. Our own electricians do the install, usually in one day, then the monitoring, grid connection and a sign-off call.

Warranties

Every new install from us now comes with a 10-year battery warranty, 10-year inverter replacement, 25-year panel performance and our 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work. Equipment is covered by the manufacturer warranties.

The federal battery rebate steps down on 1 January 2027 and again on 1 July 2027, based on install date. If a battery is on your list, it’s worth getting your assessment done early.

Questions we get asked

Can I keep my old solar when I add a battery?

Often, yes. Here the existing solar stayed and was upgraded to work with the new system, including in blackouts, and ten new panels were added. See adding a battery to existing solar.

Does the battery have to sit next to the switchboard?

No. The best spot for this battery was a fair way from the switchboard, so the design allowed for an extra AC cable run. We choose the spot on the site visit, then plan the cable route to it.

What happens when the grid goes down?

The Sigenergy Gateway switches the home over to the battery and solar. A typical install backs up the whole home unless you ask us to leave circuits out. See blackout backup batteries.

Why such a big battery with only ten new panels?

The battery size comes from the household’s evening and overnight use, read from their bills. The existing solar and the new panels charge it together.

Thinking about solar and a battery?

We’re based near Mullumbimby and install across the Northern Rivers. See solar and batteries in Ballina and Lennox Head, or compare Sigenergy, GoodWe and Sungrow, Solax and Tesla.

Get a free energy assessment · or call 0483 903 020

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More from Sun Connect Solar: your rebates; battery rebate calculator; customer reviews; FAQ; recent installs: 6.65 kW solar and 9 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby · Solar and a 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby area · 8.4 kW Jinko solar and 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Ocean Shores · all recent installs.