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Already have solar panels? A battery is often the next step. The real question is whether your panels can charge it.

Plenty of Northern Rivers homes got solar years ago and now send most of it to the grid during the day, then buy power back at night. A battery stores that daytime solar for the evening. Before we recommend one, we look at your bills and your existing system so we get it right the first time.

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Which situation are you in?

We start with one or two recent power bills and look at how much power you use, and when. Every home lands in one of three places:

1. Your solar is big enough. It covers your daytime use and has enough spare to charge a battery for the night. That’s a battery-only job.

2. You have solar, but not enough. It covers some of the day but can’t also fill a battery. We design the extra panels you need, so the battery actually gets charged.

3. No solar yet. We size solar and a battery together from your real usage. See residential solar.

A battery that never fills is money spent on capacity you can’t use, so this step matters.

What we check on your existing system

  • The inverter. Its age, model and condition. Some batteries connect alongside your existing inverter. In other cases it makes more sense to replace an ageing inverter with an all-in-one system such as Sigenergy, the GoodWe ESA or a Tesla Powerwall 3, which has its own solar inverter built in.
  • The panels and wiring. Older systems can have tired isolators, loose connections or panels that are no longer performing. We check them before tying a new battery to them.
  • The switchboard. A battery needs space and protection on the board, and often RCBO upgrades to meet current standards. See switchboard and RCBO upgrades.
  • Where the battery can go. Batteries have strict location rules: not in living areas, not under stairs or in escape paths, with clearances from doors and windows. We confirm a compliant spot on the site visit.

Blackout backup with existing solar

Most of our installs back up the whole home in a blackout, unless you ask us to leave some circuits out. With existing solar, the design decides whether your current panels can keep recharging the battery during an outage. We’ll tell you exactly how your set-up will behave before install day. More on blackout backup.

Rebates and the grid application

The federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate applies to batteries added to existing solar, and we take it off at point of sale. It steps down on 1 January 2027 and again on 1 July 2027, set by the install date: see battery rebate step-down. Adding a battery also needs a connection application to Essential Energy, which we handle.

If cash flow is the question, the NSW 0% loan can cover a battery added to existing solar. To understand battery sizes, see battery sizing from your power bills. For brand choice, see how to choose a battery brand. Or read about solar and battery installation across the Northern Rivers.

Why locals trust us to add their battery

  • Our own in-house team designs every system and does every install. 25 years in solar and large commercial electrical work.
  • A face-to-face site visit before every install: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, no surprises on the day.
  • No subcontractors. We do the work ourselves, backed by a 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work.
  • Honest advice on your old system: if your existing inverter is near the end of its life, we tell you before you buy a battery, not after.

Adding a battery FAQs

Can a battery be added to any solar system?

Most, yes. It depends on your inverter, how much your panels produce and your switchboard. We check all three before recommending anything.

Will my old inverter still work with a battery?

Sometimes. Some batteries connect alongside your existing inverter. If yours is ageing, an all-in-one battery system with its own solar inverter can make more sense. We will explain the options for your system.

How do you know if I need more panels?

From your bills. If your panels can’t cover your daytime use and also fill a battery, we design the extra solar needed. If they can, it’s battery only.

Do I get the battery rebate if my solar is old?

Yes. The federal rebate applies to batteries added to new or existing solar. Only one battery claim is allowed per property.

Will my existing panels charge the battery in a blackout?

It depends on the design. We tell you exactly what will stay on and whether your panels keep charging during an outage before install day.

I already have a battery. Can I add another?

Often, depending on the model. Note that the federal rebate only allows one battery claim per property, so an extra battery usually won’t attract the rebate.

Find out what your solar can charge

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