Published

1 month ago

August 5, 2025

Alice Rush

Solar panels are a scientific marvel that allows us to reduce our electricity bills while becoming self-sufficient in all of our energy needs.

It also contributes to a reduction in fossil fuel consumption, which is known for contributing to Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Now, it’s time to make some decisions before getting solar panels for your rooftop. So, how many solar panels do I need? You might be wondering this right about now. Don’t worry, Cyanergy is here to help.

Please know that there is no one set number of solar panels that will suffice for every household. One might need more, and someone else might need only a few solar panels.

Also, the dimension of the panels isn’t exactly the determining factor of how much energy they will generate; instead, it’s the power output in watts.

Each panel is capable of generating a certain amount of energy, and together, a whole solar system can generate energy in kilowatts. Your solar panel system will create between 3 and 5 kWh (kilowatt-hour) of clean, renewable energy per day for each kilowatt of power.

In this blog post:

Solar Panel Size Determining Factors — How Many Panels Do I Need?

The size of the solar panel system you need will depend on the following factors:

Your Usual Energy Consumption

Suppose you are someone who has a lot of power-hungry appliances and uses them fairly regularly; you will need a lot of electricity. Air conditioners, hot water systems, washing machines, and ovens, to name a few, are considered power-hungry appliances.

The question is, how often and for how long do you use them? Also, different capacities and sizes of devices require varying amounts of energy. A mini-fridge certainly won’t use as much electricity as a double-door one, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Now, rather than going into bits and pieces like calculating how much energy each thing in your house requires, you should look at your electricity bill.

If you look carefully, you will see there is a tab for ‘average daily energy use’ in your monthly bill where your consumption is stated in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Note down this number and make a yearly average to determine how many kWh of energy you consume, which will help you decide on your solar system size.

The whole process is not as simple as it sounds; that’s why you seek professional help from a solar expert like Cyanergy to determine the exact costs.

The more electricity you use, the bigger the solar system you need. The financial benefits of solar also depend on when you use electricity.

On average, Australian homes use 11–23 kWh per day.

The average daily usage for your home or business is probably different in summer and winter. You can check your average daily usage for each season by looking at your quarterly or monthly electricity bills.

Inverter sizing

In many systems, the inverter is sized to be smaller than the panel output. For example, a 6.6 kW solar system is typically paired with a 5 kW inverter. 

Because the panels are only rarely generating at their full rated capacity, this can be a good way to get the best value from the inverter and often makes good economic sense.

Talk to your solar retailer or installer about the inverter specifications and the inverter-to-panel size requirements. Suppose the system size exceeds the inverter manufacturer’s specifications.

In that case, you will not be able to access the Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme rebate.

Available Sunny Roof Space

The amount of available sunny roof area can often be a limiting factor when deciding what system size to install, particularly for household solar systems in urban areas.

A standard 6.6 kW system might take up 29 – 32 m2 of roof space, depending upon the rated capacity of the panels. Panels can be installed in portrait or landscape orientation to make the best use of the available roof space.

We can only fit as many solar panels as possible on your roof. Solar panels are typically 1.7m × 1m in size.

It is critical to consider shading when calculating the size of your roof. Tree or power lines can cast shade on a portion of your roof. In that case, we’ll need to adjust your solar system or avoid these areas entirely.

Future Proofing – Should I Upsize my System?

If you have plans to expand your household, you must plan accordingly. Solar panels are such technology that lasts about 25 to 30 years.

You have to look past your current situation and think about where you see yourself in 5 to 10 years.

If you have the opportunity to extend your family, your energy needs will likely increase, too. So, future proofing is indeed necessary to make the most out of your investment.

Does that mean there is no way to add more solar panels in the future if required? That is certainly not the case; however, the newly added solar panels may come with a new set of issues that were not accounted for during the initial installation.

Solar panels generate energy, specifically one form of energy that later needs to be converted into another for practical use.

Solar panels generate DC (direct current), whereas our appliances run on AC (alternating current). This conversion is done by a solar inverter that has a conversion capacity.

A solar inverter can only convert a certain kW amount of energy, beyond which you cannot get AC, no matter how large a solar panel system you have.

Of course, a larger solar PV system will require an inverter of equal power, but adding more solar panels later on will mean you’ll need to get another inverter to cater to a smaller array of systems.

Ultimately, you lose money. So, that means if you anticipate needing extra energy in the future, upsize your solar at the time of installation.

Would You Need Solar Batteries?

An average Australian household consumes the most energy in the early morning and at night.

Solar panels work at their maximum capacity between 12 and 3 pm, during which most people are not at home. But you will still manage by importing electricity from the grid at peak hours.

Depending on what your expectation is from your solar PV system, you’ll decide how many solar panels you would need on your rooftop.

If you want to be self-reliant at all times, a storage unit is the way to go. In that case, you would need to upsize your rooftop solar system so that you can store a substantial amount of energy for later use.

How Many Batteries Will You Require?

Solar batteries for homes depend on your goals. Most people set out to reduce their grid electricity imports to zero.

As you’ll see, most households have big energy storage goals with more expenses. But how many solar panels run a house? “What size solar battery do I need?” is a natural question you ask yourself.

Let’s go over how much energy storage an average Australian household will require. The average Australian home consumes approximately 16 kWh of electricity per day.

Most Australians work 9 to 5 jobs and are not at home during the day. They will probably only use about 30% of their electricity when the sun shines.

That means they must buy the remaining 70% from the grid. How many solar batteries will be required to cover that 70%?

Solar Battery System Sizing

Regarding system sizing, battery sizes are measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh.

As mentioned before, an average home consumes 16 kWh of energy. And 30% of the energy is consumed in the daytime and 70% at night. That mounts up to approximately 5 kWh consumed during the day and 11 kWh consumed at night.

Based on simple maths, the average Australian would require approximately 11 kWh of solar battery storage to offset all their night usage.

As of 2025, the Tesla Powerwall has a capacity of 13.5 kWh, costing around $16,600 fully installed.

Remember that you do not need batteries to offset your nighttime electricity consumption. If you run the numbers, the first kWh of energy storage has the best payback because it works the hardest. As of the next kWh, the payback becomes longer.

However, the most important consideration when sizing and comparing solar batteries is that it is only possible when you thoroughly understand your energy usage profile. First, you’ll need a good energy monitor in your home with accurate data.

Then, a good installer will use their software to show you the optimal number of batteries and solar panels for your situation and the payback period. After that, instead of leaping into the unknown, you’ll go into your solar battery investment with your eyes wide open.

Including these aspects, there are many other things to figure out and factor in. Figuring all these out on your own is a challenging task. If you have any further questions or require some help, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Cyanergy is a CEC (Clean Energy Council) approved solar installer with more than 10 years of experience in the field. Get in touch with us today to take advantage of a FREE consultation session with one of our experienced solar experts.

Your Solution Is Just a Click Away

The post How Many Solar Panels Do I Need? appeared first on Cyanergy.

https://cyanergy.com.au/blog/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need/

Renewable Energy

ACORE Statement on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance

Published

1 month ago

August 15, 2025

Alice Rush

ACORE Statement on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance

August 15, 2025

Statement from American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) President and CEO Ray Long on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance:

“The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is deeply concerned that today’s Treasury guidance on the long-standing ‘beginning of construction’ safe harbor significantly undermines its proven effectiveness, is inconsistent with the law, and creates unnecessary uncertainty for renewable energy development in the United States.

“For over a decade, the safe harbor provisions have served as clear, accountable rules of the road – helping to reduce compliance burdens, foster private investment, and ensure taxpayer protections. These guardrails have been integral to delivering affordable, reliable American clean energy while maintaining transparency and adherence to the rule of law. This was recognized in the One Big Beautiful Act, which codified the safe harbor rules, now changed by this action.

“We need to build more power generation now, and that includes renewable energy. The U.S. will need roughly 118 gigawatts (the equivalent of 12 New York Cities) of new power generation in the next four years to prevent price spikes and potential shortages. Only a limited set of technologies – solar, wind, batteries, and some natural gas – can be built at that scale in that timeframe.”

###

ABOUT ACORE

For over 20 years, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has been the nation’s leading voice on the issues most essential to clean energy expansion. ACORE unites finance, policy, and technology to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. For more information, please visit http://www.acore.org.

Media Contacts:
Stephanie Genco
Senior Vice President, Communications
American Council on Renewable Energy
genco@acore.org

The post ACORE Statement on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance appeared first on ACORE.

https://acore.org/news/acore-statement-on-treasurys-safe-harbor-guidance/

Renewable Energy

Should I Get a Solar Battery Storage System?

Published

1 month ago

August 15, 2025

Alice Rush

Frequent power outages, unreliable grid connection, sky-high electricity bills, and to top it off, your solar panels are exporting excess energy back to the grid, for a very low feed-in-tariff.

Do all these scenarios sound familiar? Your answer might be yes!

These challenges have become increasingly common across Australia, encouraging more and more homeowners to consider solar battery storage systems.

Why? Because they want to take control of their energy, store surplus solar power, and reduce reliance on the grid.

But then again, people often get perplexed, and their biggest question remains: Should I get a Solar Battery Storage System in Australia?

Well, the answer can be yes in many cases, such as a battery can offer energy independence, ensure better bill savings, and provide peace of mind during unexpected power outages, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

There are circumstances where a battery may not be necessary or even cost-effective.

In this guide, we’ll break down when it makes sense and all the pros and cons you need to know before making the investment.

In this blog post:

Why You Need Battery Storage Now?

According to data, Australia has surpassed 3.9 million rooftop solar installations, generating more than 37 GW of PV capacity, which is about 20% of electricity in the National Electricity Market in 2024 and early 2025.

Undoubtedly, the country’s strong renewable energy targets, sustainability goals, and the clean‑energy revolution have brought solar power affordability, but the next step in self‑reliance is battery storage.

Data from The Guardian says that 1 in 5 new solar installs in 2025 now includes a home battery, versus 1 in 20 just a few years ago, representing a significant leap in adoption.

Moreover, the recent launch of the Cheaper Home Batteries program has driven this uptake even further, with over 11,500 battery units installed in just the first three weeks from July 1, and around 1,000 installations per day.

Overall, the Australian energy market is evolving rapidly. Average household battery size has climbed to about 17 kWh from 10–12 kWh previously.

Hence, the experts are assuming that 10 GW of new battery capacity will be added over the next five years, competing with Australia’s current coal‑fired capacity.

What Am I Missing Out on Without Solar Batteries?

Honestly? You’re missing out on the best part of going solar.

Renewable sources of energy like solar, hydro, and wind make us feel empowered. For example, solar batteries lower your electricity bills, minimize grid dependency, and also help to reduce your carbon footprint.

But here’s the catch! Without battery storage, you’re only halfway there!

The true magic of solar power isn’t just in producing clean energy; it’s storing and using it efficiently.

A solar battery lets you store excess energy and use it when the sun goes down or the grid goes out. It’s the key to real energy independence. Therefore, ultimately, getting a battery is what makes your solar system truly yours.

Here’s a list of what you’re missing out on without a solar battery:

Energy Independence

Batteries help you to stay powered even during blackouts or grid failures. With energy storage, you don’t have to think of fuel price volatility and supply-demand disruption in the Australian energy market.

Maximized Savings

Adding a solar battery to your solar PV system allows you to use your own stored energy at night instead of repurchasing it at high rates. It also reduces grid pressure during peak hours, restoring grid stability.

Better Return on Investment ROI

Tired of Australian low feed-in-tariff rates?

Make full use of your solar system by storing excess power at a low price rather than exporting it. Solar panel and battery systems can be a powerful duo for Australian households.

Lower Carbon Footprint

Despite the steady growth in solar, wind, and hydro, fossil fuels still dominate the grid. Fossil fuels supplied approximately 64% of Australia’s total electricity generation, while coal alone accounted for around 45%.

These stats highlight why solar battery storage is so valuable. By storing surplus solar energy, homeowners can reduce their reliance on a grid that still runs on coal and gas.

Peace of Mind

Enjoy 24/7 uninterrupted power, no matter what’s happening outside.

Besides powering urban homes and businesses, batteries also provide reliable power backup for off-grid living at night when your solar panel can’t produce, ensuring peace of mind.

What Size Solar Battery Do I Need?

While choosing the battery size, it isn’t just about picking the biggest one you can afford; it’s about matching your household’s energy consumption pattern. There is no one-size battery that will make financial or functional sense for everyone.

Nevertheless, if you have an average family of four with no exceptional power demands, you may get by with a 10kWh to 12kWh battery bank as a ready-to-roll backup system.

Well, this is just an estimation, as we have no idea of your power needs, because selecting a battery is highly subjective to the household in question.

With that being said, you can get a good idea of how much power you use on average by analyzing your electric bill copy. Also, keeping track of which appliances you use the most and which ones require the most power will help you.

So, to figure out the ideal battery size for your home, you need to consider three most important things:

Your Daily Energy Usage

Check your electricity bill for your average daily consumption (in kWh). Most Australian homes use between 15 to 25 kWh per day.

Your Solar System Output

How much excess solar energy are you generating during the day? That’s the power you’ll store to use later rather than exporting.

Your Nighttime Power Usage

A battery is most useful at night or during grid outages. So, estimate how much power you typically use after sunset. However, by using a battery, you can also get the freedom of living off the grid.

Sizing Up: The Ideal Home Battery for Aussies!

For small households and light usage, a 5 kWh battery will be suitable.

For average Australian households, adding a 10 kWh battery would be enough.

Large homes and high-energy users will need a 13 to 15 kWh system.

For full independence, off-grid living, or blackout protection, you may require a larger battery size of 20+ kWh.

Want help calculating your exact needs? Just drop your daily usage and solar output, and we’ll do the math for you! Cyanergy is here to help!

Sizing Up: The Ideal Home Battery for Aussies!

For small households and light usage, a 5 kWh battery will be suitable.

For average Australian households, adding a 10 kWh battery would be enough.

Large homes and high-energy users will need a 13 to 15 kWh system.

For full independence, off-grid living, or blackout protection, you may require a larger battery size of 20+ kWh.

Want help calculating your exact needs? Just drop your daily usage and solar output, and we’ll do the math for you! Cyanergy is here to help!

How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost?

Previously, you would have to pay between $3000 and $3600 for the battery alone, plus the cost of installation, for every kWh of solar battery storage.

However, you can currently expect to pay between $1200 and $1400 for each kWh of solar battery storage. That is a price reduction of approximately 52%, and things will only get better from here.

Does that imply solar batteries are cheap now? Not really, but the cost is well justified by the pros of having a battery storage system.

Also, while paying for solar batteries, you have to consider many other factors like the type of battery, your solar panel system configurations and compatibility, brand, and installation partner.

These will significantly influence the price range of battery storage.

Is a Solar Battery Worth It | Pros and Cons at a Glance

It’s okay to feel a little overwhelmed while deciding to invest your hard-earned money in a battery.

So, here we’ve listed the pros and cons of having a solar battery to help you in the decision-making process.

Benefits of Solar Battery Storage

Solar batteries help you become self-sustaining.

You don’t have to care about power outages anymore

In the event of any natural disaster, you will still have a power source

Battery prices are dropping significantly as we speak

During peak hours, grid electricity prices increase due to high demand; you can avoid paying a high price and use your battery. It’s essentially free energy, as solar generates energy from the sun.

Reduced carbon footprint as the battery stores energy from a renewable source.

Advantages of battery for the grid and national energy system:

Batteries support Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). In 2025, consumers get financial bonuses (AUD 250‑400) for joining, plus grid benefits via distributed dispatchable power.

Grid‑scale batteries like Victoria Big Battery or Hornsdale Power Reserve are increasing system resilience by storing large amounts of renewable energy and reducing blackout risk.

Drawbacks of Solar Battery Storage

One of the biggest barriers is that solar batteries have a high upfront cost, which makes installation harder for residents.

Home batteries require physical space, proper ventilation, and can’t always be placed just anywhere, especially in smaller homes or apartments.

Most batteries, like lithium-ion batteries, last 5 to 15 years, meaning they may need replacement during your solar system’s lifetime.

While many systems are low-maintenance, some may require software updates, monitoring, or even professional servicing over time.

Battery production involves mining and processing materials like lithium or lead, which raise environmental and ethical concerns.

Should You Buy a Solar Battery?: Here’s the Final Call!

You should consider buying a solar battery if several key factors align with your situation.

First, it’s a strong financial move if you live in a state where federal and state incentives can significantly reduce the upfront cost. This can make the investment far more affordable.

A solar battery can be especially worthwhile if you value having backup power during outages, lowering your electricity bills, and gaining a measure of energy independence from the grid.

Additionally, you should be comfortable with taking a few extra steps to get the most value out of your system, such as joining a virtual power plant (VPP), which allows your battery to participate in grid services in exchange for modest returns.

Finally, it’s worth noting that rebates decline annually, and early adopters get the most value.

Takeaway Thoughts

Installing a solar battery in Australia in mid‑2025 offers substantial financial, environmental, and energy‑security benefits, especially if you qualify for multiple subsidies and have good solar capacity.

With rebates shrinking after 2025 and demand surging, early movers stand to benefit most.

By helping balance the grid and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, home battery adoption contributes significantly to Australia’s national goals of 82% renewable energy by 2030.

It’s not just about savings; it’s about being part of a smarter, cleaner, more resilient electricity future for Australia.

Looking for CEC-accredited local installers?

Your Solution Is Just a Click Away

The post Should I Get a Solar Battery Storage System? appeared first on Cyanergy.

Should I Get a Solar Battery Storage System?

Renewable Energy

Wine Grapes and Climate Change

Published

1 month ago

August 14, 2025

Alice Rush

I just spoke with a guy in the wine industry, and I asked him how, if at all, climate change is affecting what we does.

From his perspective, it’s the horrific wildfires whose smoke imbues (or “taints”) the grapes with an unpleasant flavor that needs to be modified, normally by creative methods of blending.