REFERENCE GUIDE FOR SOLAR INSTALLERS · batteries. This may cause a risk of inhaling noxious gas...

Adapted from the Clean Energy Council’s Guide to Installing a Household Battery Energy Storage System,

available at solaraccreditation.com.au/batteryguide

BATTERY

REFERENCE GUIDE FOR SOLAR INSTALLERS

POCKET GUIDE

DECEMBER 2017

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BATTERY POCKET GUIDE

BATTERY STORAGE allows electricity generated by solar panels during the day to be stored for use later, like at night when the sun has stopped shining. While batteries were first produced in the 1800s, the types of battery energy storage systems that can store solar power and provide electricity to households are fairly new.

Installing a battery storage system can provide a number of benefits when used in conjunction with an existing or new solar panel system. A battery storage system can:

• Help reduce reliance on electricity from the grid.

• Maximise the energy used from solar panels by allowing it to be stored rather than sent to the grid.

The benefits of batteries

• Offset the increased cost of power used during peak times, such as during the evening.

• Save money by storing energy from the grid overnight when prices are low to use during peak times when prices are high (depending on your power agreement).

• Provide electricity during power outages (depending on the system).


4 ecogeneration.com.au


Battery basics

HOW DO BATTERIES WORK?Battery storage uses a chemical process to store electrical energy, which can then be used at a later time. For example, a solar-powered torch stores electrochemical energy during the daylight hours that can be used to provide light at night.

A battery storage system connects to a house in two main ways — DC (direct current) coupled or AC (alternating current) coupled.

A DC-coupled battery storage system is integrated into the solar system. These systems generally have a single inverter that converts the DC electricity to AC to supply the house or feed back into the grid.

An AC-coupled system is separate to the solar system. It connects directly to the house wiring via a dedicated bi-directional battery inverter, using local AC electricity to charge the battery and then discharge it directly to the house.

Once set up, a battery storage system should operate automatically.

THE SIGNIFICANT reduction in the cost of battery storage systems in recent years means that installing a battery is fast becoming a viable option for many Australian households. But what exactly are battery storage systems and how do they work to power a home? This section covers the basics.


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LITHIUM-ION BATTERIESLITHIUM-ION BATTERIES are becoming a popular choice for use with household solar panels and may become the main technology used in the future. Lithium-ion technology has been used for many years in portable devices,

including in laptops and mobile phones. Due to falling costs and increased production, they can now be manufactured in larger sizes and are well suited to storing solar power.

Thirty-six Enphase batteries connected in a Sydney residential project.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

(compared with lead-acid batteries) (compared with lead-acid batteries)

• Higher capacity and storage

• Lighter weight

• Smaller space and environmental footprint

• Reduced maintenance, due to inbuilt battery management systems

• Longer cycle life and greater depth of discharge

• Cost

• Possible limitation in operating temperature range

• Potentially higher (and less well known) safety risks than other systems; for example, fire hazards

• Limited recycling programs in Australia

What different types of batteries

are available?


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THE TECHNOLOGY behind lead-acid battery storage is similar to that of a car battery. Lead-acid batteries are commonly used with solar panels in remote rural homes, where connection to the grid

is prohibitively expensive. Thanks to advances in technology, systems well-suited to solar power storage are readily available in the form of low-maintenance sealed lead-acid batteries.

Lead-acid batteries

Above: The Ecoult UltraBattery uses lead-acid technology.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

(compared with lithium-ion batteries) (compared with lithium-ion batteries)

• Well-understood technology

• Relatively cheap

• Easy to acquire

• Readily recyclable

• Require regular (albeit simple) checks and maintenance

• Limited depth of discharge (that is, a lower proportion of the energy stored can be used)

OTHER TECHNOLOGY TYPESOther technology types include nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride and flow batteries, but these are less common. If you are interested in these types of technologies, the manufacturer or a Clean Energy Council Accredited Designer can provide you with more detailed information.


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What does battery capacity mean?TYPICALLY BATTERY capacity is expressed in kilowatt hours (kWh), similar to the way electricity is charged. Some battery manufacturers express their capacity in ampere hours (Ah).

The battery capacity quoted by the manufacturer is an “ideal” number that is useful for comparing batteries.

One important consideration is the usable amount of energy in a battery storage system. Some manufacturers promote their battery capacity based on the total capacity, for example 10kWh. But all battery storage systems have what is called depth of discharge (DoD).

Depth of discharge is how much of the total capacity can be used. The majority of battery storage systems cannot have 100% of the total energy drawn out of the battery.

Depth of discharge is expressed as a percentage of the total capacity. If a 10kWh battery has a DoD of 80%, it will provide 8kWh of usable energy.

Lead-acid battery systems typically have a depth of discharge between 30% and 50%.

Lithium-ion battery systems typically have a depth of discharge of 80% and above.


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How long do batteries last?PRODUCT WARRANTIES on battery storage systems vary widely and are generally anywhere from 2 to 10 years. While a battery storage system will often last longer than its warranty, its ability to store energy will gradually reduce over time with use.

As well as the product warranty, the retailer should offer a retailer warranty. Warranties offered by retailers vary, including how they define the life of the battery. Some retailers offer a warranty as an “energy throughput” figure, which means they guarantee a battery will store and deliver a given amount of energy, no matter how quickly that limit is reached.

Energy throughput for lithium-ion batteries ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 cycles (charges/discharges of the battery), meaning an expected life of more than 10 years for high-performing systems if cycled once per day.

Some battery retailers offer a warranty guaranteeing either an energy throughput or a lifetime in years, usually based on whichever limit is reached first.


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BATTERY STORAGE systems do have some safety risks, just like solar panels or any other major piece of electrical equipment. Provided a system is installed to all relevant Australian Standards and used and maintained properly, battery storage is safe, but it’s important to be aware of the risks.

The main safety hazards to be aware of are:

• The general hazards of electrical wiring.

• Chemical, fire or explosion hazards. For a battery storage system, these are similar to the risks associated with bottled gas or a natural gas service. For this reason, don’t smoke around a battery storage system and check whether it vents gases.

Safety and standards

• Possible escape of non-flammable gases when charging or discharging lithium batteries. This may cause a risk of inhaling noxious gas similar to a natural gas leak if there is no ventilation.

• Chemical leakages similar to those from the corrosive fluid of a car battery or household chemical cleaning products.

A battery storage system may heat up slightly (like a laptop battery) but shouldn’t become hot to touch. Also, as with all electrical equipment, battery storage systems emit some level of electromagnetic radiation, within safe limits.

In the case of fire or an explosion call 000 immediately.





MaintenanceTHE LIFETIME of a battery is strongly dependent on how the system is used. Poor or heavy usage may mean the product does not last as long as the manufacturer’s specifications. The lifetime also depends on ambient temperatures. All battery types should be checked during extreme hot or cold weather to see whether they are still performing as required.

A system owner’s electricity consumption may also change over time, which can alter the long-term performance and life of the battery storage system.

SYSTEM MONITORINGIt is important to keep an eye on how a battery storage system is operating. Different manufacturers have different ways to do this:

• Some systems have a display on the battery storage system itself, with indicators such as operating mode and battery state of charge.

• Some systems support a remote display option that can be installed inside the house.

• Some systems can connect to the internet and allow the user to view information on a computer, smartphone or tablet, even when they’re not at home.

In addition to monitoring systems provided by your battery storage system manufacturer, third-party home energy monitoring solutions are also available.

INSPECTIONSDepending on which state a system is installed in, safety inspections may be carried out by a relevant electrical authority. These inspections may be mandatory or may occur on a random audit basis. In some states, the installer is responsible for organising the inspection of a system. The inspection may need to be carried out before the system can be connected to the grid.


BATTERY POCKET GUIDEBATTERY POCKET GUIDE


Battery recycling and end of lifeBATTERIES CONTAIN harmful and dangerous materials such as acid, lithium and heavy metals (cadmium, cobalt, lead) and need to be safely managed throughout their life and at end-of-life. This includes handling, collection, storage, transport and processing. The main challenge with lithium-ion recycling is the value of goods out of a lithium-ion battery is very low, says Australian National University senior lecturer Dr Matthew Doolan.

Batteries with cobalt in them are a different case. The recovery of cobalt, a rare earth metal, is very lucrative, Doolan says. All batteries are recycled

in Malaysia, Singapore, the US or Europe and there is some lead-acid recycling in Australia. Some companies will not take lithium-ion batteries without cobalt in them because there is no financial incentive.

The lifetime of residential batteries of 10-15 years means the issue of recycling hasn’t been broached yet because none of the units installed is old enough to be replaced. Lead-acid batteries can be sold to be used at lower capacity. Unlike most other batteries lithium is not a toxic element. “It’s pretty inert and if you need to you can landfill it,” Doolan says. Some companies burn the batteries for energy recovery.

Batteries that require disposal must be stored safely in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children and with any exposed terminals taped up. More information on battery recycling can be found at batteryrecycling.org.au and envirostream.com.au



BATTERY POCKET GUIDEBATTERY POCKET GUIDE

IF YOU HAVE a concern about the safety and technical compliance of a battery storage system, contact the electrical authority in your state or territory.

Electrical safety

• ACT Planning, (02) 6207 1923

• NSW Fair Trading, 13 32 20

• NT NT WorkSafe, 1800 019 115

• QLD Electrical Safety Office, 1300 362 128

• SA: Office of the Technical Regulator, (08) 8226 5518

• TAS Department of Justice, 1300 135 513

• VIC Energy Safe Victoria, (03) 9203 9700

• WA Energy Safety, (08) 6251 1900




Checklist for system ownersEVERY GOOD install ends with the system owner being given a simple, clear briefing on technology that’s new to them. This checklist will help new battery-owners feel comfortable about their investment.

• Be sure the client understands what he or she will be using the battery for and the amount of energy available for that use (this is usually less than the manufacturer’s rated total amount of energy labelled on the batteries).

• The owner needs to monitor the system regularly (at least once a month) and know how to read any battery monitoring system that is in place.

• Make sure the owner knows what to check for when doing a visual check or taking meter readings.

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• As batteries do not perform well with sudden changes in ambient temperature, on extremely hot or cold days the owner may need to do additional monitoring. Ensure the owner has a system in place to remind them to do this.

• Ensure batteries are not accessible to children and are vermin-proofed. Do not store items on top of or lean items against batteries or enclosures because they could be a potential electrical fire risk. Consider installing signs as a reminder.

• Ensure batteries have the correct safety and warning signs for the battery type, and that the owner knows the correct procedures in case of emergency.

• Keep manufacturer, installer and warranty information to refer to as needed.



SIX ISSUES FOR $65, STRAIGHT TO YOUR DESK

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CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION!

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Reliable

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