BATTERIES

Storage options to make solar smarter

There is a lot of interest from people who want to add batteries to their solar electric systems. We were one of the first companies in New Zealand to install the Enphase AC Battery and have now completed many installations with batteries.
We also offer BYD batteries and are certified installers for the Tesla Powerwall and Selectronic inverters from Australia.

Add Batteries for self-consumption

Storage solves the basic dilemma of not being home when the sun is shining. Storage addresses a fundamental problem of solar energy—that while solar production peaks during midday, energy consumption is highest in the morning and evening. With storage, you can save the energy you produce for when you need it most.

Storage captures low cost clean energy and adds flexibility to when you can use that energy, helping you get the lowest electricity bill and increasing your energy independence.

McNae Electrical Solutions is constantly evaluating the range of battery storages options coming onto the market. The Enphase AC Battery battery brings the most sophisticated fully integrated option to our customers for increasing self-consumption of solar genrated energy.

In simple terms the Enphase AC Battery, is an all-in-one modular solution that includes the battery, management system and inverter charger all in one small stylish enclosure. The Enphase AC Battery is deliberately small at 25kg and 390W x 325H x 220D which makes handling easy and installation flexible.

Transition to Grid-Independence

If you want power during a power cut and you want to be able to recharge your batteries from solar when the power is off, then you need a true hybrid system. For our hybrid systems we have chosen to pair a quality lithium battery with a Selectronic SP Pro hybrid inverter. The SP Pro has the highest surge rating and passthrough power capability of any hybrid inverter on the market. This means that your system can go completely off the grid.

Residential inverter sizes start at 5kW and are paired with 5-20 kWh BYD lithium batteries to suit your night time and backup requirements. BYD is the largest manufacturer of Lithium batteries and Electric vehicles in the world. These batteries have high power discharge characteristics which means your system can react faster as loads change in your house and as clouds pass across the sky.

Safety

Like micro inverters, the BYD battery and the Enphase AC battery offer significant safety advantages. We all hope that nothing will go wrong but Enphase and BYD have made safety a standout strength. They chose to use a super safe chemistry and construction (Lithium Iron Phosphate) which you can learn about here and a see video of Enphase testing here. The Tesla Powerwall is not quite as safe, as it uses automotive Lithium battery technology, but the cell density is much greater giving a very compact unit for its storage capacity.

Affordable

The majority of solar homes will probably need to add 3-5kWh of storage to get the most out of their solar production, depending on a variety of factors. However, many owners don’t yet understand all these factors and would prefer to dip a toe in the water and start small, then build up as their experience grows and this is a key strength of the Enphase AC Battery.

For just over $3,000 you can get started with an Enphase 1.2kWh AC Battery. As time passes, you simply add more units as your experience grows or energy demands change. The same applies to the BYD battery. You can start with a 2.5kWh battery and expand it up to 10kWh in a single cabinet with additional 2kWh battery modules. Larger sizes can be accommodated by stacking cabinets together.

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Family owned, we are one of the larger electrical contracting businesses in Palmerston North with 100% local ownership.

We are happy to discuss our potential involvement in any project you may have.

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