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 Storion SMILE and 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 Energy and Solar is constantly evaluating the range of battery storage options coming onto the market. If you don't get many power cuts, we recommend the Enphase AC Battery or the Storion Smile B3 for storing energy for later use. These batteries don't provide backup during a power cut, but they increase self consumption of solar and are a powerful way to move towards 100% electricity self-sufficiency.

In simple terms these are modular all-in-one solutions that include the battery, management system and inverter charger all in one stylish enclosure. We can add these batteries to any existing solar system.

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 hybrid system. If you only get short term power outages and you want a powerful cost-effective system then we recommend the Storion Smile 5 for single phase or the Smile T5 for three phase. If you have long power cuts or intend to transition towards off grid independence, then we recommend a Selectronic SP Pro hybrid inverter paired with a quality lithium battery. 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.

Hybrid inverter sizes start at 5kW and are paired with modular 5-34 kWh lithium batteries to suit your night time and backup requirements. Our batteries use safe LFP chemistry and are backed by industry leading 10 year warranties.

We also supply larger commercial hybrid battery and inverter options.

Safety

Like micro inverters, the batteries we supply offer significant safety advantages. We all hope that nothing will go wrong but Enphase, Storion, and BYD have made safety a standout strength. They use a super safe chemistry and construction (Lithium Iron Phosphate) which you can learn about here and a see video of Enphase testing here.

We are also Certified Tesla Powerwall Installers, however the Tesla Powerwall is not quite as safe, because 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 3-10 kWh 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. Modularity and easy expansion are key strengths of the batteries we offer.

For just over $3,000 you can get started with an Enphase 1.2 kWh battery, or for just under $6,000 you can install a 2.9 kWh Storion Smile B3 battery. As time passes, you simply add more units as your energy demands change. The same applies to the larger hybrid Storion Smile 5, Smile T5 or BYD batteries. You can start with a small battery and expand up to 34 kWh in affordable steps.

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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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