If you’re thinking about getting solar power, you’re on the path to big power bill savings plus a significantly reduced carbon footprint. It’s a good move for residential properties and businesses, especially when you couple your system with a lithium battery.
A lot of people don’t realise that your solar panels are only half the story. To really leverage your solar investment, you need a good solar battery. It will allow you to store your sun power for later, keep the lights on when the grid goes down and stretch your savings even further.
Over the past few years, lithium batteries have become the most popular solar battery for Aussie homes and businesses. Let’s unpack why so many people are choosing lithium, and what makes them so good for solar storage.
The Main Solar Battery Types
Nobody will force you into getting a lithium battery – there are other options out there. Having worked closely with solar batteries for years now, we recommend lithium batteries to all our clients.
Before we take a look at why, let’s take a look at the four categories of solar batteries you can choose from:
Lead-Acid Batteries:
These have been around for many years and are attractive due to their lower upfront costs and reliability. The downside is they’re heavy and bulky, and with a short lifespan of only about three to five years you’ll need to replace them regularly.
Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) Batteries:
You won’t see these much in homes and we wouldn’t recommend opting for them in a solar system. They are rechargeable and have a long cycle, as well as being sturdy and durable. This means you’ll find them in industrial situations rather than residential or small business. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal, so disposal is a worry, as is the effect on the environment.
Flow Batteries:
These are a newer option that use liquid electrolytes and store huge amounts of energy. They’re big and expensive though, more suited to big farms or commercial sites than a typical residential solar setup. In fact, there are no residential flow batteries available on the Australian market.
Lithium-ion Batteries:
Lithium batteries are the battery of choice for solar and many other applications. They’re what you’ll find in everything from electric vehicles to your smartphone. Today, they’re the most practical option for on-grid home energy storage.
Benefits of Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries are popular for a reason – here are some of their most talked about benefits:
Usable Energy
Lithium batteries provide more usable energy than other battery types. With a lead-acid battery you can only discharge about 50% before you risk damaging it. Today’s lithium batteries can safely discharge up to 80% of their capacity. If you’ve got a 100Ah lithium battery, you can use 80Ah of that stored energy. With a lead-acid battery, you’d only use up to 50Ah.
Longer Life Cycle
In battery terms, the life cycle is how many times it can be discharged and recharged before needing replacing. Lithium batteries give you a far greater life cycle than other batteries, equating to around 10 times more recharges and discharges than a lead-acid battery.
They have a longer lifespan too. They can last 10 to 15 years, sometimes longer. Lead-acid batteries, on the other hand, need replacing every three to five years. You get far better value from the longer-lasting lithium battery.
Charges Faster
Whatever the season, you want to take advantage of the sun when its out. With their fast charge times, Lithium batteries help you do that. They can take on board a higher current, meaning they reach capacity before any other type of battery would.
Lightweight and Compact
Nobody needs massive, heavy batteries taking up space in the garage or house. Lithium batteries can weigh around 50% less than lead-acids, which is what has made them so adaptable to electric vehicles.
Low Maintenance
Once a lithium battery is installed there’s nothing you have to do in terms of maintenance.
Better Efficiency
Lithium batteries are very efficient. For every bit of energy you put in, about 90 to 95% comes back out when you need it. Lead-acid batteries lose more along the way, sitting closer to 80%.
A Few Things To Consider
A lithium battery will cost more upfront than a lead-acid one. Over time though, the higher price pays for itself thanks to the longer lifespan and greater efficiency of lithium-ion batteries.
As with all things electrical, safety is paramount. Please only go with a certified and experienced installer when it comes to adding lithium batteries to your solar setup. The team at Voltora Industries are here to help you – we’ve installed thousands of these batteries across South East Queensland, and will ensure you have a safe and reliable solar battery setup in your home.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a $2.3 billion Australian Government initiative starting July 1, 2025, designed to make battery storage more affordable for households and small businesses. It offers an upfront discount of about 30% on approved battery systems, with the rebate amount depending on the battery’s usable capacity and decreasing over time until 2030.
Eligible batteries must meet quality standards and be installed by accredited professionals. The discount can be combined with state rebates for extra savings. We’ll help you tap into this program and enjoy lower energy bills with reliable home battery solutions.
Choose the Right Solar Battery with Voltora
Picking the right solar battery can feel like a minefield – there are a lot of lithium battery brands out there. It’s overwhelming, which is why our team is here to guide you. We know solar and we know batteries, and we’ll help you settle on the system that suits your needs perfectly.
We use trusted brands and our experienced installers make sure everything is set up safely and properly. No surprises, no headaches. Just clean, reliable energy when you want it.
If you’re ready to take control of your power bills and start harnessing the sun’s energy, get in touch with Voltora Industries today. We’ll make your solar system work for you.
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