As we head into November, many households start thinking more carefully about their energy use. The lights come on earlier, we spend more time indoors and electrical demand can increase. As a result, home battery storage often becomes a bigger consideration during the colder months. However, battery storage is not only useful for homes with solar panels. Modern battery systems can also work with suitable time of use electricity tariffs. Therefore, a battery can play a useful role throughout winter, even when solar generation is naturally lower. So, should you install home battery storage before winter? Here is what you…

Are AlphaESS batteries good? It is a question homeowners often ask when comparing solar battery storage systems. Battery specifications matter, but as installers, we look beyond capacity and numbers on a datasheet. We want to know how the equipment performs as part of a complete energy system. We also consider flexibility, monitoring, battery chemistry and, importantly, the support available behind the product. At West Coast Electrical & Renewables, AlphaESS is one of the battery storage manufacturers we regularly work with. We have installed AlphaESS systems across a wide range of properties and have built up considerable experience with the technology.…

Yes, you can charge a home battery overnight if you have a compatible battery system and electricity tariff. In fact, home battery storage is no longer just about storing electricity generated by solar panels. Many households now use their battery alongside a time-of-use tariff to take advantage of cheaper electricity at certain times of the day. The basic idea is simple. Your battery charges when electricity is cheaper, often overnight. Then, when electricity becomes more expensive, your home can use energy stored in the battery instead of drawing as much electricity from the grid. However, there is more to consider…