The Journey Towards Going Off-Grid

Two-thirds of Aussie homes with solar have plans to install a battery within the next five years to help reduce their reliance on grid energy – signifying a growing appetite for more self-sufficient and sustainable homes. However, the process of disconnecting from the grid is still out of reach for the majority of Aussies – at least without significant up-front costs and a tolerance for occasional disruptions to power supply.

So, what does going off-grid actually mean for your home and your hip pocket? We’ve put together some quick info on becoming a self-sufficient household and why staying connected to the grid is a good safety net.

Home batteries allow you to bank excess solar energy generated during the day so you can use it later, reducing your reliance on grid energy and helping to bring your energy bills down.

For homes without battery storage, excess energy generated by their solar system is sent back to the grid – which means they’re not unlocking the full potential of their solar system.

Home batteries, such as the Tesla Powerwall and the LG Resu10, store excess solar energy generated throughout the day, providing power at night, on cloudy days, or when there’s a spike in energy use at home.

Going off-grid means completely disconnecting your home from the national energy grid and relying solely on the energy generated from your household solar and battery storage system.

To power a typical Aussie home, you’d need to install battery storage and backup generators to ensure your home has enough power when the sun goes down.

The national energy grid provides a reliable and uninterrupted supply of energy when batteries are depleted or when solar systems aren’t generating enough energy from the sun – like on consecutive cloudy days. So, staying connected to the grid provides peace of mind (especially on colder days when heating and warm showers are a must).

In some situations, it’s possible to completely remove yourself from the national energy grid by investing in the right technology. However, a more reliable option is to choose a home battery and enjoy the reassurance of grid power when needed.