Antinuclear

The first installation to be carried out under a special trial program was unveiled at the home of Rachael and Vijay Turner in Forde on Friday morning.

Mrs Turner, who is also an ActewAGL employee, said she had spent “ages” in the past training Vijay and their two children to only turn the airconditioner on at optimum times. This is great, we can now use the airconditioner absolutely guilt free,” she said.

Up until recently power could only be consumed as it was generated during the daytime with any surplus being sold back to the grid.

Mrs Turner, who jumped at the chance to become involved when she heard of the trial through her work, said the first 15 systems to be installed in Canberra would be $15,000 each.

She said the battery was a real game-changer, allowing her family to draw on the power generated from the 5.2 kilowatt solar array for use in the evening.

“We have an eight kilowatt hour battery,” she said. “That is enough to run our airconditioner, lights, oven, television and whatever else is needed.”

James Martin, a market analyst with the independent solar advisory service, Solar Choice, for the past five years, agreed the ActewAGL-Panasonic system packed a big punch.

“It’s actually enough to allow an energy efficient home to go off the grid,” he said……..

Mr Costello said ActewAGL wanted to see how the new technology worked with its network.

“While the grid will still play an important role in the supply of electricity, we believe the battery storage industry will continue to grow over the next few years as the technology continues to advance,” he said.

“We know the ACT community has a high awareness of climate change and the introduction of battery storage will increasingly have a positive impact on the ACT’s renewable energy targets.”

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/first-panasonic-home-battery-trial-launched-in-the-act-20151211-gllauu.html#ixzz3uEofsSIn
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