New battery installation guidelines published by the Clean Energy Council seek to ensure the safety of consumers and installers as Australia’s energy storage revolution really gets into gear.
Like solar power panels before them, it might not be too long before energy storage systems will become reasonably common in homes and businesses across the nation. A survey last year indicated 81% of households that have installed or are considering installing solar power systems are also considering battery systems.
For obvious reasons, it’s important that all these energy storage installations are done right.
The CEC’s plain-English guidelines will be phased-in and then be a requirement from October 2016 for installers who are accredited for battery installation.
“These guidelines have been established after extensive consultation over the past year and build on the most comprehensive study of battery storage safety in Australia that we undertook in partnership with CSIRO in 2015,” said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton.
While there already Australian Standards in place for the design and installation of battery systems; most of these were developed with traditional lead-acid technology in mind.
Energy storage has come a long way in recent times, with the introduction of home battery solutions such Tesla Powerwall that can store far more energy in a much smaller space. It’s not just the installation of the battery itself that needs special attention; it’s also how it interacts with other elements of a solar power system; such as multi-mode inverters.
The guidelines will provide interim guidance to designers and installers until new Standards have been formalised.
“Everyone is excited by the potential of a future created by a combination of renewable energy, home energy storage and smart energy technologies. The new guidelines are an important step in making that vision a reality,” said Mr. Thornton.
Grid-Connected Energy Systems With Battery Storage – Install Guidelines For Accredited Installers can be downloaded here (PDF).
The Clean Energy Council is the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia; representing and working with thousands of solar installers. Aside from advocacy and installation accreditation activities, the organisation is also behind the Solar Retailer Code of Conduct. The Code enables installation companies to demonstrate their commitment to responsible sales and marketing activities; providing consumers peace of mind when making a solar power system purchase decision.
