Frequently Asked Questions

Battery size should be matched to how your property actually uses energy rather than selected on capacity alone. PPS reviews recent electricity bills—ideally covering several seasons—to understand total consumption, when electricity is being used, the tariff structure, grid imports and the contribution made by any existing solar system.

We also consider the property’s electrical supply, backup priorities, available installation space and future requirements such as EV charging. PPS can then compare suitable battery configurations and present the expected performance and financial estimates for each option. Final equipment selection and system design are confirmed after the property and electrical requirements have been verified.

In many cases, yes. An existing solar system can be paired with battery storage where the panels, inverter, electrical setup and site conditions are suitable.

PPS reviews the size, age and configuration of the existing solar system together with the property’s electricity use and future requirements. Some properties may be able to retain most of their existing equipment, while others may benefit from an inverter change or an upgrade to the supporting solar system. The aim is to store more of the energy produced by the property for use later while ensuring the battery is integrated safely and appropriately.

Solar and battery storage work as parts of the same household energy system. Solar determines how much electricity can be generated during the day, while the battery determines how much energy can be stored and made available for later use.

Considering them together allows PPS to align the solar capacity, battery capacity, inverter, property consumption, tariff structure and future energy goals. This reduces the risk of selecting a battery that is too large for the available charging energy or installing a solar system that does not properly support the intended outcome. For properties with existing solar, the same review helps establish whether the current system is sufficient or whether changes should be considered.

There is no single solar-to-battery ratio that suits every property. The amount of supporting solar depends on daily and seasonal electricity use, the proposed battery capacity, existing solar, available roof space, panel orientation, shading, inverter requirements and expected future demand.

PPS aims to design a solar system that can serve the property’s daytime electricity needs and contribute meaningfully to battery charging while remaining appropriate for the available roof and electrical setup. The recommendation is based on the property’s actual requirements rather than a standard panel count or pre-set package.

Yes. Roof orientation affects when solar energy is generated and how much may be produced across the day. North-facing panels will often provide strong annual production, while east- and west-facing panels can shift more generation into the morning or afternoon and may align well with the property’s electricity-use pattern.

PPS considers orientation together with roof pitch, shading, available roof space, panel layout and the intended battery strategy. A roof that is not north-facing does not automatically prevent an effective battery and solar system—the design needs to be based on the usable roof areas and the property’s broader energy requirements.

During daylight hours, electricity generated by the solar system can first supply the property’s immediate energy needs. Available excess solar can then be stored in the battery rather than all of it being exported to the grid.

The stored energy can be used later when solar generation has reduced or the property would otherwise rely more heavily on grid electricity. If solar generation and stored battery energy cannot meet the property’s demand, the grid remains available to supply the balance. The inverter and energy-management system control this energy flow automatically, with the operating strategy configured around the system design, tariff structure and property usage.

PPS uses the GoodWe ESA platform because it combines the battery, hybrid inverter and energy-management functions within an integrated, modular system. The range provides options for single-phase and three-phase properties, scalable battery capacity, system monitoring and configurable backup capability.

This flexibility allows PPS to match the equipment to the property’s electricity use, existing or proposed solar, electrical supply and backup priorities rather than offering one fixed battery package. PPS also values the manufacturer support and warranty backing available for the system. The final GoodWe configuration is selected according to the requirements of each property.

The potential savings are different for every property. PPS reviews electricity bills over a representative period to understand how much electricity is being used, when it is being consumed, the rates being paid and how existing or proposed solar may contribute to the result.

Suitable system options can then be compared using the customer price, estimated annual savings, expected payback period and return on investment. These figures are estimates rather than guaranteed outcomes, as actual savings can change with electricity use, retailer rates, solar production and the way the system is operated.

Potentially. Eligibility depends on the proposed battery, its capacity, the solar system, approved equipment, installer accreditation, electrical compliance and the program requirements applying when the installation is completed.

Under the current program, eligible battery systems generally need to have a nominal capacity between 5 kWh and 100 kWh and be connected to eligible new or existing solar. Certificate support is available only for the first 50 kWh of usable capacity, with the level of support affected by battery size and the installation date. Eligible on-grid equipment must also be technically capable of participating in a virtual power plant, although the customer is not required to join one.

PPS can assess likely eligibility and explain the applicable support within the proposed system price. Final eligibility is determined through the completed installation, certification, supporting documentation and claim process.

Yes—where backup capability has been included in the system design. The GoodWe ESA platform used by PPS can automatically switch to stored battery energy when the grid supply fails. The single-phase ESA supports UPS-level full-home backup of up to 63 A without requiring a separate external gateway, while the three-phase ESA is also designed to support whole-home backup.

Whole-home backup does not mean every appliance can operate without limit. The power available and how long it lasts depend on the battery’s state of charge and capacity, inverter output, property supply phase, switchboard configuration and the appliances operating during the outage. Compliant backup wiring or switchboard work may still be required.

PPS confirms whether whole-home backup or a design focused on prioritised loads is appropriate during the assessment and site-design process.

A battery system may be installed indoors or outdoors where the equipment rating, property layout and applicable installation requirements allow. Common locations can include a suitable external wall, garage or another non-habitable service area.

The location needs to provide safe access and ventilation while protecting the system from direct sunlight, severe weather, flooding, vehicle impact and nearby combustible storage. Battery systems must not be installed in habitable rooms, ceiling spaces, wall cavities, passageways, escape routes or other prohibited areas.

Prescribed clearances also apply around doors, windows, ventilation openings, exits and unrelated appliances. A compliant non-combustible barrier may be required where a battery is installed against a wall adjoining a habitable room.

PPS confirms the final location during the site inspection in accordance with AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment, applicable electrical requirements and GoodWe installation instructions.

Yes. GoodWe provides dedicated ESA platforms for single-phase and three-phase properties, allowing PPS to select the inverter and system configuration suited to the property’s electricity connection and energy requirements.

The supply phase affects inverter selection, how electricity is distributed through the property, backup-system design and the final electrical configuration. PPS confirms the property’s phase arrangement using the meter, switchboard and available property information before finalising the system design.

Less common supply arrangements, including two-phase connections, need to be assessed individually rather than assumed to use a standard single-phase or three-phase configuration.

A battery does not have one fixed service life. Its long-term performance depends on factors such as usage, cycling, operating temperature, installation conditions and system settings, so the warranty period should not be treated as the battery’s exact life expectancy.

GoodWe ESA inverters and compatible BAT 5.1 and 8.3 battery modules are covered by separate manufacturer warranties. The ESA inverter series carry a ten-year limited warranty, while the battery modules include ten-year product and performance warranties, subject to GoodWe’s terms and conditions.

Warranty coverage depends on correct installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, as well as compliance with GoodWe’s requirements. For full warranty terms, exclusions and claim conditions, please refer to the GoodWe warranty information.

Yes. The household can continue using lights, appliances and other electrical equipment while the battery is charging. With the GoodWe ESA system used by PPS, household consumption and battery charging can occur at the same time, so normal electricity use does not need to stop simply because the battery is being charged.

The system coordinates available solar generation, grid supply, household demand and battery charging. The total electricity available at any moment remains subject to the property’s connection capacity, inverter rating and configured system limits.

PPS reviews these factors before setting the battery’s operating strategy, particularly where charging is intended to occur during an eligible time-based electricity period.

No. Installing a battery does not, by itself, require you to change electricity retailer. In most cases, the battery can operate while you remain with your existing retailer and electricity plan.

However, a plan that suited the property before battery installation may not necessarily provide the most suitable outcome afterwards. Usage rates, time-of-use periods, daily supply charges, controlled-load rates, solar feed-in tariffs and any VPP or battery-related conditions can all affect the overall result.

PPS reviews the complete tariff structure against the property’s electricity use and proposed battery operation. This helps identify whether the current plan remains suitable or whether comparing other plans may be worthwhile. The final electricity-plan decision remains with the customer.

The Solar Sharer Offer is an opt-in regulated electricity offer introduced from 1 July 2026. It provides a free-use period around the middle of the day, when solar generation across the grid is typically highest. The amount of free electricity and the specific operating times depend on the plan offered by the retailer.

The offer is available to eligible residential customers with a smart meter who are not supplied through an embedded network and are with a participating retailer. A household does not need rooftop solar or a home battery to qualify. Other charges, including supply charges, controlled-load usage and electricity used outside the free period, may still apply.

For a home with battery storage, the offer may create an opportunity to shift useful electricity consumption into the middle of the day. Whether it provides a better overall result depends on the household’s usage pattern, battery strategy, rates outside the free period, supply charges, solar feed-in tariff and the other terms of the plan. PPS assesses the complete electricity plan rather than recommending it solely because it includes a free-use period.

Yes, the Solar Sharer Offer requires a smart meter. Other time-based electricity plans may also require a smart meter so the retailer can determine how much electricity was used during each pricing period. If the property does not already have a smart meter, you will need to contact your current electricity retailer to confirm the upgrade process, expected timing and whether any meter-board or electrical work is required before installation can proceed.

The Solar Sharer Offer does not begin automatically when a smart meter is installed. The customer must actively move onto an eligible Solar Sharer plan through a retailer that offers it. Enrolment methods vary between retailers.

Moving onto the Solar Sharer Offer also means changing from the current electricity plan. Existing discounts, rewards, feed-in tariffs or other plan benefits may change, so the complete plan should be reviewed before switching.

Yes. A battery and solar system can be designed with future EV charging in mind, even where the vehicle or home charger has not yet been selected.

PPS considers the household’s expected driving requirements, how often the vehicle is likely to be charged, when it will usually be parked at home and the preferred charging speed. We also assess the vehicle’s likely charging capability, whether a dedicated smart charger may be installed, and how the additional electricity demand could affect the property’s solar, battery and grid consumption.

The proposed system also needs to account for:

• existing or proposed solar capacity;
• usable battery capacity;
• inverter output;
• single-phase or three-phase supply;
• switchboard and connection capacity;
• available installation and cable pathways;
• household electricity use;
• backup-power priorities; and
• the applicable electricity plan.

In a typical home installation, the EV charger draws electricity through the property’s electrical system rather than directly from the home battery. Depending on the available energy and system settings, EV charging may be supplied by rooftop solar, the household battery, the grid or a combination of these sources.

A compatible smart EV charger or energy-management system can help schedule charging, prioritise available solar and manage the charger’s demand alongside other household loads. Where the vehicle is at home during the day, charging directly from available solar may be more practical than first storing that energy in the home battery. If the vehicle is usually away during solar-production hours, stored battery energy may contribute to charging after the vehicle returns home.

However, a home battery should not automatically be sized on the assumption that it will fully recharge the EV every evening. EV charging can represent one of the property’s largest electrical loads and may use a substantial portion of the household battery’s stored energy. This could leave less energy available for evening household use or blackout backup.

Two different measurements are important:

• kWh describes how much energy the EV is expected to need; and
• kW describes how quickly the vehicle can be charged.

PPS therefore considers expected daily driving and the available charging window rather than sizing the system solely around the maximum rating of an EV charger.

Planning for an EV early can also allow appropriate provision for supporting solar, battery and inverter capacity, switchboard space, electrical supply requirements and a future charger location. A dedicated charger may still require separate electrical work, network approval or a supply upgrade depending on the property and proposed charging rate.

Vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid operation are separate from ordinary EV charging. These functions require a compatible vehicle, approved bidirectional charging equipment and suitable network and regulatory arrangements, so PPS would not assume they are available as part of a standard battery-system design.

Yes. A battery can increase solar self-consumption by storing solar energy that is not needed immediately and making it available later when solar production has reduced or stopped.

In a typical solar self-consumption configuration, rooftop solar first supplies the property’s immediate electricity needs. Available excess solar can then charge the battery instead of all of that energy being exported to the grid. During the evening, overnight or at other times of lower solar production, the battery can discharge to help supply the property.

A battery does not generate additional solar energy—it changes when the property can use the energy its solar system has already produced. This can:

• increase the proportion of rooftop solar used within the property;
• reduce the amount of electricity exported to the grid;
• reduce electricity purchased from the retailer later in the day; and
• help reduce reliance on grid electricity during higher-priced periods.

The financial result depends on the amount and timing of solar production, household consumption, usable battery capacity, system efficiency, operating settings, electricity import rates and the applicable solar feed-in tariff.

Using excess solar to charge the battery generally means receiving fewer feed-in-tariff credits because less electricity is exported. In many electricity plans, however, the value of avoiding electricity purchases later in the day may be greater than the credit that would have been received for exporting the same energy. This should still be assessed against the property’s actual tariff rather than assumed.

PPS reviews the property’s electricity bills, solar production, daytime consumption, evening demand and tariff structure to determine how much surplus solar is likely to be available and how much stored energy the property could regularly use.

The objective is to select a battery that can be charged and discharged usefully—not simply the largest available system. A battery that is too large for the property’s solar production and electricity use may remain underutilised, while a battery that is too small may not capture enough of the available excess solar.