What size battery do you need?

As the demand for renewable energy grows, many homeowners and businesses are turning to battery storage solutions to maximise self-consumption, reduce reliance on the grid, and enhance energy resilience. But with a plethora of battery sizes available, one common question arises: what sized battery do you need? In this post, we’ll explore the latest thinking on battery sizing, help you understand the key factors to consider, and introduce Volta Eco’s tailored solutions—our residential eCactus and commercial Titan batteries.

Understanding Battery Sizing

Battery capacity is typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and represents the amount of energy the battery can store. Choosing the right size depends on your energy consumption, the desired backup duration, and your overall energy strategy. Recent industry insights suggest that accurate sizing is crucial not only for maximising efficiency but also for ensuring long-term cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

Key Factors in Battery Sizing:

• Energy Consumption Patterns: Review your daily or weekly energy usage. For homes, this might include household appliances, heating, lighting, and electric vehicles. For businesses, consider critical loads, operational hours, and peak demand.

• Duration of Backup: Determine how long you’d like your battery to support you during an outage or periods of low solar generation. More storage capacity means longer backup times.

• System Efficiency: Account for conversion losses (for example, from DC to AC) and battery efficiency ratings, which can affect the usable capacity.

• Future Energy Needs: Consider whether your energy consumption might increase in the future, such as by adding new appliances, additional solar panels, or expanding business operations.

Estimating Your Energy Needs

For a rough guide, start by looking at your energy bills to understand your average daily consumption. Divide your total monthly or annual kWh usage by the number of days to get an approximate daily usage figure. From here, decide how many days of backup power you require and factor in your inverter and battery efficiencies.

For example:

• Homeowners: If your household consumes around 15 kWh per day and you wish to have one full day of backup, you might consider a battery with at least 15 kWh of capacity. However, if you want to cover multiple days or accommodate higher usage during outages, a larger battery would be needed.

• Businesses: Commercial operations might have critical loads that cannot afford interruption. Assess the essential circuits and operations you need to sustain. A detailed load analysis may reveal that a larger battery series in parallel is necessary to support key functions for several hours or even days.

With or without solar, eCactus saves you money

Save money on your electricity bills with energy storage by using off-peak tariffs, and enjoy uninterrupted power, even during outages.

Tailored Solutions for Homeowners and Businesses

At Volta Eco, we understand that one size does not fit all when it comes to energy storage. That’s why we offer two distinct battery solutions designed with your specific needs in mind.

For Homeowners: eCactus

Our residential eCactus battery is engineered to cater to everyday energy needs. It is designed to:

• Store Solar Energy Efficiently: Maximising the self-consumption of solar power.

• Provide Reliable Backup: Covering essential loads during outages.

• Scalability: For households that might need to expand their energy storage as their energy consumption changes.

For Businesses: Titan

Our commercial Titan battery is built for robust performance and scalability, ideal for businesses that require:

• High-Capacity Storage: To cover critical operations and reduce reliance on the grid.

• Customised Backup Solutions: Ensuring that essential functions remain operational during outages.

• Cost-Effective Energy Management: By optimising energy usage and reducing peak demand charges.

Making the Right Choice

The process of determining what sized battery you need involves careful consideration of your current energy consumption, future requirements, and the specific challenges you face—be it powering your home through a blackout or keeping critical business operations running during grid instability. Recent technological advancements have made it easier than ever to monitor and analyse energy usage, ensuring that you can choose a battery size that meets your exact needs without over-investing in capacity you may never use.

At Volta Eco, our expert team is here to guide you through the process. Whether you’re considering our eCactus for your home or our Titan for your business, we’re committed to helping you make an informed decision that supports your transition to a more resilient, sustainable energy future.

Have questions about battery sizing or which Volta Eco solution is right for you? Contact us todayusing the form below. We’re here to help you power a smarter, greener future.

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