The cost savings of installing rooftop solar without a home battery can be significant, with the cost of solar panel installation decreasing by over 60% in the past decade. 

The cost of batteries, with installation, can be $10,000 or more. If you're considering installing rooftop solar panels, you may be wondering if you need a home battery, like the Tesla Powerwall, to store all of that wonderful excess energy. The answer, if you live in British Columbia, may surprise you.

Home batteries can be beneficial in certain situations, like when you want that security in case the energy grid goes down or if the utility company offers lower rates at night. In BC energy rates are constant throughout the day. Timing when to run the dishwasher or charger your EV isn’t really an issue. You may want energy security for when the grid goes down. If this is you, you might want to add batteries.

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We’ve got Net Metering!

In BC, we have net metering. This means that excess electricity generated by rooftop solar can be fed back into the grid, providing homeowners with energy credits on their BC Hydro bill. At the end of the billing cycle, all of your energy usage is offset by any credits you generated. Basically, BC Hydro acts like a battery for you!

Here is a sample summer bill provided by BC Hydro:

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BC isn't alone. Almost all other provinces and territories offer net metering, thought with drastically different rates. According to Solacity, a solar provider, only Manitoba doesn't offer net metering.

Your car could be your battery

Not now, but soon, your electric vehicle, which is really a giant battery on wheels, will be able to power your home. In fact, their batteries are so big, they could power your home for days!

More and more vehicles are coming equipped with bi-directional charging. This means the electricity can flow into your vehicle from your home, or from your vehicle back to your home. Tada. 

For comparison, a Tesla Power Wall can store 13.5 kWh. A Tesla Model Y can store 75 kWh. 

However, you need to plan ahead. Your home will also need the right hardware to manage the electricity like this. You will also need the Home Integration System. It takes the high-current DC from your vehicle and converts into AC power that your home can use.

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In conclusion

If you're considering installing rooftop solar panels in British Columbia, you may not need a home battery. BC Hydro's net metering acts like a giant never ending battery for you. If you really want a battery for power outages, in the not too distant future you can use your electric vehicle to power your home. Plan ahead and come up with a Home Energy Roadmap. We can help!