Solar energy options boosted by better battery technologies - residential energy storage systems

Advocates of renewable energy predict solar energy
Battery storage technology could seriously destroy Australian fossils
Fuel power industry in the next few years.
Battery prices are expected to drop rapidly as new products emerge-
Especially in the residential area, solar power generation and storage are more attractive.
John Harvey's home in Melbourne has been closed for a year.
Reliable Solar cells are a key part of the equation.
"There is no sun at night and you have to back up some batteries.
"Solar energy can provide energy during the day, but when the sun goes down, Netcom often meets the power needs of users ---
Most of its electricity comes from fossil fuels.
Australia is estimated to be the world's largest per capita user of rooftop solar technology.
Experts say the market for solar cells is expected to explode.
Electric car maker Tesla, which has built tens of thousands of battery packs for cars, is now producing batteries of such a large scale for buildings and is expected to cut costs significantly.
Heath Walker, from Tesla Australia, said "Powerwall" is a home battery that can be charged from solar panels to provide electricity at night.
"With solar energy, people have been using solar energy to pay tariffs for so long.
But now there's feed.
In the process of lowering tariffs, people have the opportunity to control the energy in their homes through battery storage and Powerwall, which we think is the best way.
Tesla claims its solar power
Power batteries will be more affordable and easier to use than existing ones.
Andrew Reddaway, an advocacy group from the Association for alternative technologies, said it was a big step forward in the solar market.
"It sets a new price benchmark because the battery is very expensive and the battery will become more affordable as other competitors lower their prices to reach that benchmark.
"Australian Climate Council chairman Tim frankry said Australia is expected to install more than 50,000 battery storage systems each year in the next 10 years, including so-
Photovoltaic technology that converts sunlight into electricity.
"It is expected that this will have a huge impact because suddenly, when you reach this point, you no longer need a coal-fired power plant.
The old view is that they are basic loads and, therefore, we need them because they produce [power]24/7 --
But so is the solar photovoltaic system.
Tom norkard from Sydney
Community power agencies say remote indigenous communities can benefit from solar cell storage.
"What these communities are saying is important to them is not only the affordability of energy, but also autonomy, independence and self-control.
So, they think the battery is a very interesting technology. '