Hanwha Q Cells, sonnen to power off-the-plan solar+storage in South Australia

Home buyers in South Australia will have the opportunity to purchase a house that comes with a 5kW rooftop system, supplied by Q Cells, alongside 7.5kWh of battery storage from sonnen – with the first site Warradale in Adelaide’s south. Developer DLH Projects is building the homes, which will come with the solar and storage as standard.

“Buyers who purchase off the plan will receive the solar battery system as a free upgrade,” the press release announcing the development reads, referring to the sonnenFlat plan.

Sydney-based Natural Solar is installing the solar+storage systems, and has selected Q Cells as module supplier. Q.PEAK DUO-G-5 modules will be installed in the project.

The DUO-G-5 module series deploys monocrystalline cells, in a half-cut module design and six busbar cell interconnection. The half-cut cells and split module design delivers higher tolerance to shading, allowing modules to be installed on rooftops that otherwise may not have been ideal for solar.

The DLH Projects development is being touted as “South Australia’s first multi-site, battery-powered residential development,” the media statement claims. With the benefit of the South Australian Government’s $200 million solar battery rebate, the solar+storage arrays are forecast to save homeowners $60,000 in electricity bills over 20 years.

Adding battery storage to the new homes can deliver an additional advantage to developers, as grid upgrades due to a higher population density in urban infill projects can be avoided.

“With the South Australian Government’s $200 million rebate and loan scheme for home battery systems coming online in October 2018, interest in household solar systems is booming in South Australia,” said Q Cells’ Head of Australia Peter Bae in a statement. “We are delighted that our Q.PARTNER Natural Solar has selected our high performance Q.PEAK DUO-G5 panels for these developments.”

Natural Solar’s Chris Williams described the property developers as “forward-thinking”. “When homeowners sign up to the plan offered by the energy retailer, each home will save an estimated $2,400+GST per year.  Furthermore, it will future-proof each property from the consistently rising prices of electricity of approximately 20% year on year,” said Williams.

According to Natural Solar, the installer has seen state-wide demand for home batteries increase by over 1,000% since the launch of the SA Home Battery Scheme. The solar+storage installer provides a bill calculator for South Australians looking to invest in a sonnen battery storage system.