Battery Storage for Grid Connect Systems

More than 1.5 million solar systems have been installed in Australia so far and the majority are grid connected systems.

Consumers are starting to ask themselves why they should continue to export excess energy produced from their PV system at only 5 cents per Kwh during the day and then buy it back at 30 cents per Kwh after the sun has gone down when it is more cost effective to store excess energy during the day and then use it at night.

Meet your teacher: Allen Burrows

Allen brings over 30 years of combined electrical and solar experience, entering the electrical industry as an apprentice in South Africa. A move to England saw Allen doing reticulation and cabling for the London Underground, before he came to Australia and worked on traffic signals, streetlights and electronic speed limits.

Allen’s next career move was into solar, where he worked for a number of companies in roles including installation team leader and supervisor in solar. He went on to start his own business which he has run for the past 8 years, doing solar design, sales, installation and maintenance.

“I’ve installed systems from 2 kilowatts to 200 kilowatts.”

A career highlight for Allen came at the end of a 200 kilowatt commercial installation, where he was able to stand on a 13 metre scissor lift and look down over the finished work.

The move to teaching happened when an injury caused Allen to rethink his heavy work schedule. Fast forward four years and Allen was teaching solar at NECA Education & Careers, developing a solar installation for the trade school and integrating it with a battery storage system.

“It’s good to see students that are really enthusiastic about doing good designs and doing good work.”