On vs. Off-Grid: Is Off-Grid Solar & Battery Worth it?⚡2025
Posted 6 Nov
Posted 6 Nov
In a world of unstable electricity prices and remote living, homeowners throughout the Hunter, Port Macquarie, and Coffs Harbour regions are looking into finding reliability and consistency in their energy. Luckily, there are options for off-grid electricity that allow properties to be energy independent and never pay another energy bill again.
Going off-grid refers to a property not being connected to grid electricity in any way, being solely reliant on only what the stand-alone property generates through methods like solar, battery storage, and generators.
Off-grid solar systems are typically used in remote areas where connecting to an electrical grid is not feasible or cost-effective, and are also used when property owners want to be fully-self-sustainable in their electricity production.
If you're looking into whether going off-grid is worth it or not, it will depend on your unique situation and requirements.
We've installed off-grid solar and battery systems for a range of applications, including situations where remote homes didn't have access to grid electricity, so their only choice was to invest in a complete off-grid system.
With accessible solar and battery systems, off-grid is a perfect choice for those with limited or no supply of grid energy.
Depending on your situation, going off-grid for your electricity can be a game-changer to produce and store power 24/7.
Investing in an off-grid system is generally a larger investment as the system needs higher capacity batteries, and possibly a battery
generator backup. We can give you a free quote on custom systems.
As solar and battery systems are usually the primary source of electricity, ensuring your panels are as clean as possible helps
maximise your systems' performance.
You and your property will have unique energy requirements which will determine the optimal solar and battery system size. We can work
within these requirements with custom BESS and inverter systems.
Fortunately, solar and battery systems are available for both on and off-grid systems for a range of properties across NSW.
If you live in suburbia with a sufficient electricity supply, going off-grid may not be the option for you. However, like an off-grid system, you can experience the benefits of a solar and battery system and use the grid as a backup source of energy. This is called a Microgrid.
As mentioned before, if you live in a remote place with limited access to a reliable electricity supply (this is called a constrained grid), then an off-grid solar and battery system may be the right choice to keep your property powered up.
With the rapid adoption of battery storage in addition to solar systems, we can see that properties throughout Australia are investing in becoming microgrids and joining Virtual Power Plants to help offset their energy usage and become more energy independent.
Home off-grid solar and battery systems are an ideal option for areas with a constrained grid and export limits. Being able to produce, store, and consume your own energy 24/7 is an optimal way to be independent in your energy.
Off-grid sheds and other buildings could be a factor too where additional buildings are located too far from a grid supply.
The other advantage is to be fully independent in energy production, storage, and consumption to be less vulnerable to unpredictable events that affect energy prices.
In most situations when being connected to the grid, choosing to go off-grid doesn't really make sense, especially when you can experience the benefits of a semi-off-grid system like a microgrid.
This system would allow you to harness and consume the energy you generate, but also has the grid as a backup in case of rare situations like consecutive cloudy days etc.
Because your system is the primary energy source, you will need to regularly check your system's health to inspect and prevent possible issues.
Determining your solar and battery system size and design ensures your property is always properly powered. Your optimal off-grid system size will depend on a few factors like your energy requirements and budget.
Calculating your key appliances, using past energy bills, and other factors can help determine your approximate electricity consumption which will indicate what system size you need.
Whilst most household systems average between 6.6kW-10kW of solar and around 10kWh of energy storage, off-grid properties will need greater capacity to sustain consumption over a few days if needed.
For context, the daily average usage from the Central Coast to Upper Hunter is around 14.5 kWh. With most homeowners opting for at least 2 days of backup, consuming 14.5kWh per day could be offset with a 7-8 kW off-grid solar system and a 34 kWh backup battery to achieve 2 days of backup.
Because each property will have its unique aspects, we can't give exact pricing on off-grid solar and battery systems. However, we provide free quoting and custom solutions, so if you are interested in going off-grid, send us through your requirements and our team can help you find the right system that suits your budget.
Another aspect to consider is your roof real-estate. If you need a certain size system, your roof may not be able to hold all the panels required depending on your system size. This is where ground mount systems come into play, where you can mount your solar system on the ground with the only limitation being the property space!
Your system's cost will be determined by elements like system components, and trenching etc.
We have many years of experience in the solar and battery industry, providing a broad range of energy solutions to various properties. Being professionals in on and off-grid systems, we know what works and what doesn't.
Our team works with customers to find the best solution that fits the requirements, from the quoting stage, to the final handover. We're customer focussed and genuinely want to provide you with the best system and experience possible.
Our team provide off-grid solar and battery solutions all over Newcastle, Scone, Port Macquarie, Grafton, and Coffs Harbour.
As off-grid solar and battery solutions emerge, they are not all the most practical solutions to supply your home or business with energy.
Overall, any solar and battery solution will enhance your electricity production and consumption, but it is really a matter on your scenario that will decide whether an on or off-grid connection will be best suited for your property and usage.
We really recommend contacting us if you have further questions, and we can walk you through whether it is the right energy solution.
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