How Long Can a Solar Battery Power a House?
Australia’s uptake of rooftop solar has made us world leaders in distributed renewable energy. Many households are now looking beyond panels to solar battery installations to increase self‑sufficiency, reduce bills and improve resilience during blackouts. Yet the simple question “how long can a solar battery power a house?” has no one‑size‑fits‑all answer. Runtime depends on battery size, household consumption, how you use your system and whether solar panels are available to recharge the battery. This article draws on independent research and government guidance to explain the factors that determine battery runtime and to help you choose the proper storage solution. Understanding battery capacity and household consumption The ability of a battery to keep your lights on is governed by its capacity, measured in kilowatt‑hours (kWh). One kWh represents the amount of energy required to run a 1 kW appliance for one hour. An article on battery sizing notes ...