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What sets AC coupling and DC coupling apart, and how to choose the right type for your home.
Specifications and pricing may vary. Always confirm current details with your installer.
The main difference is where the battery connects to your solar system:
AC coupling puts the battery on the household side of the electricity meter, downstream of your existing solar inverter. The battery has its own dedicated inverter, so solar energy is converted from DC to AC by the solar inverter, then converted back to DC to charge the battery, then back to AC again when the battery discharges. That extra pair of conversions is the trade-off for the battery working independently of whatever solar inverter is already installed.
DC coupling puts the battery on the solar side, connected directly to a hybrid inverter alongside the panels. Solar energy reaches the battery as DC with no conversion at all, and is only converted to AC once, by the shared hybrid inverter, when it's sent to the home or grid. Fewer conversion steps is why DC-coupled systems are the more efficient architecture on paper.
Start here before efficiency numbers even come into it. If you already have solar and want to add a battery, an AC-coupled battery is the standard retrofit path — it bolts onto your existing inverter without replacing it. If you're installing solar and a battery together, or your inverter needs replacing anyway, a DC-coupled battery paired with a new hybrid inverter is usually the more efficient, more integrated choice.
Want the conversion-chain mechanics in more depth first? Read how AC and DC battery coupling works.
Best for:
Best for:
10kWh solar - 9.5kWh stored - 9.0kWh usable
10kWh solar - 9.0kWh stored - 8.5kWh usable
Over 10 years, a DC-coupled system can save an extra 5-7% in energy costs due to higher efficiency.
Western Australia has specific network connection rules that affect how AC and DC coupled systems are designed and installed. These rules can influence which coupling type is better for your situation.
VPP Eligibility: Both AC and DC coupled systems must be on Synergy's Supported Solutions List (SSL) to qualify for the Battery Rewards VPP program and the WA state battery rebate.
Network rules effective from May 2026. Always confirm current requirements with your installer and Western Power.
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Two modular systems Perth buyers often shortlist together, compared spec by spec.
A 10 kWh usable LFP tower that stacks in 5 kWh modules, with a 10-year warranty.
Not sold here and not on the approved-product register, so it earns no rebate.
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