Scenario guide: all-electric renovation

This is an illustrative scenario based on typical Perth household data, not a specific customer story.

Home profile

• Renovation scope: Replaced gas cooktop with induction, gas hot water with heat-pump system
• Occupants: 2 adults
• Daily usage: ~20-25 kWh (higher than pre-renovation due to all-electric loads)
• Target: Zero daytime grid imports most of the year

System

• Solar: 10 kW PV (oversized to handle increased electric loads)
• Battery: 13.5 kWh usable, hybrid inverter
• Appliance scheduling: Heat pump HW runs late morning (10-11 am); laundry early afternoon (1-2 pm)

How this typically plays out

The key to making all-electric renovations work with batteries is load scheduling. Heat pump hot water systems draw 1-2 kW for 2-3 hours, which is significant. Running this during peak solar (mid-morning) means the energy comes from solar rather than draining the battery.

With loads scheduled into the solar window, the battery is reserved almost entirely for evening peak use. On a typical Perth day, 13.5 kWh provides 6-8 hours of evening coverage, which carries most households through to midnight.

In winter, a forced-charge window on off-peak tariff periods tops up what solar can't provide. The larger PV array (10 kW vs 6.6 kW) helps considerably. Even in winter, a 10 kW system in Perth generates 18-22 kWh/day.

Key takeaways

• Smart timing beats brute-force battery size. Plan your appliance schedules first, then right-size the battery to cover what's left.
• Heat pump hot water is well suited to solar-battery households because it runs on a timer and uses 60-70% less energy than resistive electric.
• A hybrid inverter simplifies the installation by managing solar, battery, and grid in one unit.

Where next

How to size a battery for your usage

A step-by-step method covering evening usage and seasonal AC demand.

Where to place a battery in a Perth home

AS/NZS 5139 clearance rules, garage vs outdoor walls, and what installers check on-site.

WA battery rebate: are you eligible?

Synergy customers get $130/kWh back, capped at $1,300.

Explore your options

Answer a few questions and see systems and installers that fit your home.