UPDATE: Senec no longer sell batteries in the Australian market and have chosen to focus on the European markets. According to their website they will still honour warranties for any Australian customer who purchased a SENEC battery.
Background on SENEC – Company History
SENEC was formed in Germany in 2009 with a focus on battery energy storage. They furthered development in this field from 2011 for use in PV solar systems, wind power and commercial use. In 2013 they expanded within the industrial storage vertical. In 2014 they launched the “Economic Grid” project with a vision of high uptake within the residential solar industry. By 2015 4,500 households received over one million kilowatt hours of free electricity.
In 2017 SENEC started expanding internationally with a focus on the markets in Italy and Australia. In 2020, they launched the new SENEC Home V3 Hybrid in Australia.
In a decade of growth, SENEC has sold over 20,000 solar battery systems. They’ve been the recipient of several awards with EuPD Research bestowing upon them as the “Top PV Brand Power Storage”. The SENEC Home received the “Top Storage System in 2017” from EuPD.
According to Dun & Bradstreet, Senec posted a revenue of $64 million USD in 2019 and has 159 employees at their German headquarters.
Basics of SENEC Batteries
SENEC HOME V3 Hybrid
The SENEC Home V3 Hybrid is their flagship lithium-ion battery range with a usable capacity of 4.5kWh or 9kWh for their two variations of this model. It’s an all-in-one “Apocalypse backup” hybrid battery inverter that comes with a 10 year warranty that can be extended to 20 years.
According to their datasheet It has an operating temperature range of 5 to 40 degrees Celsius which makes it suitable for moderate heat conditions indoors. With an rating of IP30 makes it suitable for indoor use only.
As it’s a lithium-ion battery, it’ll last for a long number of cycles and safety in use. With a maximum battery efficiency of 98% and a depth of discharge of 90%, you’ll get a lot out of this energy storage system for your needs.
SENEC claims on their website that it’s compatible with all systems regardless of the manufacturer. The advantage of their battery is that it can be retrofitted to an existing solar PV system. Up to 4 battery modules can be connected in parallel which would provide a combined energy storage of 18kWh and 36kWH respectively for their two variations of this model. This would more than enough be suitable for residential customers as well as within the range of commercial solar applications.
SENEC Battery – Key Features
There are a number of features of the SENEC battery worth mentioning:
Long Warranty Period
Most of the solar batteries we’ve reviewed come with a 10 year warranty period which is standard in the industry. However, the SENEC Home V3 Hybrid allows for an extended warranty of up to 20 years for those customers who want an extra piece of mind for their investment.
Monitor With SENEC App
You have the ability to monitor your battery storage system with their own app on your mobile or via their web app. This is useful for seeing how much energy you pull from the grid and the battery. You can use the app to keep track of when it’s optimal to feed your battery from the grid in off-peak tariff periods.
Compatible With All Solar Systems
The SENEC Home V3 Hybrid is compatible with all solar system brands. This is especially useful if you’re retrofitting the hybrid battery to an existing solar PV system. Thus it saves you time and stress that’s associated with adding battery storage later down the line. This is particularly handy if you’re not sure about investing in a hybrid solar system at the start, but then later on find you require battery storage as a backup.
How Much Does the SENEC Home V3 Hybrid Batteries Cost?
| Wholesale Cost | |
| SENEC v3 Hybrid – 5kWh (4.5kWh usable) | $3,999 |
*Please note that the above pricing does not include installation and any additional required components and wiring.
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Australian Warranty Terms for SENEC Batteries
The warranty terms for the SENEC Home V3 Hybrid batteries is for a period of 10 years. It can be extended for a further 10 years for an additional cost.
According to the warranty documentation, it’s important to note a few points:
- The customer is entitled to choose either a refund or replacement. SENEC will bear the cost of transportation, assembly and disassembly for the first 5 years of the warranty period.
- The warranty is limited to whichever comes first of either: a maximum of 12,000 complete cycles during its lifetime or 10 years after the initial installation period.
- The owner must be able to show an original receipt of purchase when making a claim or risk SENEC rejecting it.
- It is up to SENEC’s discretion whether or not to repair or replace the defective part pursuant to the warranty.
Customers can make a claim directly with SENEC no later than 14 days after they notice the defect by emailing service-australia@senec.com or posting to SENEC Australia Pty. Ltd. PO BOX 1476, Osborne Park DC, WA 6916, Australia
Review SENEC’s warranty document here.
SENEC Home V3 Hybrid Batteries Specifications
| Home V3 Hybrid | |
| Usable Capacity | 4.5kWh |
| Max Hybrid Power | 8000W |
| Max Power Output AC | 5000W |
| Max Efficiency | 97.4% |
| Max Charge/Discharge Current (DC) | 31A/37.6A per battery module |
| System Connection | Max 4 pcs in parallel |
| Battery Cell Technology | Lithium-ion |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 530*406*1175 |
| Weight | 80kg |
| Operating Temperature Range | 5 to 40 degrees Celsius |
| Outdoor/Indoor | Indoor Only (IP30) |
| Warranty | 10 years standard. 20 year extension option. |
Read About Home Battery Government Schemes Across Australia
South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and Australian Capital Territory all currently have a home battery scheme in place.
The South Australian Home Battery Scheme enables eligible South Australian residents to receive up to $4,000 per installed battery.
The New South Wales Home Battery Scheme offers an interest-free loan up to $9000 for eligible households looking to install a solar battery.
The Victorian Government under the Solar Homes Program provides to those eligible, a maximum discount of $4,174 off the battery sale price. The next release of battery rebates is on the 2nd of September 2020.
The Australian Capital Territory Government under the Next Generation Energy Storage program provides a rebate of $825 per kilowatt (kW). An average household with a 5kW system would be eligible for approximately $4,000.
Read more product reviews from Solar Choice
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Reviews from Australians who have installed SENEC Batteries
Who knows, it never got installed but SENEC had no interest in supporting my complaint to get my deposit back.
Matched to our System design and household needs, it has proven to be the best possible outcome to suit our new home.
