From Solar Export to Energy Resilience in Regional Victoria

From Solar Export to Energy Resilience in Regional Victoria

How do you turn excess solar generation into a more resilient energy system?

Location: Strath Creek, VIC

Installer & Integrator: Solargenic Pty Ltd

System Partner: DPA

Technology Partners: Deye | Discover Energy Systems

Project Overview

For Frank and Jenni Guerra, energy independence wasn’t simply about reducing electricity bills. Their rural property in Strath Creek, Victoria required a more resilient energy solution that could make better use of existing solar generation while improving backup capability during outages.

The property already had a 10kW solar system and a manual generator backup arrangement. However, backup power still relied on manual generator intervention during outages, limiting the level of automation and resilience the system could provide.

To improve resilience and make better use of the property’s existing solar generation, Solargenic designed and installed a 32kWh battery storage system with premium blackout protection.

While the home was consuming approximately 9.91kWh per day, the existing solar system was exporting around 32.43kWh per day back to the grid.

In other words, the property was generating far more solar energy than it was using.

Solargenic recognised an opportunity to solve both challenges with a single solution: capture more of the energy already being produced on site while delivering reliable backup capability during grid outages.

The result was a DPA PowerStore 32 solution combining 32kWh of Discover Helios battery storage, a 10kW Deye Hybrid Inverter, and full-home blackout protection for essential household loads.

The Challenge

Frank and Jenni’s existing solar system was performing well, but much of the energy it generated was being exported rather than stored and used later.

Analysis of the site’s energy data showed average daily consumption of approximately 9.91kWh, while the solar system was exporting around 32.43kWh per day.

This highlighted a significant opportunity to improve solar self-consumption while creating a more resilient energy system.

The property’s existing generator arrangement also relied on manual intervention during an outage.

This created a practical limitation in the property’s overall backup strategy.

The goal was to create a more automated energy solution that could make better use of existing solar generation while supporting essential household loads during power interruptions.

Engineering the Right Solution

Rather than recommending a battery size based purely on available budget or roof capacity, Solargenic reviewed the property’s energy consumption, solar export profile, backup requirements and intended use.

The data told an important story.

With average daily consumption of approximately 9.91kWh and solar exports of around 32.43kWh per day, there was a significant opportunity to capture more of the energy already being generated.

Based on this analysis, Solargenic recommended a 32kWh battery system designed to increase solar self-consumption while providing meaningful backup capability during outages.

The final system included:

Existing Solar System

  • Existing 10kW solar PV system
  • Existing 8.5kW GoodWe inverter

Battery Storage

  • 2 × Discover Helios 16kWh batteries
  • Total storage capacity: 32kWh

Hybrid Inverter

  • 10kW Deye Hybrid Inverter

Backup Power

  • Full-home blackout protection
  • Air conditioning and pool equipment excluded from backup circuits

Designing for Extended Blackouts

One of the most important aspects of the project was ensuring the system could continue operating effectively during extended outages.

To achieve this, Solargenic installed a 10kW hybrid inverter and configured the existing 8.5kW GoodWe inverter onto the backup supply.

This allows the existing solar system to continue generating energy and charging the batteries during blackout conditions.

Rather than relying solely on stored battery energy, the property can continue harvesting solar energy while the sun is available.

This significantly improves resilience during prolonged outages and helps sustain the property for longer periods when grid power is unavailable.

It is an example of how thoughtful system architecture can often deliver greater value than simply increasing battery capacity.

Why This Solution Worked

Better Use of Existing Solar

The property was exporting more than three times the amount of energy it was consuming each day.

The addition of battery storage allows much more of that solar energy to be captured and used on site.

Reliable Backup Capability

The previous backup arrangement depended on manual generator operation.

The new system provides automatic support for essential household loads during outages, reducing reliance on manual intervention.

Solar Generation During Outages

By integrating the existing solar inverter into the backup supply, solar generation can continue supporting the home and charging the batteries even when the grid is unavailable.

Designed Around Real Usage

The final design balanced energy consumption, solar generation, backup requirements and budget to create a solution aligned with how the property is actually used.

Customer Perspective

“We recently updated our existing home solar system by adding Discover Helios batteries paired with a Deye Hybrid Inverter. The team at Solargenic did an absolute stellar job from start to finish. Emil runs an incredibly professional and talented crew who arrived on the exact minute they promised.

They recommended this specific battery brand and inverter combination to best support our existing system, which completely simplified the decision-making process for us. Excellent workmanship and quality finish, fair pricing, and absolutely zero complaints. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.”

Frank & Jenni Guerra, Strath Creek

For Frank and Jenni, the greatest benefit is confidence that essential household loads remain protected during outages, with significantly less reliance on manual intervention.

Installer Perspective – Solargenic 

“The battery sizing was relatively straightforward once we reviewed the energy data. The property was exporting around 32kWh per day while consuming less than 10kWh, so there was a clear opportunity to capture more of that energy and use it on site.

The more interesting challenge was designing the backup architecture. We wanted the existing solar system to remain productive during outages, which is why integrating the existing inverter onto the backup supply became such an important part of the final design.

That approach allows the property to continue generating solar energy and charging the batteries during a blackout, helping sustain the home for longer while making better use of the infrastructure already in place.”

Emil Nilsson
Solargenic

DPA Energy Perspective

Successful battery projects are rarely about selecting a single product.

The challenge is understanding how multiple technologies can be integrated to solve a real customer problem.

For the Strath Creek project, DPA worked alongside Solargenic to support the integration of the existing solar system, Discover Helios battery storage and Deye hybrid inverter technology into a complete energy storage and blackout protection solution.

“As battery projects become more sophisticated, installers increasingly need support that goes beyond product selection. Understanding how different technologies interact under real-world conditions is often what determines the success of the final system.

That’s where DPA focuses its efforts — helping installers combine products, knowledge and support into complete energy solutions that deliver the best possible outcome for their customers.”

Leila Playmore
BDM, DPA

The Outcome

Frank and Jenni now have a 32kWh battery storage system integrated with their existing 10kW solar installation, supported by a 10kW Deye Hybrid Inverter and full-home blackout protection for essential household loads.

More importantly, the property can now capture significantly more of the solar energy it generates while maintaining critical loads during outages without relying on manual generator intervention.

The project delivered:

  • 32kWh of battery storage
  • Improved solar self-consumption
  • Full-home blackout protection for essential loads
  • Reduced reliance on manual backup processes
  • Continued solar generation during blackout conditions

  • Greater resilience during grid outages

System Summary

Installer: Solargenic Pty Ltd

Location: Strath Creek, VIC

Existing Solar: 10kW

Existing Solar Inverter: 8.5kW GoodWe

Battery Storage: 32kWh

Battery System: 2 × Discover Helios 16kWh batteries

Hybrid Inverter: 10kW Deye Hybrid Inverter

Monitoring: Deye monitoring platform

Backup Capability: Full-home blackout protection for essential household loads

Key Takeaways for Installers

  • Existing solar systems can often support substantial battery upgrades without replacing the original solar array.
  • Energy consumption and export data can provide valuable guidance when sizing battery storage.
  • Backup design should reflect how the property is actually used, not simply peak load requirements.
  • Integrating solar generation into backup circuits can significantly improve resilience during extended outages.
  • For regional and part-time residences, operational continuity can be just as important as energy savings.

This project demonstrates how battery storage can do more than store energy. When combined with thoughtful system design, it can improve solar self-consumption, reduce reliance on manual backup processes and provide greater confidence that essential loads will remain protected during grid outages.

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