Fronius Solar Batteries and Inverters

Fronius Solar Batteries and Inverters

Fronius is a global solar technology company, offering renewable energy solutions for homes and businesses across 60 countries. Based in Austria, Fronius specialises in energy storage units, solar batteries, software monitoring applications and inverters.

Given the diverse portfolio of solar products offered by Fronius, it makes sense that the company is in hot demand among households down under. Despite having an extensive range of products, are Fronius solar batteries and inverters worth the investment? Let’s find out.

Fronius Inverters

Fronius Inverter

Fronius provides a variety of inverters from 1.5 to 27 kilowatt (kW), suitable to all types of solar systems, including the average family home or large-scale commercial system. Below is a list of Fronius inverters that are available for residential use.

Fronius Galvo

The Fronius Galvo is an ideal inverter for customers with smaller household solar systems. Here are some of the specs you’ll find in the Fronius Galvo range.

Inverter Max input current Nominal input voltage Max PV generator power Degree of protection Weight Dimensions (HxWxD) Ambient temperature range
Fronius Galvo 1.5-1 13.3A 260V 3.0 kW peak IP 65 16.4kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 50°C
Fronius Galvo 2.0-1 17.8A 260V 4.0 kW peak IP 65 16.8kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 50°C
Fronius Galvo 2.5-1 16.6A 330V 5.0 kW peak IP 65 16.8kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 50°C
Fronius Galvo 3.0-1 19.8A 330V 6.0 kW peak IP 65 16.8kg 650mm x 430 mm x 200mm -25°C to 50°C
Fronius Galvo 3.1-1 20.7A 330V 6.2 kW peak IP 65 16.8kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 50°C

Source: Fronius, June 2019.

Fronius Primo

The Fronius Primo is a single-phase inverter that ranges in size from 3 to 8.2 kW systems, each of which specs are listed below.

Inverter Max input current Nominal input voltage Max PV generator power Degree of protection Weight Dimensions (HxWxD) Ambient temperature range
Fronius Primo 3.0-1 12/12A 710V 4.5 kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C
Fronius Primo 3.5-1 12/12A 710V 5.3 kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C
Fronius Primo 3.6-1 12/12A 710V 5.5 kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C
Fronius Primo 4.0-1 12/12A 710V 6.0 kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430 mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C
Fronius Primo 4.6-1 12/12A 710V 6.9 kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C
Fronius Primo 5.0-1 18/18A 710V 7.5kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C
Fronius Primo 6.0-1 18/18A 710V 9.0kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C
Fronius Primo 8.2-1 18/18A 710V 12.3kW peak IP 65 21.5kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -40°C to 55°C

Source: Fronius, June 2019.

Fronius Symo

The Fronius Symo is available in 3 to 20kW systems, some of which details you’ll find below.

Inverter Max input current Nominal input voltage Max PV generator power Degree of protection Weight Dimensions (HxWxD) Ambient temperature range
Fronius Symo 3.0-3-M 16/16A 595V 6.0kW peak IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 3.0-3-S 16A 595V 6.0kW peak IP 65 16kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 3.7-3-M 16/16A 595V 7.4kW peak IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 3.7-3-S 16A 595V 7.4kW peak IP 65 16kg 650mm x 430 mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 4.5-3-M 16/16A 595V 9.0kW peak IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 4.5-3-S 16A 595V 9.0kW peak IP 65 16kg

 

650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 5.0-3-M 16/16A 595V 10.0kW peak IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 6.0-3-M 16/16A 595V 12.0kW peak IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo 7.0-3-M 16/16A 595V 14.0kW peak IP 65 21.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C

Source: Fronius, June 2019.

Fronius Symo Hybrid

The Fronius Symo Hybrid claims to be a ‘sun storage solution’, consisting of a battery charging system, battery inverter, hybrid inverter, controller and system monitoring tool. Please find product details below.

System Max input current Nominal input voltage Max PV input power Degree of protection Weight Dimensions (HxWxD) Ambient temperature range
Fronius Symo Hybrid 3.0-3-S 1 x 16A 595V 5,000W IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo Hybrid 4.0-3-S 1 x 16A 595V 6,500W IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C
Fronius Symo Hybrid 5.0-3-S 1 x 16A 595V 8,000W IP 65 19.9kg 650mm x 430mm x 200mm -25°C to 60°C

Source: Fronius, June 2019.

The Symo Hybrid is also compatible with the LG Chem RESU battery, while Fronius also supplies a surge protection device suitable for LG Chem batteries.

Fronius Storage Units

Fronius Storage Batteries

Fronius has a range of battery storage units for those customers looking to store excess energy generated from their photovoltaic systems (PV). Depending on how much energy you are looking to store, Fronius may have a battery that’s right for you.

Fronius Solar Battery

The Fronius Solar Battery is a lithium-iron phosphate battery with a storage capacity of 3.6 to 9.6 kWh. Here are some specs of Fronius batteries below.

Battery Usable capacity Voltage range Nominal charging power Degree of protection Weigh Dimensions (HxWxD) Ambient temperature range
Fronius Solar Battery 4.5 3,600Wh 120 – 170V 2,400W IP 20 91kg 960mm x 570mm x 610mm 5°C to 35°C
Fronius Solar Battery 6.0 4,800Wh 160 – 230V 3,200W IP 20 108kg 960mm x 570mm x 610mm 5°C to 35°C
Fronius Solar Battery 7.5 6,000Wh 200 – 290V 4,000W IP 20 125kg 960mm x 570mm x 610mm 5°C to 35°C
Fronius Solar Battery 9.0 7,200Wh 240 – 345V 4,800W IP 20 142kg 960mm x 570mm x 610mm 5°C to 35°C
Fronius Solar Battery 10.5 8,400Wh 280 – 400V 5,600W IP 20 159kg 960mm x 570mm x 610mm 5°C to 35°C
Fronius Solar Battery 12.0 9,600Wh 320 – 460V 6,400W IP 20 176kg 960mm x 570mm x 610mm 5°C to 35°C

Source: Fronius, June 2019.

Fronius System Monitoring Hardware and Software

Fronius System Monitoring Hardware and Software

Another standout feature that Fronius provides is an array of solar monitoring solutions – both in hardware and software form. These are designed to track a PV system’s performance, which in turn can help customers identify whether or not they’re getting the most value out of their solar system.

According to their website, Fronius states hardware is “quick to install and software is intuitive to use.” But do their monitoring capabilities actually provide some useful insights or are they just a ploy to get their solar products over the line? Let’s explore some of Fronius’ system monitoring tools in further detail below.

What is a Fronius Smart Meter?

The Fronius Smart Meter is a device that allows customers to record how much energy their solar system produces, as well as how much energy their household uses and exports back to the electricity grid. The smart meter can be wall mounted indoors or outdoors, and measures 140 x 38 x 85mm, and weighs 310 grams.

What is Fronius Solar.web?

Put simply, Fronius Solar Web is the software that makes transmits the data recorded from the smart meter. Customers can log into the Fronius Solar.web monitoring platform using the online portal or via the app, both of which have a number of functions that measure the overall performance of a solar system.

Fronius Prices

Cost of Fronius Systems

The cost of a Fronius system will depend on which product you choose for your household’s solar needs. As a general guide, the price of a Fronius Primo inverter ranges from $1,500 to $6,500. These prices do not factor in installation costs, which is why it’s worth ringing around for a couple of quotes from local suppliers.

A Fronius solar battery for residential use can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on the model you are after. Again, this doesn’t take into account installation costs. With a price tag big enough to make your jaw drop, it’s important to do your own research and calculate how much you’ll be getting back in energy savings over a long period of time. To get an accurate quote for your home, it’s best to contact a certified Fronius installer near you. You should also look out for the most competitive solar feed-in tariffs in your area, to ensure you’re getting the most out of your solar system.

Additionally, customers can choose to purchase the Fronius Energy Package, which includes a solar battery, hybrid inverter and smart meter. So, if you’re looking to make a one-stop purchase, this package may be an ideal option.

Should I invest in a Fronius solar storage unit?

Whether it’s a battery, inverter or complete solar system, you’ll need to think about the heavy upfront costs which can easily set you back thousands of dollars. While a Fronius energy storage unit aren’t exactly cheap, Fronius is considered to have some of the best solar inverters in Australia and you may find a return on your investment over the long term, provided you’ve done your homework.

Investing in solar can help you save on annual power bills because you’ll be less reliant on the electricity grid. The savings you may see over a timeframe will vary depending on how many panels your home has, the size or output of your system, as well as your household energy usage needs, to name only a few.

Before making such a big financial decision, make sure you assess which energy storage system is required to power your home. Given the range of solar products and technology offered by Fronius, you may be able to find a battery or inverter that isn’t available with other brands.

If you’re adamant about going solar, you’ll need to make sure your current electricity plan is up to scratch, otherwise you could be missing out on higher feed-in tariffs, as well as other sign-up incentives. Hit the link below to review a range of quotes specific to your area and energy usage needs.

Image credits: 3DPhoto/Shutterstock.com, Fronius Australia, electra/shutterstock.com

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