China’s BYD launches new battery storage products in Australian market

China electric vehicle and battery storage giant BYD has unveiled a new product line of modular battery storage systems, targeting both households and businesses in what it says is one of the world’s most attractive markets.

BYD, which already claims to be the world’s biggest supplier of rechargeable batteries, says its new B-Box battery energy storage systems will scale from just 2.5kWh for households with small solar arrays, to up to 80kWh.

Various arrays for business customers can provide up to 50kWh or 409kWh depending on the circumstances and voltage.

The company, due to hold its launch event at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art on Wednesday evening, says the battery storage systems are based on lithium iron-phosphate chemistry, which it says has an outstanding safety record.

(This could be crucial given the likelihood of new standards which could impose restrictions on some battery chemistries).

BYD said it has chosen Australia to launch its expanded B-Box battery storage systems because the country is “currently one of the most attractive markets for solar PV and storage deployment.”

Numerous other competing battery storage providers, such as Tesla, LG Chem, Enphase and others have also chosen Australia as the launch-pad for their products, thanks to high electricity tariffs, lots of sunshine, and the expiry of premier solar feed-in tariff schemes.

BYD says the low voltage residential series is available in four capacities, ranging from 2.5kWh to 10.0 kWh and can be scaled up to 80kWh. The high voltage commercial models can be scaled up to a maximum capacity of 409 kWh, providing more than enough power for an energy-intensive medium-size business

BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is the world’s largest provider of integrated renewable energy solutions, and claims to be the only company that specializes in four comprehensive industries including solar modules, energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and rail transportation.

“The B-Box series offers a wide range of renewable power capabilities to meet light to heavy electrical load lifestyle, enabling its users to reduce reliance on electricity from fossil fuels, especially when combined with BYD’s solar power systems, thus drastically cutting energy costs,” the company says.

It has announced four authorised distributors for the B-Box sales in Australia: Sol Distribution Pty Ltd., RF Industries Pty Ltd., 360 Energy Pty Ltd and Solar Australia Pty Ltd.