This customer had a well-performing solar PV system installed under the Feed-in Tariff scheme, generating around 3,000 kWh per year and delivering reliable FIT income for over a decade. With the solar side of the setup working as intended, the next step was to push further towards grid independence by storing surplus generation rather than exporting it. The property had also been experiencing semi-regular power cuts, so whole-home backup was an added priority.
Spirit Energy retrofitted a single Tesla Powerwall 3 with a Tesla Backup Gateway 2, providing 13.5 kWh of usable storage and 11.04 kW of continuous output. Because FIT export is deemed rather than metered, surplus solar from the existing array can now be captured by the battery and used later in the day, with no impact on FIT payments. The battery also charges from the grid overnight on an off-peak tariff to cover the bulk of evening demand, and the Backup Gateway keeps the house running automatically during grid outages.
The retrofit builds on an already strong FIT setup to deliver a meaningful step up in self-sufficiency. The household now uses solar it previously exported, reduces reliance on peak-rate imports through off-peak charging, and has genuine resilience during power cuts, all while the original FIT income continues untouched. For homeowners with an existing FIT system looking to get more out of it, a Powerwall 3 retrofit is one of the most effective upgrades available.