Wandi solar + battery case study
Wandi Solar & Battery Installation with Whole-Home Backup
Australis Solar is a Perth-based, WA-owned solar company that designed, installed and later expanded this Wandi home energy system. The project began with 6.58 kW of AIKO solar, a 5 kW single-phase Sigenergy SigenStor hybrid inverter and a Sigen Energy Gateway positioned in the garage for whole-home backup. Australis Solar later returned to add 16 kWh of Sigen battery storage and commission the expanded system.
The staged design was built around the property, the customer's preferred Gateway location, future battery expansion and planned EV requirements. When commissioning issues appeared after the battery upgrade, Australis Solar also coordinated the technical resolution and completed the final Western Power Approval to Operate process.
- 6.58 kW AIKO solar array
- 16 kWh Sigen battery storage
- 5 kW Single-phase SigenStor
- Whole-home Gateway backup configuration
Confirmed project specifications
Wandi project snapshot
The project began as a battery-ready residential solar installation and was later expanded with 16 kWh of Sigenergy battery storage. Only confirmed project information is shown below.
- Location
- Wandi, WA
- Project type
- Residential solar, battery expansion and whole-home backup
- Initial solar installation
- 2025
- Solar capacity
- 6.58 kW
- Solar panels
- 14 × AIKO Neostar 2P 470 W
- Inverter
- 5 kW Sigenergy SigenStor hybrid inverter
- Electrical supply
- Single phase
- Battery storage
- 16 kWh, using 2 × 8 kWh Sigen battery modules
- Blackout backup
- Sigen Energy Gateway with confirmed whole-home backup configuration
- Gateway cable route
- Approximately 12 m each way using 16 mm² cabling
- Equipment protection
- White vehicle-impact bollard installed in the garage
- Final connection status
- Western Power Approval to Operate confirmed following final commissioning
Designed for staged expansion
Customer objective and design considerations
This was not designed as a fixed solar package. The original installation needed to provide useful solar generation immediately while preserving a practical pathway for battery storage, blackout backup and future household electrification.
Solar first, battery pathway retained
The initial system combined 6.58 kW of AIKO solar with a 5 kW single-phase SigenStor hybrid inverter rather than treating the installation as solar-only.
The customer intended to add substantial storage later, so battery compatibility and the wider system architecture were considered from the beginning.
North and west roof areas
The confirmed solar array uses 14 AIKO Neostar 2P 470 W panels across north- and west-facing sections of the roof.
The panel layout, inverter configuration and future expansion pathway therefore had to be considered together rather than selecting equipment independently.
Customer-preferred Gateway position
The customer specifically requested that the Sigen Energy Gateway be installed in the garage.
Australis Solar assessed the longer electrical route required for this position. Supporting whole-home loads required an approximately 12 m cable run in each direction using 16 mm² cabling.
Future battery and EV requirements
Future battery capacity and planned EV ownership formed part of the original discussion. Potential future solar expansion was also considered during the planning stage.
Australis Solar later returned to the property and used the existing SigenStor architecture to add 16 kWh of battery storage rather than redesigning the energy system from the beginning.
Backup as an electrical design
The Gateway was included to support the confirmed whole-home backup configuration, but backup capability still depends on available inverter power, battery state of charge and the loads operating during an outage.
Whole-home backup therefore formed part of the system and switchboard design rather than being treated as an automatic battery feature.
WA network and control requirements
The installation also required appropriate Synergy and Western Power settings, including consideration of the applicable export and Emergency Solar Management requirements.
The exact project export limit and Emergency Solar Management control method are not published here because those values should not be assumed from the inverter rating alone.
One expandable energy platform
System design and installed components
The Wandi system combines solar generation, hybrid power conversion, battery storage, backup switching and the electrical infrastructure needed to make the staged system operate as one coordinated installation.
Solar generation
14 × AIKO Neostar 2P 470 W panels
The 14-panel AIKO array provides 6.58 kW of confirmed solar capacity across north- and west-facing roof sections.
The solar array supplies household loads first and provides generation that can be used by the later battery system subject to operating conditions and system settings.
Compare solar panels for Perth homesHybrid inverter
5 kW single-phase Sigenergy SigenStor
The SigenStor hybrid inverter coordinates the solar array, battery connection and household energy flows within the confirmed single-phase installation.
When the battery expansion was completed, the existing hybrid setup received the required licence unlock so the additional storage could be commissioned into the existing system.
Explore Sigenergy systems in PerthStored energy
16 kWh Sigen battery storage
Australis Solar later returned to install two 8 kWh Sigen battery modules, providing the project's stated 16 kWh battery-storage configuration.
Battery energy capacity is separate from inverter output. The amount of stored energy does not by itself determine how many appliances can operate simultaneously or the duration of backup.
Compare solar battery optionsBlackout support
Sigen Energy Gateway
The Gateway provides the switching and control required for the confirmed whole-home backup configuration.
The customer preferred the Gateway inside the garage, so Australis Solar incorporated the additional cable route required to connect the equipment while supporting the home's electrical load.
Understand Sigenergy battery and backup designElectrical infrastructure
16 mm² Gateway cable route
Locating the Gateway in the garage required approximately 12 m of cabling in each direction using 16 mm² conductors.
The additional electrical route was communicated with the customer ahead of the work and completed under the agreed variation.
Learn about solar and battery upgradesPhysical protection
Garage vehicle-impact protection
A white bollard was installed to provide vehicle-impact protection for the battery equipment within the garage.
A second bollard can be considered if the surrounding parking or vehicle-access arrangement later requires additional protection.
Designed, expanded and supported
Problems and Australis Solar solutions
The strongest part of this Wandi project is not simply the equipment list. The installation required practical design changes, staged expansion and technical troubleshooting after the batteries were commissioned.
Problem
Gateway requested inside the garage
The customer preferred the Sigen Energy Gateway in the garage rather than at the more direct electrical location.
Australis Solar assessment
The team assessed the longer cable route and conductor size required so the Gateway position could support the whole-home electrical configuration.
Solution
Approximately 12 m of 16 mm² cabling was run in each direction. The additional work was communicated before installation and completed under the agreed cost-price variation.
Problem
The customer planned to expand later
The initial solar installation needed to work immediately while preserving a practical route to additional battery storage, possible future solar expansion and an EV.
Australis Solar assessment
The hybrid inverter architecture, Gateway, battery position, electrical routes and future system requirements were considered before the later storage installation took place.
Solution
Australis Solar later returned, completed the required licence unlock and added two 8 kWh Sigen battery modules to the existing single-phase SigenStor setup without replacing the original hybrid platform.
Problem
Batteries initially showed as dormant
After the battery installation was commissioned, the batteries initially displayed a dormant state and battery state of charge was not reporting correctly.
Australis Solar assessment
The behaviour required further technical investigation following a Sigenergy software update rather than assuming the physical battery installation itself was operating correctly.
Solution
Australis Solar coordinated with Sigenergy technical support. Charging parameters were adjusted and correct battery state-of-charge reporting was restored.
Problem
Unexpected export after commissioning
The expanded system exported electricity to the grid despite being configured with self-consumption as the operating priority.
Australis Solar assessment
The commissioned behaviour and control settings were reviewed with Sigenergy technical support after the software changes.
Solution
The export behaviour was corrected so the system operated in accordance with the intended self-consumption settings. Australis Solar then submitted the final Approval to Operate documentation to Western Power and confirmed approval.
Installed by Australis Solar
Wandi installation gallery
Genuine Australis Solar photographs showing the later Sigenergy battery installation, supporting control equipment and the completed garage electrical work.
Wandi project questions
Solar, battery and whole-home backup FAQs
These answers relate specifically to the confirmed Wandi installation. A similar system at another property still requires its own energy, electrical and network assessment.
What was installed at the Wandi property?
The original installation included 6.58 kW of solar using 14 AIKO Neostar 2P 470 W panels, a 5 kW single-phase Sigenergy SigenStor hybrid inverter and a Sigen Energy Gateway. Australis Solar later returned and added 16 kWh of Sigen battery storage using two 8 kWh battery modules.
Why was the battery installed after the original solar system?
The project was planned as a staged system. The original hybrid inverter and Gateway provided a pathway for later storage, and the customer intended to expand the system. Australis Solar subsequently returned, completed the required licence unlock and integrated two 8 kWh battery modules into the existing SigenStor setup.
Does the Wandi system provide whole-home backup?
Yes. This project has a confirmed whole-home backup configuration using the Sigen Energy Gateway. Whole-home backup does not mean unlimited power during a blackout. Available inverter output, battery state of charge, available solar, appliance demand and starting currents still affect what can operate at the same time.
Why did the Gateway require a 16 mm² cable run?
The customer preferred the Gateway to be installed inside the garage. That position required an approximately 12 m electrical route in each direction, and 16 mm² cabling was used for the confirmed whole-home electrical configuration. Australis Solar discussed the additional work before proceeding.
What happened when the batteries showed as dormant?
After commissioning, the batteries initially displayed a dormant state and battery state of charge was not reporting correctly. Australis Solar coordinated with Sigenergy technical support following a software update, adjusted the charging parameters and restored correct state-of-charge reporting.
Why was the system exporting when self-consumption was selected?
The expanded system initially exported electricity despite being configured for self-consumption priority. Australis Solar reviewed the behaviour with Sigenergy technical support, corrected the relevant settings and confirmed operation in accordance with the intended self-consumption configuration before completing the final Western Power Approval to Operate process.
Can the Wandi system be expanded again for more solar or an EV?
Future battery, solar and EV requirements were considered during the original planning, but any additional expansion still requires a current assessment of the inverter, roof, switchboard, battery capacity, electrical supply, cable routes and applicable Western Power requirements. This page does not claim that a specific future EV charger or additional solar capacity has already been approved.
Design around your actual property
Planning solar, battery storage or blackout backup?
A similar system should be designed around your Synergy bill, daytime and evening usage, roof, shading, existing solar, inverter, switchboard, battery location, backup requirements, future EV plans and electrical supply.
Australis Solar is Perth-based and WA-owned, operating since 2008 with accredited in-house solar installers and licensed electricians designing, installing and supporting tailored solar and battery systems.
Start with the right information
- Recent Synergy bill
- Property address
- Existing solar and inverter details
- Battery and blackout priorities
- Future EV or electrical loads
