Solar battery storage for homes and businesses
Store the power your panels make in the day and use it in the evening. We will tell you honestly whether a battery makes sense for you.
How a solar battery works
Panels generate most power in the middle of the day, often when nobody is home. Without a battery, anything you do not use goes to the grid. With a battery, that spare power is stored and used in the evening, so you buy less from your supplier.
Is a battery worth it?
It depends on when you use power. Energy Saving Trust says batteries cost around £5,000 to £8,000. Exporting earns around 12p per unit under the Smart Export Guarantee, while buying from the grid usually costs more than twice that. Using your own power can therefore make more sense than selling it.
A battery suits homes that use most electricity in the evening, homes with an EV charger and households that want some backup. If you are out all day and use little at night, a battery may not pay back. We will tell you honestly.
Add one now or later
You can fit a battery with new panels or add one to an existing system. We check that your inverter and system are compatible first, and we can advise if an upgrade makes more sense.
Power cuts
Standard grid-connected solar switches off in a power cut for safety. Some battery systems can run selected circuits during an outage. Tell us if backup matters to you, because it changes the equipment we recommend.
What to ask any installer
- How much of the battery capacity is usable?
- What warranty covers it, and for how long?
- Will it work with my existing panels and inverter?
- How much will it save me, based on my own usage?
Battery questions
Do I need a battery?
Not always. A battery stores spare daytime power for the evening and helps if you use most of your electricity after dark. Energy Saving Trust says batteries cost around £5,000 to £8,000. Many can be added to an existing system, and we check compatibility first.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
It pays you for surplus solar power you send to the grid. Licensed suppliers set their own rates and terms, and rates must be above zero. Energy Saving Trust quotes around 12p per unit. Compare suppliers before you choose.
What happens in a power cut?
Standard grid-connected solar switches off in a power cut for safety. Some battery systems can power selected circuits during an outage. Tell us if backup matters to you.
Is there VAT on solar panels and batteries?
Installing solar panels in a home is zero-rated for VAT in Great Britain from 1 May 2023 to 31 March 2027, and home batteries qualify too. From 1 April 2027 the rate reverts to 5%, according to HMRC guidance.
Find out what solar could save you
Tell us about your home or business and we will send a rough quote the same day.