Harnessing the sun's power is one of the things we can do to help Britain achieve Net Zero.
You can make your solar panels go further with a home solar battery.
What is home solar battery storage and how does it work?
Many UK homes have solar PV panels which generate electricity during daylight. By adding a battery to the system, you can now use this energy in the evenings.
And it’s good to know that when you add a battery to your solar PV any existing Feed-in Tariff or Smart Export Guarantee payments are unaffected.
If you're still looking to see if solar PV is the right solution we've found a handy tool on the Energy Savings Trust to help you decide whether a a PV system is for you. It gives you estimates based on the information you provide, and a number of assumptions to indicate potential benefits.
What are the benefits of solar battery storage?
Here are three main reasons why it's worth getting a solar battery for your home:
- Reduce your electricity bill. Being savvy on how you use your energy could save you money. You could be charging on cheap overnight electricity and using the battery during the expensive hours if you're on a time of use tariff such as Economy 7.
- Get paid for energy you don't use. If you're looking to install solar panels and a solar battery, new Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs could pay you for any excess renewable electricity you generate and export to the grid.
- Reduce your carbon footprint. By installing energy storage, you're doing your bit to help towards a Net Zero future as you're generating and using renewable energy.
Installing a home battery storage - things to know
If you're thinking of getting a solar battery for your home, here's a list of things to consider before you go ahead:
- Check to see if you're generating enough electricity. This handy Energy Savings Trust solar calculator helps you determine whether a solar PV system would work well in your home.
- Looking for backup during power cuts? Check that the solar PV/battery system you're looking at works when there's a power cut as not all of them do.
- Make sure your installer is signed up to Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). This gives you protection in case things don't go to plan, as well as access to their complaints process.
- Make sure your home is as energy-efficient as possible. Draught-proofing, insulation, energy-efficient lighting, smart thermostat are just some of the things you can do to make the most of your energy.
Did you buy a Powervault battery through us?
If you have any questions about your Powervault battery storage that you bought through us, you can contact the Powervault experts on 020 3653 1111 or by email at edfenergy@powervault.co.uk.
What does the future look like for home energy?
What are Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS)?
As electricity demand increases in the UK, we need to be able to manage our energy as efficiently as possible. That's where Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) can help us do this.
How will HEMS work with solar energy and battery storage?
Homes that utilise a renewable energy system such as solar PV will potentially generate more electricity than they need at times of high supply and low demand. Having your battery storage and HEMS set up means you'll be able to really understand how your home uses electricity and be able to control your energy as efficiently as possible.
You can produce your own renewable energy, store it and then use the energy as efficiently as possible.
Battery storage for your business
Businesses can generate additional revenues from energy flexibility services. If you install a commercial scale storage system, your business could save money by shifting energy use from high cost to low cost periods.
Find out more about solar PV and battery storage in our blog
Our solar PV guide
If you’re thinking about getting solar panels, you’re going to want to know what you’ll spend and save. Solar panels are far easier than you may think to install. As soon as they’re up you can start benefiting from solar power! We're here to help you discover everything you need to know about cost and installation.
Our guide to renewable energy sources
Read our article on what is renewable energy. How it can help us reduce our reliance on gas, reduce our CO2 and how they work.