Is It Worth Investing in Solar Battery Storage for Your Home?

Installing solar panels is already a very effective way to cut your energy bills. Pairing them with solar battery storage takes things a step further, letting you get more out of every unit of energy your panels produce and unlocking more long-term savings.

How Does Solar Battery Storage Work?

A solar battery storage system captures surplus electricity that your solar panels generate during the day (when they’re producing more than your home is using). Instead of that excess energy going back to the grid, it’s stored in a battery so you can use it later.

You can draw on this stored energy in the evening, overnight or during peak consumption periods when electricity from the grid is most expensive. In practical terms, it means your home can run on solar-generated power for much longer each day.

The benefits are straightforward: you maximise the energy you generate, gain more independence from your energy supplier and save more on your bills.

Solar Panel Battery Storage: Pros and Cons

What Types of Battery Storage for Solar Are Available?

When it comes to battery storage for solar systems in UK homes, there are three main options to be aware of:

Lithium-ion batteries are by far the most popular choice today. They’re compact, lightweight and highly efficient, with a typical lifespan of around 5 to 15 years. For most households, they strike the best balance between performance, size, and cost.

Lead-acid batteries are an older technology and tend to be more affordable upfront. However, they’re significantly larger and heavier, which can make installation more awkward. Lifespan is broadly similar at 5 to 15 years.

Saltwater batteries are a newer, more eco-friendly option that’s becoming more widely available. They offer an extended lifespan of over 15 years, which can mean greater long-term savings from your solar battery storage.

Wherever possible, solar battery storage should be installed in a cool, easily accessible location such as a garage or utility room. Loft and roof installations are no longer recommended due to temperature fluctuations affecting battery performance and safety.

Solar Battery Storage Costs vs. Long-Term Savings

The cost of home battery storage is often lower than people expect. A 3.2kW battery, for example, can be installed from as little as £2,495. And if you add your battery at the same time as a new solar PV system, you benefit from a 0% VAT rate, making it considerably more cost-effective to bundle the two together.

According to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), the typical UK household uses between 35% and 50% of the solar energy its panels generate. Adding a battery can push that figure up to around 80%. In practical terms, that means you’re using far more of your own free, clean electricity and buying a lot less from the grid, which is where the real monthly savings come from.

Can I Add Solar Battery Storage to My Existing Solar Panels?

Yes. If you already have solar panels, you can retrofit a battery to your existing system to stop exporting so much of your generated energy back to the grid. This usually involves fitting the battery alongside a new inverter, which monitors how much energy your panels are producing versus how much your home is using in real time.

When your panels generate more than you need, the surplus charges the battery. When your home demands more than the panels can supply, the battery discharges to power your appliances. It’s a seamless process and one that significantly increases the value you get from your original solar investment.

Is Solar Battery Storage Right for Your Home?

Deciding whether solar battery storage makes sense for your home comes down to a few key questions, and the timing of your investment is a big one.

As mentioned, a 3.2kW battery starts from around £2,495, and installing it alongside a new solar PV system means you qualify for the 0% VAT rate applied to the whole installation. For anyone yet to invest in solar, this is by far the most cost-efficient route. You also get the practical benefit of a single installation, minimising disruption to your home and avoiding the need for a separate inverter upgrade later.

The most important question to ask yourself is simple: do I generate more solar energy than I use during the day? If the answer is yes, then adding battery storage is well worth considering. Storing that surplus means you can draw on it in the evening and overnight, reducing how much you need to buy back from the grid at higher rates. For households in this position, solar battery storage in the UK almost always increases overall savings.

If your daytime usage is already high and you consume most of what you generate as it’s produced, the case for a battery is weaker, though even then there can be benefits around resilience and hedging against future price rises.

How E-Verve Energy Can Help

E-Verve Energy has more than 10 years of experience in the energy efficiency industry and is recognised as one of the UK’s most trusted installers. We are fully OZEV and MCS accredited, TrustMark approved, and proud members of both RECC and the CPA, consumer protection organisations that regulate and guarantee the quality of our work and customer service.

Every project is carried out by our accredited tradesmen and fully protected from start to finish. To find out more about solar battery storage for your home, visit our dedicated Solar PV and Battery Storage page for a free design and quotation.