Solar energy is increasing in popularity, with more than 1.3 million UK households now taking advantage of falling solar panel costs to help cut their bills and emissions, and reduce their reliance on the grid.
If you are considering a solar panel system, you may also be wondering about the benefits of solar batteries.
Why Get a Solar Battery?
Adding a solar battery can be a great way to utilise the power you generate, whilst harnessing even more renewable energy, thus reducing your reliance on the grid. If you don’t have a battery, any excess electricity you generate goes to the grid.
When sunlight hits a solar panel, the solar cells in the panel convert sunlight into electrical energy. This energy is then converted into Alternating Current which can be used to power household appliances and devices. If the demand for electricity is less than what is being generated, the excess energy can be used to charge a battery.
The Truth is...
We’re installing less and less domestic batteries. We are seeing that feeding tariffs are currently increasing and therefore it makes more financial sense to sell any excess electricity produced by solar panels back to the grid. We always give bespoke advise based on our customer’s needs and routines, it might make sense to install one. But with the rate you can get at the moment, it’s just not worth it. – James Edward, Director
If you use a lot more energy than you generate, a battery does not make financial sense. Batteries start out at about £2899 for a 3kW battery, and there would be little financial saving in comparison to the outlay, again it is a better option to sell back to the grid any excess electricity. Furthermore, if you already have solar panels, a battery starts from £3349 as it is necessary to replace the inverter in the solar system to accommodate the battery. A hybrid inverter is needed for a system to load the battery at night when the tariff is cheaper.
It is also important to note that battery degradation can have a negative impact on your return on investment, which should be a consideration.
Can I Change my Mind?
Whilst solar batteries will work well for some customers, it is a large outlay, and it must be acknowledged that a battery-based system will not be appropriate for every customer’s circumstances.
You should understand the impact of a battery on your system, which we can help with. It’s not the end of the world if you change your mind and want to install a battery after your initial installation, it would just require a new inverter with your system which would be about £500.
At Your Solar Energy our aim is to find the system that makes the most sense for your property and your pocket, that’s why we’re called YOUR Solar Energy! It is so important that you call us to come for a site visit, or to give you your bespoke quote to see whether a battery would work for you before making such a massive financial outlay. Our proposals will give you an honest appraisal and will include a recommendation as to whether to get a battery or not so your solar systems works for you.
