Is It Worth Adding a Battery to a Solar PV System?
Nowadays solar energy for residential living has become a hot topic, and rightfully so. Solar energy is now regarded as a leading option for a clean renewable energy source.
Over recent years, photovoltaic (PV) cells capable of converting solar energy have become more reliable and affordable. The amount of solar connections to the domestic electric grid has grown exponentially in the past number of years. This clean energy coming from separate sources can make the electric grid more dependable while helping you to save money and improve the value of your home.
Depending on the size of the property, a fairly standard Solar PV system with around 12 – 14 panels can make an average family home self-sufficient with energy requirements during sunnier parts of the year. There may well also be excess energy generated which you can sell back to the grid.
However, at night time, the property will need to draw energy down from the grid. One option to consider in support of this would be to include a battery as part of the domestic PV system. A battery can store energy that has been generated, for use within the property at other times of the day. We will look at the benefits of including a battery within the system, and check which factors would affect the best solar battery choice.
Benefits of including a battery with a solar PV system
Is teaming up your solar panels with battery storage worth the additional investment? In short - yes. With battery storage installed in your home, you not only store that energy, but you also become closer to being self-sufficient. Below are some of the benefits of battery storage for domestic renewable energy, and why you should install one.
Battery storage technology helps to speed up the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. No matter which manufacturer you use, battery storage solutions for renewable energy is a great investment to make the most out of your solar panels to store and save the energy you are generating.
Regular solar PV systems will send any unused energy to the grid and, at times when the sun goes down, you’ll be paying for electricity just like everybody else. So teaming up your solar panels with a battery not only stores the energy you generate but also comes in handy in winter when you’re unlikely to produce the amount of energy you need for your home due to fewer daylight hours.
Having a battery during the shorter daylight hours makes sure you use all of the solar energy you generate – and you can even top up the battery overnight when the energy price is cheaper, so you could never pay peak grid prices. What’s better, solar installations are currently 0% VAT rated, which means you can also save the VAT on a battery if it is installed at the same time as your solar panels!
However, is an additional battery truly worth the initial investment, and should you include battery storage to your overall solar PV system? Again – yes, 100% yes. But to give you the longer answer, here are some of the facts:
Off-grid independence
When you have a battery, your energy is entirely your own. So your home becomes greener by using your own renewable energy. In certain circumstances, when power is in higher demand, you will be able to sell it back to the grid.
Reduces utility bills
Pairing your solar panels with a battery could save you as much as 90% on your energy bills. If you ever need extra power, too, your battery can store energy from the grid during cheaper and greener off-peak times, thanks to smart scheduling.
Energy both day and night
Storing your solar power in a battery means you never need to rely on whether the sun is up to utilise it. Day or night, a battery gives you energy whenever you need it. By including a battery, you have much greater flexibility to schedule your use of the main domestic appliances.
Never lose your solar energy
Glorious summer weather is fantastic for your solar panels. That’s obvious. But at the same time you want to be out enjoying the sun too, without the worry of not using the energy your solar panels are collecting. With a battery, your solar power is never wasted. It is stored whether you’re in or not, meaning you can be out enjoying the sun - just like your solar panels.
Set it up and sit back
Solar panels and home batteries need little to no interaction or maintenance, meaning, once installed, the only thing you need to do is reap the benefits. The inverter in your solar PV system will control the interaction with the rest of the system.
The UK government estimates technologies like battery storage systems could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion by 2050. So, why not make that first step? Everyone (and everything) benefits. From saving energy and money to decreasing your carbon footprint – you, your home, and the world benefit. It’s a win-win!