At a glance – what are the benefits of solar batteries?
Cost savings
One of the best perks of solar batteries is the cost savings. As we’ve explored, during the day, solar panels generate electricity from the sun. Any power not used immediately can be stored in your battery for later use.
This way, you rely less on the grid, keeping your energy use – and your bills – in check.
Load shifting
Load shifting allows you to change the times that you use grid energy. During the duller months, you may find you don’t generate enough electricity to see you through the day.
So, what you can do is charge your solar batteries from the grid overnight during off-peak times, and then use that stored energy during the daytime higher-rate peak times.
By charging your batteries when rates are low, and using the stored power when rates are high, you can further cut your electricity costs. It’s another smart way to manage energy use, reduce bills and work towards energy independence and a more sustainable home.
Environmental impact
Solar batteries make it possible to use renewable energy around the clock. Instead of relying on fossil fuels to power your home when the sun isn’t shining, you can tap into the clean energy that’s stored in your battery.
This energy independence reduces your carbon footprint, giving a much-needed helping hand to the environment.
Reduced Grid reliance
Solar batteries reduce your independence on the National Grid. This means you won’t be as vulnerable to energy price hikes or changes in variable rates, especially during times of high demand when everyone uses the Grid at the same time.
With more control over your energy supply, you’ll enjoy more stability and again, a satisfying sense of energy independence.
Power outages
Power cuts can be frustrating and disruptive. Everyone relies on their electricity supply, but losing it when you run home medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines or medicine refrigerators, work from home, or rely on it to power your home security system is more serious.
Most solar batteries won’t work during power cuts. For safety reasons, many solar inverters automatically shut down during a power outage. So, unless the battery is specially designed to provide backup power and can isolate itself from the grid, it won’t supply power during an outage.
One example of a solar battery that does provide uninterrupted power is the Tesla Powerwall. Its Storm Watch feature allows the battery to continue providing power during outages, whilst keeping the system safe.
Maximising solar investment
Solar batteries help you get the most out of your solar investment. Instead of wasting surplus energy, you can store it for later use, maximising your solar investment, boosting cost savings and reducing energy waste.
What’s more, solar batteries are now VAT exempt for homeowners. Previously, this exemption only applied when batteries were installed alongside a solar panel system. However, this has now been extended to battery-only installations.