Guide Contents:
- What is a solar battery?
- How do solar batteries work?
- Is it worth getting a solar battery?
- What size and type of solar battery will I need?
- Solar battery FAQs
- Speak to the professionals
What is a Solar Battery?
A solar panel battery is exactly what it sounds like, an efficient way to store excess electricity generated by your solar panels. Instead of sending surplus energy straight back to the grid, a battery for storage keeps it handy for when you need it. Whether it be in the evening, or on those classic grey UK days, your solar panel battery will hook you up with extra energy.
Home battery storage UK setups help households make the most out of their solar panels and battery systems, improving energy independence and potential savings by cutting down electricity bills.
How Do Solar Batteries Work?
In short, solar panels and batteries create energy, and they generate more electricity than your home uses. You can feed that excess energy into your battery for storing electricity. But, how does this work?
When your solar panel set up generates electricity from the sun, the direct current (DC) electricity will flow through an inverter or solar panel optimiser to generate alternating current (AC) electricity. This AC electricity then powers your home appliances.
Once your home receives power, you will send unused excess electricity to your solar battery storage system, charging it up. Later on, at night or during low-sun periods, your home will automatically tap into this stored power before drawing from the grid.
How does the system know when to use, store or export electricity?
At the heart of your solar setup lies a smart inverter and battery management system – the brains behind the operation. These intelligent systems automatically prioritise using your solar energy first, storing any surplus in your battery for later use. If your storage batteries for solar panels are full, any excess energy is exported back to the grid, often under a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff or other tariffs like Octopus Energy.
This seamless process ensures that your home uses the clean energy it generates, stores what’s needed, and benefits financially from any surplus.
How do you use the energy your battery has stored?
Using stored energy from your solar panel battery is effortless. Your home automatically draws power from the battery when solar production is low, such as during the evening or on cloudy days. This means your lights, heating, and appliances continue to run smoothly, reducing your reliance on the grid and lowering your electricity bills.
With home battery storage UK systems, you can maximise the use of your generated energy, ensuring that your investment in batteries & solar pays off in both comfort and savings.
Where are batteries stored?
Most batteries & solar setups keep the battery indoors, in locations like a garage, utility room, or loft. The key is to place the battery in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated spot to maintain efficiency and longevity. Some models are designed to be weatherproof and can be stored outside, but indoor installation is generally preferred for convenience and safety.
Proper placement of your battery for storage not only ensures safety but also optimises the performance of your solar panels and battery system. At Smartly, we’ll guide the full solar installation to ensure that it’s set up efficiently.
Is it Worth Getting a Storage Battery with Solar Panels?
In many cases, yes but it depends on your energy habits, setup, and expectations.
Storage batteries for solar panels allow you to use more of your own clean energy, protect against rising energy prices, and become less dependent on the grid. To harness the full potential of your solar panels and battery working together, a battery makes a lot of sense.
However, solar storage batteries are an investment, and may not be worth it for your home – this is something we can work out together!
How much do solar batteries cost approximately in the UK?
The average solar battery cost in the UK ranges between £3,000 and £8,000, depending on capacity, brand, and installation specifics. Larger systems or premium brands can push the solar battery prices closer to £10,000. Battery-only retrofits are typically a little more expensive than installing with a new solar system.
As of February 2025, the UK government has applied a 0% VAT rate to standalone solar batteries, making them exempt from VAT regardless of whether they are installed new, retroactively, or alongside solar panel systems.
Other Considerations:
- Upfront Costs: Adding a battery for storage significantly raises your initial spend, around 30-50% more. Consider if the cost-effectiveness balances out for your home.
- You’ll Likely Need Two: Most home battery storage UK solutions last 10–15 years. Solar panels often last 25+, so expect to replace your battery once in the long term.
- Using Stored Energy vs Exporting: Generally, it’s more financially savvy to use your own stored power than rely on Smart Export Guarantees (which typically pay 5–15p/kWh).
- Maximise Your Own Energy: With storage batteries for solar panels, you can use 70–80% of your solar energy yourself, compared to just 30–40% without a battery.
- Charging Your EV for ‘Free’: Pair your solar battery with your EV, and your car could be fuelled by sunshine.
What Size & Type of Solar Battery Will I Need?
It depends on your typical daily electricity usage, your solar panel array size, and how much of your solar you want to use versus export.
As a rough guide:
- A small 5kWh battery covers minimal needs (flats, small homes).
- Medium 10–12kWh batteries suit most standard homes.
- Larger 20+kWh setups are ideal for bigger properties or EV drivers.
Different Brands:
At Smartly, we work with some of the best in the business:
- GivEnergy: British-made, great value, flexible capacities.
- Fox ESS: Brilliant modular stacking systems, ideal for scaling later.
- Sigenergy: The new tech powerhouse – smart, AI-driven energy storage.
Each brand has different solar battery prices, warranties, and setups – we can help you find the perfect fit.
Your home doesn’t need a 20kWh battery if you’ll only ever use 4kWh a day! Our team will help you balance the solar battery cost with your real-life usage patterns.
Final Solar Battery FAQs
How to Set Up My Solar Battery?
Install your solar panel battery close to the inverter to minimise energy losses. Keep it in a well-ventilated, dry, and stable temperature environment. Make sure your installer configures the system settings (for charging, discharging, and backup modes).
How to Find the Right Solar Battery Installer?
Look for certified MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) installers. Ask for experience with home battery storage UK projects, not just solar panels. Choose a provider who explains things clearly, like Smartly.
Specific Energy Tariffs for Solar Energy:
Look into Octopus Flux or Octopus Outgoing – two brilliant tariffs designed for homes with batteries & solar setups. They pay better rates for exported energy and offer lower rates during off-peak charging times.
How long do solar batteries last?
Most solar panel batteries last between 10 to 15 years, depending on how often they’re charged and discharged, the brand, and how well they’re maintained. While that’s typically less than the 25+ year lifespan of solar panels, newer home battery storage UK solutions often come with warranties of around 10 years to give you peace of mind.
Over the course of your solar system’s life, you’ll likely need to replace your battery for storage once, but it’ll more than earn its keep by the time it needs a refresh.
Can I add a solar battery to an existing solar panel system?
Absolutely. Retrofitting a solar panel battery onto an existing setup is not only possible, it’s very common. Many UK homes that installed solar years ago are now adding storage batteries for solar panels to improve self-consumption and get more value from the energy they generate. AC-coupled battery systems are particularly suited for this, as they don’t require a full rework of your existing installation.
If you’re not sure what type of solar battery for home use will suit your current system, Smartly can help guide you through it, and get you powered up in no time
Final Solar Battery Tips
- Keep It Close to Your Solar Panels: Shorter wiring = less energy loss.
- Don’t Let It Overheat: Batteries hate being too hot. Store them somewhere stable, dry, and shaded.
- Consider Power Output Needs: Check how many appliances you’ll run off the battery at once.
- Efficiency Changes Seasonally: Expect slightly less efficiency in winter (fewer solar gains = less charging).
Speak to a Professional like Smartly
Choosing storage batteries for solar panels isn’t a DIY job. At Smartly, we guide you through the options, design the system, and handle your install – no jargon, no surprises.
Need a trusted solar battery installer? We’ll help you out.
