Is a home battery worth it?
A home battery can make your energy go further, but it isn’t right for everyone. Here’s how to tell whether one makes sense for you.
What a battery does
A home battery stores electricity to use later. It can charge from your solar panels during the day, or from the grid overnight when electricity is cheaper, and then power your home in the evening.
When it makes the most sense
A battery is usually most useful if you have solar panels and are out during the day, or if you are on a time-of-use tariff with cheaper off-peak rates. If you already use most of your solar power as it is generated, a battery adds less.
What size do you need?
Home batteries typically range from around 5 to 15 kWh. The right size depends on how much electricity you use in the evening and overnight. Bigger isn’t always better: a battery that rarely fills or empties is money spent on capacity you don’t use.
Adding a battery to existing solar
Batteries can be retrofitted to most existing solar systems, sometimes with a new inverter. Standalone and retrofitted batteries currently qualify for 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
What to check before you buy
Ask about usable capacity, the warranty length and what it covers, whether backup power during a power cut is included, and where the unit will go. Compare two quotes for the same capacity so you can judge value properly.