Store surplus electricity generated by your PV system with solar battery storage for even more energy independence
Solar battery storage has been around for a few years, and now – with smart tariffs – it enables you to save money in at least three different ways. For example:
1. Capture excess solar electricity
Most solar PV systems generate more electricity than the house can use. This excess electricity will flow out to the national grid and be lost. However, with solar battery storage, this surplus solar electricity is captured by the battery instead of being lost to the grid. You can then draw on this stored electricity at a time of your choosing, perhaps when preparing the dinner in the evening when the sun has gone in.
2. Charge your battery at cheap, off-peak rates
Even if you don’t have solar panels, home battery storage can bring benefits. Modern smart tariffs, and even old Economy 7, charge you at different rates for the electricity you use at different times of the day. For example, you might pay 7p per unit at night and 14p during the day. Home battery storage allows you to fill your battery with cheap electricity at say 7p per unit, and then let it out when you need it during the day when rates are high at 14p. In this way, battery storage lowers your daily electricity bill.
3. Let your battery charge your electric car
If you plan to get an electric car one day, the combination of solar panels and home battery storage is very attractive. You can store excess solar electricity in your battery during the day, and then charge your electric car with this stored solar electricity when you return from work at the end of the day. There’s nothing like filling your car with sunlight!
