PV Installations
and Battery Storage
It's possible to generate your own electricity or heat from renewable, or replenishable, sources of energy such as the sun or wind. Electricity generated at home can be used to power electrical appliances or even an electric vehicle reducing the amount of electricity you import and pay from the grid. This could help you save money on your electricity bills as well as contribute to reducing the carbon emissions of the UK's electricity network. With over 1 million homes in the UK already generating electricity from either solar or wind, renewables are quickly becoming a common sight across the UK.
Source-Energy Savings Trust
Battery storage can reduce customers' electricity bills by storing solar energy during the day and discharging it in the evening. Batteries can also charge from the grid, which means it can store cheap, off-peak electricity. Customers on 'smart' time-of-use tariffs can save on their energy bills by storing low-cost electricity and discharging it at peak time. A typical three-bedroom home will save around £669 each year with a solar battery and solar panel system. This is made up of the savings you'll make from not buying electricity from the grid, and the money you can make exporting electricity the grid via the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).You’ll only receive a maximum of 15p per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is the rate currently paid out by Octopus Energy.At 28.62p per kWh, electricity is more expensive than what you’d get via the SEG initiative, so you’ll save money if you simply store your excess energy in your solar battery for later.The average three-bedroom house with solar panels will generate 2,645 kWh of electricity per year.This will save you £537 on your energy bills, made up of £379 you won’t have to pay the National Grid, and £159 you can get by selling your excess power through the SEG.However, if you could use this extra energy instead of selling it, you’d save an additional £132.Battery sizeAnnual savings4 kWh£4018 kWh£6699.5 kWh£937