If you are looking at ways to become more energy independent and save on your energy bill, yet don’t have the finances or suitable roof for solar panels, we might just have the solution for you.
Many UK homeowners are not aware that even if you don’t have a solar PV system, you can still install a battery storage system.
And here are a few convincing reasons why.
What is Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)?
Battery storage or battery energy storage systems (BESS), allows you to store electricity. Whether that be directly from the National Grid or from renewable energy sources such as Wind or Solar. By storing energy, it can then be used later during a critical downtime, or more demanding hours.
There is a wide range of BESS solutions available in the UK. From containerised units suitable for commercial properties, to stand-alone 5kW batteries more suitable for domestic properties.
Currently, battery storage technology sees lithium-ion batteries capable of powering homes and businesses from renewables even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. However, through home battery storage, you can also charge and discharge energy to and from the Grid, without an energy source such as wind or solar. And it is for this reason that home battery storage without solar is feasible.
3 Reasons Why Home Battery Storage Without Solar Panels Is A Good Idea
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1. home battery storage can reduce your energy bill
If you are a UK homeowner looking at proactive ways to reduce your energy bills, then using home battery storage to import cheaper off-peak power from the Grid is a great way to reduce your energy costs. Time-of-use Tariffs such as Economy 7 and Octopus Go, provide a set number of hours in the day where electricity is cheaper to import from the Grid, as the demand during these hours isn’t as high. You can simply programme your battery storage system to force charge from the Grid during these hours via an app.
This also reduces the strain on the Grid, as you are shifting your energy usage outside of peak demand, which means fewer power outages for everyone!
How much can you save by charging your batteries from off-peak rates
So let’s take a look at the figures shall we? If you were to install a 6.5kWh Growatt battery, to charge to full on the current Octopus go off-peak rate (November 2022) of 12p per kWh it would cost you 78p. However, if you was to consume 6.5kWh during peak hours, it would cost you nearly 3 times as much. This means you can save £1.43 a day, or £521.95 a year by installing home battery storage.
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2. Provide your home with a backup power supply
Many homes in rural or remote locations who suffer from regular power-cuts, may use a generator as a form of backup power. However, installing a battery only system, can be a great greener alternative to fuel generators, especially if you are on a 100% green energy tariff. By adding an Emergency Power Supply (EPS) to your battery storage means that in the event of a blackout your stored energy can be used to keep important rings on your circuit powered, such as your fridge, cooker or PC.
As the UK prepares for blackouts this year, due to potential shortages of gas and electricity supplies, there is no time like the present to install a home battery storage system with EPS.
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3. Battery Storage Increases your energy independence
Installing a stand-alone battery system is a perfect option if you are looking to be more green and energy-independent when your home is not suitable for solar panels or a wind turbine. Battery storage without solar can give you more control over the energy you use, and make you less Grid dependent.
3 Reasons Why Installing Solar Panels with a Battery Is Better
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1. You're no longer Reliant on the grid
With a stand-alone battery system, you are still reliant on the National Grid as you are charging your battery from their energy supply. This means that you are still tied to wholesale energy prices, and the type of electricity they provide. However, if you were to install solar panels with a battery system, you will only be reliant on the abundance of sunshine available, which luckily doesn’t cost a thing. By cutting your ties from the National Grid, instead of lining the pockets of millionaires with your monthly energy bill rates, you will be cutting down on your carbon emissions for everyone to benefit from.
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2. Installing Solar Panels Reduces Your Carbon Footprint
Installing Solar panels allows you to generate your own renewable energy. As a low-carbon technology, a typical home with a solar panel system could save the UK around one tonne of carbon per year. What’s more, installing a renewable energy system means that you can help support the energy demand in the UK, by drawing less energy from the Gird and more from the abundance of sunshine.
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3. Solar Panels with Battery Storage is more cost-effective
When installing battery storage with solar panels EPVS will validate savings of up to 90% on your annual consumption. Whereas a battery-only system will only provide savings of up to 15%. Making solar PV with storage the ideal combination for saving more on your energy bill.
One of the many financial advantages you get when installing solar panels is selling your surplus energy back to the Grid. Through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), you can earn up to 15p/kWh of energy sold to your energy provider, it may not add up to a lot but it’s just one of the many ways you can save on your energy bill with a solar panel system.
Considering you can save £521.95 a year by installing 6.5kWh of storage at £5995, your payback time for a battery system without solar would be around 11.5 years. This has been calculated using the current Octopus Go rate of 12p/kWh and the current price cap set by Ofgem of 34.0p/kWh. We expect this payback period to decrease as the cost per unit of electricity continues to rise. Nevertheless, if your average UK home were to install our 5.4kW Growatt package with 6.5kWh of storage, the payback time would be around 10 years. Installing solar panels with a battery will reduce your need to charge your battery overnight.
Taking into consideration that a solar panel system is warrantied for 25 years and a battery-only system just 10, if you were a homeowner who used the majority of your energy during the day, then it would make greater financial sense to invest in a solar panel system without storage, given the current 0% VAT. As there is no VAT on solar panels at the moment, a 5.4kWh solar panel system without storage would also provide you with a quicker return on investment with a payback time of 6 years and EPVS validating savings of up to 75%.
How much Does A Home Battery Storage System Cost?
Installing a home battery without solar panels, involves installing an AC Controller and Battery System. Unfortunately, VAT on these types of systems in the UK is currently 20%, whereas there is 0% VAT on Solar Panels. A home battery system without solar can cost anywhere between £4000 to £11,000 depending on the capacity of the battery you are installing, the brand, the technology and the installer also.
For a rough guide on how much it costs to install a battery at home, check out our battery storage for solar page below.
Can I add Solar Panels to a Battery system at a later date?
Yes, adding solar panels or even a wind turbine to an existing battery system is fairly simple and straightforward for a qualified installer, and is known as retrofitting. Due to the flexibility of the current products on the market, you also have the option to expand your home energy storage system at a later date, which allows you to increase your storage capacity.
So is installing battery storage without solar panels such as crazy idea?
Given the current day rates of energy, and UK threats of power-cuts due to shortages and low supply yet peak demand, it makes sense that more homeowners are considering home battery storage without solar. If you are a UK homeowner interested in learning more about the costs of home battery storage for solar PV and wind contact our award-winning team today on 01322 479369.
