Benefits of investing in Solar Batteries
Solar Batteries are designed to capture the surplus energy usually exported to the grid, storing it for use later in the day, to save you from buying in electricity when the sun isn’t shining. They can be easily added to an existing Solar PV system with minimal disruption.
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How Solar Batteries work?
Solar Batteries work by converting the DC energy being produced by your Solar Panels and storing it as AC power for later use. When you install a solar battery as part of your solar panel system, you are able to store excess solar electricity at your home instead of sending it back to the grid.
During the day:
- The Solar PV system generates solar electricity.
- The Battery Storage System will check if all the generation is being used to power your lights and appliances.
- If you’re not using all the electricity that the Solar PV System is generating, then the system will ensure that any surplus energy is used to charge the battery.
- Once the Battery is fully charged, if there is still more solar electricity being generated, this will be exported to the grid.
In the evening or at time of low solar generation:
- The Solar PV Panels have a reduced output.
- The Battery System can discharge the stored electricity, providing you with renewable-generated electricity at no additional cost.
- Once the Battery is fully charged, if there is still more solar electricity being generated, this will be exported to the grid. Excess energy can be sold back to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
Agile energy tariffs and how it can benefit me
Instead of paying a set rate for your electricity regardless of the time of day, an agile tariff tracks the wholesale price of electricity throughout the day (which is updated every half hour) so when the price drops so does your bills.
By using your battery to store electricity outside of peak times, you can buy energy at a lower rate and use it when you would otherwise be paying peak prices.
In the UK, when more electricity is generated than consumed energy prices fall and sometime drop below zero. At this point suppliers are paid to take the energy from the grid. Meaning you get paid for the energy you use.
Example based on Octopus Energy Agile Traffic May 2020
| Min | 3.1p (15:00) |
| Max | 17.7p (17:30) |
| Average | 3.5p |
| Av Excl Peak | 1.7p |
| Cheapest 4hrs | 1.6p |
| Peak Time (1600-1900) | 15.4p |