What is home battery storage?
A home battery storage system stores electricity for use at a later time. It can be charged from solar panels during the day for use in the evening, or charged from the grid during cheap off-peak hours for use during expensive peak periods. Popular systems include the Tesla Powerwall, GivEnergy, and Solax.
Does battery storage work without solar panels?
Yes. Without solar panels, a battery can be charged from the grid during cheap off-peak hours - such as overnight at 7-9p/kWh on a time-of-use tariff - and discharged during expensive daytime hours at 24p+ per kWh. The saving depends on the spread between your off-peak and peak rates.
How long does a home battery take to pay back?
Payback periods for home batteries vary from 7 to 15 years depending on the system cost, your tariff, and whether you have solar panels. Combined solar and battery systems typically pay back faster because you save on both self-consumption and avoided export at low SEG rates.