Battery Storage for Solar Panels | 2023 UK Guide

Battery Storage for Solar Panels | 2023 UK Guide

By Renogy martketing team
Renogy martketing team
renogys blog Sep 15th 2022

Battery Storage for Solar Panels | 2023 UK Guide

Solar power is fast becoming one of the UK’s dominant power sources for businesses and homeowners, despite the region’s somewhat notorious reputation for gloomy weather, overcast skies, and rainy days. The industry has remained stable in recent years despite global economic troubles and is consistently growing in the UK, with the UK government planning on rapidly expanding its use of clean energy sources over the next decade.

Some of the most common questions that home and business owners ask about solar power revolve around battery storage for solar panels. If you’re new to solar and want to understand your options regarding solar panels and battery storage, fear not – in the following sections, we dive deep into all aspects of finding and purchasing a battery that stores power for solar panels, installation at your home, businesses, and beyond.

Table of contents:

 

What Are Storage Batteries for Solar Panels?

Many people believe that solar power can only be used as a direct power source – but did you know that energy generated from solar panels can actually be conserved for later use? Solar panel power storage enables users to efficiently store the electricity produced from their panels and use that electricity on demand (typically after the sun goes down).  

Rather than excess energy produced from the solar panel system being distributed back into the utility grid, batteries provide the system with a way to deposit and store that energy for later use, allowing home and business owners to leverage solar energy regardless of weather or time of day.

These battery storage systems allow users to reduce their reliance on grid-based power and increase the efficiency of their solar energy system. In the following section, we cover a few of the primary benefits and capabilities that batteries offer solar panel owners.

Power Storage from Solar Panels UK: Advantages

One of the many advantages from utilizing a battery in conjunction with your solar panel system is the capability to drastically lower your use of the national power grid – effectively taking your home “off-grid” and moving to true solar-based, on-demand energy consumption. In the UK, this is particularly important due to the region’s sometimes spotty weather.

If you integrate a battery system into your solar setup, you don’t need to worry about whether the sun is shining or not – you already have the power in reserve via your battery system.

Additionally, if you don’t leverage the utility of a solar battery, the unused energy produced by your solar panel system will be absorbed back into the national energy grid.

 

In most cases, the experts at Renogy recommend integrating a battery system into your solar panel setup – it’s a win-win situation and typically results in cost savings in the long run. Using a battery also allows home and business owners alike to increase the efficiency of their solar system – a 2019 study by Microgeneration Certification Scheme, one of the UK’s leading renewable energy organizations, found that batteries can increase the total percentage of energy utilized by solar panels by as much as 80%.

Solar Panels with Battery Storage Cost UK

Batteries for solar panel’s power storage have varying prices – in the UK, it depends on numerous factors, such as the size of your solar panel setup, how much power it can produce, the specific type of battery you have installed and whether you want to attempt DIY power- storage-battery installation by a professional.

In addition, your particular use of your battery’s functionalities and your desired storage system can also have an impact on the total cost for solar panel power storage. We recommend performing careful research on different product options and weighing in the various factors mentioned above, before selecting and purchasing a battery storage system.  

The cost of a solar panel installation averages around £6,000, depending on the system’s type, size, location and other factors. Adding a battery storage system to that installation can increase the cost by anywhere from £3,000 to £10,000 – this is the most common price range. Although the price jump might seem dramatic, it’s important to note that batteries can greatly increase a system’s overall efficiency and lower grid-based energy consumption (i.e., lower utility costs).

Government Solar Panels Program UK

There many solar panel rebates are available in the UK, which can further bring down the cost for sola panels and batteries.   

Are Battery Storage Systems Worth the Cost?

Battery storage systems can be pricey investments – but they are nearly always worth it in the end. Not only do they decrease the amount of time it takes to pay back your solar panel system’s installation (through cost savings), but they also allow you to be much more energy independent by lowering your reliance on the national grid and increasing the overall efficiency of your entire system.

 

Another benefit of adding a battery storage system to your panel installation or setup is its ability to serve as a backup power source in the event of power outages, cloudy weather or at night – enabling homeowners to utilize solar power to run their electric-powered devices at all times.

Top Considerations for Solar Panel Storage Batteries

One of the main requirements you need to figure out when looking for a storage system is the type of battery you plan on using – will it be lead acid-based (flooded or non-flooded) or lithium- based? After you select the specific type of battery, you then need to consider the battery’s cycle life and cost, as well as make sure its voltage aligns with your solar panels’ system and it has the right type of cycle life.

  • Battery Cost: Costs can range from the ultra-low price of around £85 for an extremely small and inexpensive acid-based battery to over £5,900 for a more expensive lithium- powered battery.
  • Battery Voltage: It’s imperative to ensure that your desired battery system’s voltage matches the voltage used by your panel system and other hardware components. The most common voltage in home-use solar power is 12V, 24V and sometimes 48V – make sure your storage system features the same voltage; otherwise, there will be compatibility issues. 
  • Capacity and Cycle Life: The capacity of your chosen system will decide how much energy you will be able to store for later use – the lower the capacity the less electricity that can be stored. Your battery’s cycle life determines how many discharge/charge cycles can be used before its capacity drops. The average battery capacity usage on most homes use deployments ranges from 4 to 20 kWh, depending on overall power usage and requirements – use our custom solar power calculator to determine your specific needs.

Choosing the Best Battery: Expert Tips

Choosing the best battery for your solar panel system doesn’t need to be a long and complex process – use the tips posted below to simplify the process:

  1. Avoid choosing an “all-purpose” battery. The majority of these types of batteries utilize lead acid rather than lithium and are generally of lower quality compared to more customized products. In addition, the capacity and cycle life of this type of battery are typically low, meaning, you’ll get less power over time, leading to an inefficient solar panel system.
  2. Understand what peak power output is. The peak power output, or kilowatt peak (kWp), of a battery, is what determines how powerful that battery can be when operating at its highest performance level. In general, the higher the kWp, the more expensive (and higher quality) the battery.
  3. The battery’s brand and warranty matter. Similar to purchasing anything else in life, the quality of the brand should be a deciding factor in your decision. Sometimes, going with the less expensive option will actually end up costing more in the long run. We recommend choosing an established brand with a strong warranty program.

 

Solar Power: Here To Stay and on the Rise

Surprisingly, the UK’s solar usage has actually increased in recent years – in 2014 the UK’s solar usage was just over 5,400 megawatts (MW), and five years later in 2019, it increased to 13,000+ MW. Coupled with several UK government subsidized programs, technological advancements in the industry, and the public’s increased interest in green energy; solar power usage in the UK is not only here to stay, it’s going to continue growing.

Solar power storage systems offer the capability to lower main power grid usage, dramatically impact the total efficiency of a solar system, and reduce the amount of time it takes to pay off a solar panel setup via cost savings. With the continued growth of the industry, and the expected rise in grid-based energy costs, there has never been a better time to install solar panels and leverage the power of a power storage battery system.

Renogy will be your best choice to invest in solar batteries. At Renogy, we have different models of lithium ion phosphate batteries for sale. Compatible battery chargers, inverters, battery maintainers are also available. In addition to battery storage solution, we also offer a variety of solar products ranging from off grid solar kits, solar generators, and wires. Shopping on Renogy store, you can enjoy an all-in-one solution. 

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