Home Battery Systems

The rising costs of gas and electricity have brought a huge focus to home battery systems & off-grid systems over recent months and how they can help reduce energy costs, but how do they work and are they worth it?

As the UK strives for Net Zero, solar panels and battery storage have become more and more popular. In 2021 the UK saw growth of 70% when compared with 2020 & broke the record for the highest annual installed capacity which was previously set in 2018 at 442MW.

What is a battery storage system?

Homes with solar panels or other renewable energy sources can install a battery system to store the excess energy produced, which can then be used during the hours when grid electricity is most expensive. You can also get paid for any excess energy you create and feed back into the grid, thanks to the Smart Export Guarantee which was launched in 2020 . As a result, these types of systems not only reduce cost but also lower our carbon footprint by reducing the need for grid electricity, a significant proportion of which is still generated by gas & coal.

These systems can also help manage peaks and losses of power because with energy storage systems, your home will always have access to some power even if the grid is experiencing a problem. Larger energy storage systems that work in conjunction with wind or solar farms work in the same way, however, instead of servicing one home these facilities can supply power to many homes.

Recently, the government removed barriers for storage projects above 50MW in England, meaning more clean energy can be stored and used all year round. A further £3 billion has also been invested in low carbon innovation with a 4GW storage project planned to power 6 million homes. Head of Markets at National Grid Electricity System Operator, Kayte O’Neill, said "How we operate Great Britain’s grid is changing, with record levels of renewable sources generating our power. Storage can help us make the most of this green energy, using it to manage peaks and troughs in demand and operate the electricity system as efficiently as possible - keeping costs down for consumers too."

We have recently seen an increase in enquires for products to create these types of energy storage systems, like the Victron Multiplus II & EasySolar units. These systems can be set up to keep your batteries 100% charged by using PV or AC power so that should a power cut occur, your batteries are fully charged and ready to take over. They can also be configured to run in self consumption mode where there is more PV power than is required to run loads, and the excess PV energy is stored in the batteries. That stored energy is then used to power the loads at times when there is a shortage of PV power.

For more information on an ESS System, you can see Victron Energy's in-depth guide here or speak with a member of our sales team.

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