Battery Storage

Grid connected solar PV systems do not work during a power cut. Unfortunately, the solar PV system will not work until the electricity supply to the property is restored - this is a regulation to avoid injuring any grid workers who intentially turn off the grid power ensuring that your solar generated electricity is not able to harm them. If there is no grid voltage available then the solar PV will not work unless a "back-up device" or "gateway" is installed along with the battery.

If you suffer from frequent power cuts or power cuts that last a long time, and assuming that you are grid connected, then you may want to consider having a battery storage system with a back-up device installed.

Why you should consume ALL the energy you produce

If you have paid for solar panels to be installed on your home, office, place of work/workshop or farm, you must be happy that not only is your electricity bill is being reduced, but that you're receiving export tariff payments for all the electricity exported to the grid. If you are out at all day, i.e at work, and you discover that you are exporting electricity then whilst importing from the grid in the evenings (at a higher rate) then it may make sense for you to invest in a battery to store your surplus for when you are at home to save importing as much as is possible. Exporting unused electricity really does not make sense - If you can't use it then what else can you do with it? The simple answer is to store the electricity in deep-cycle batteries and use it when you want to. It is also possible (and good for the health of the battery) to set the battery to automatically charge from the grid if you get a cheap night time tairrif rate. In the winter the solar system will probably not generate enough energy to power the ouse during the day, let alone have enough surplus to charge the battery much. Therefore if you charge the battery with cheap energy this can then be released whilst it is still dark, and also during the day to contribute to the available solar power if there is not enough to cover the required demand from your building.

Demand for battery storage systems to compliment grid-connected solar PV systems will become increasingly popular in the UK.

Concern about ever increasing energy price rises. Ofgem have forecasted that energy prices will rise at by least 5% every year. Recent price hikes indicate that 5% is conservative; Concern over reliability of supply. The UK energy generation sector is in crisis with the lack of investment, coupled with aging power stations means that reliability of supply is in doubt. If you already live in a rural area, you will probably already have experienced power cuts. Indications are that the situation will continue to get worse. If you have installed a solar PV system then adding batteries to your solar system makes financial and practical sense. Practical because energy can be stored in batteries and used when required; financial because it is pointless to export any energy if it is not consumed. Why not use the energy generated to charge batteries?