More and more UK households are becoming energy independent and seeking guidance on renewable energy solutions as a way of achieving this. Solar energy is nothing new, but it is continually improving and evolving. Solar panels and solar energy systems are more efficient, more powerful and more attainable than ever before. With the added popularity of electric vehicles, solar energy for homes and businesses is only going to get bigger. One of the ways in which solar power has become more sophisticated is through solar battery storage systems.
A solar battery is just that, a battery. The primary function of solar power storage involves the accumulation and retention of surplus electricity generated by solar panels. This transforms an ordinary solar panel set up; converting intermittent solar energy into a reliable and continuously accessible power supply. This stored energy can then be deployed during periods of low solar insolation, such as at night or during inclement weather conditions, ensuring continuity of power supply and enhancing the overall resilience of the solar power system.
This translates to better self-sufficiency and less reliance on the grid for power during lower solar production periods. Solar battery storage can be installed during solar panel installation, or after for existing solar panel systems. If you are interested in looking at the options available you can visit our Solar and Battery service page.
No, there is no VAT on solar batteries, solar battery storage systems or solar battery installation. Whether standalone, retrofitted or fitted as part of a solar PV system, there is no VAT on this product. This is part of the UK governments extension on the tax relief on energy-saving materials (ESMs). This extension was implemented on February 1st, 2024. It is very welcome news for home and business owners looking to enter the renewable energy market.
There is also no āend dateā for this tax relief and as this is part of the UK governments commitment to be Net Zero by 2050. It is likely the programme will continue since it aligns with the wider sustainability objectives of the country. The governmentās attitude towards renewable energy sources is very encouraging and since 2022 they have accepted views from the industry which has lead to the current tax relief expansion. We at Recharge Renewable are confident the government will continue to help the renewable sector along as the UK continues to transition to cleaner energy. There has never been a better time to get into solar power than now.
There are four types of solar battery; lead-acid, lithium-ion, flow batteries, and nickel cadmium. In the UK the two types of solar battery most commonly available are lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid batteries are typically cheaper, but not as efficient and have a shorter lifespan. Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive but have a longer lifespan and are more efficient. Be sure to always ask your installer what battery types they have available and seek guidance on efficiency and durability.
There are also different manufacturers of solar batteries. Navigating all the options can be a bit of a minefield. That is why it is always best to speak directly with your solar power installer. We can offer a helping hand in this area for anyone looking for clarification, simply contact us to speak about the various options.
We also have existing information on our Solar and Battery service page. Weāve taken the time to do the research for our clients and found what we consider to be some of the best suppliers of solar batteries around. They offer a high standard of service, such as Solax direct customer line, where other suppliers are hard to contact or email only. They also offer features like smart monitoring and remote charging functions to keep up with the modern household and business trends that many clients have come to expect.
Whatever supplier or battery type, we always recommend you speak directly with an installer to get the best option for your circumstances.
You may see or hear reference to the Battery DoD of a solar battery and have questions about its relevance. This is an important piece of information you should gather from any supplier or installer regarding solar batteries. A battery’s depth of discharge (DoD) indicates the percentage of the battery that has been discharged relative to the overall capacity of the battery. It is an important metric to monitor because it does directly correlate to the lifespan of a solar battery and your usage of it.
For example, if your 10kWh battery has a DoD of 80%, you should not use more than 8kWh (80% of its total capacity) without then recharging it. This is because with batteries, using up the full capacity can negatively impact its lifespan and efficiency. In order to achieve optimum longevity and efficiency, you want to understand your batteries DoD so during usage you know when to recharge and when not to push the performance too far. We plan on going into more detail on this and the other points in this article in future so be sure to save our page or reach out to us for more information.
It is important to note that the discharge rate of your solar battery is also a different metric. This refers to how many Watts your battery can discharge an hour. You may have a 9.5kWh battery for example. It can output 51.2 Volts and an ampage of 80A. This translates to a maximum discharge rate of 4096 Watts per hour. This is useful to know because some households may consume low levels of energy consistently throughout the day. Whereas other households may consume large amounts of energy at certain periods, like for example when everyone gets home from work and school. A large family in this case may therefore need a battery capable of a higher discharge rate. Now, inverters add another layer to the mix, as all solar battery systems will have an inverter that will affect the discharge rate. This is because they can only handle a certain amount of electricity at one time. However, we will go into more detail on this in another blog.
Naturally with topics such as this we always expect our visitors to perhaps have more questions. We are always happy to chat and provide free, impartial advice through our contact us page. We are based in Somerset but provide solar panel and solar battery installation across mainland UK.
We will be providing further insights on all things solar and EV chargers in future blog articles. Please feel free to bookmark our webpage and come back anytime you need further information or consultation. Weāll be going into more detail on these and many more points in future.
Whatever supplier or battery manufacturer you choose, donāt hesitate to ask questions and clarify the points you have read about in this article. Ensure your installer confirms:
Be sure to check out our Solar and Battery page for further information on our service and solar battery availability or reach out straight away below.
If youād like to discuss a quote or have any questions or queries please give us a call, send an email or use the contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!
