The Benefits of Battery Storage Systems

Battery storage systems are an integral part of any Solar PV installation. Here Doyle Electrical, experts in solar installation in Suffolk, look at how they work and the advantages they offer.

The Technology

Although other technologies are being developed, most current Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) use lithium-ion batteries which were first used in the 1990s by Sony (for their handheld video recorders).

The batteries, which are connected to solar panel installation, or can be a stand alone installation discharge to release the energy when necessary, but need additional components that allow the system to be connected to an electrical installation.

Batteries require a device to convert AC to DC and DC to AC – usually this will be by an inverter which will converts power between the DC battery terminals and the AC line voltage. This allows the electrical power to flow both ways to charge and discharge the battery – and offers the business owner or householder a range of benefits outlined below.

Saving on Your Energy Bills

One of the key advantages of battery storage is the way you can store any excess electricity you generate and use it when you need it. Solar panels used in conjunction with battery storage generate allow you to make use of more of your generated electricity.

So, having a battery storage system installed will allow you to use this excess generated electricity at a more suitable time – namely, later on in the day when it’s colder or darker. This is usually the time of peak electricity demand, so the savings, can be considerable.

With battery storage coupled with a Solar PV system It shouldn’t be too long before the system has paid for itself, offsetting any initial installation costs – probably within six years for residential properties, and as little as three years for larger commercial systems.

And remember that, as of February 2024, the Government has announced that all retrospective battery storage systems will be exempt from VAT.

Making Money

Battery storage systems won’t just save you money, they could make you money too. When you produce and store more electricity from your solar panels than you need, you can sell it back to the Grid.

This is thanks to the Government-backed Smart Export Guarantee – and you could make as much as £300 a year this way, although the tariff varies between utility providers. And, further down the line, having a fully functional system could also make your home more attractive to any would-be buyers, increasing your selling price on your property.

Helping Achieve Net Zero

As your batteries will be indirectly connected to a renewable energy source - the sun - you will be greatly reducing your carbon footprint and emissions. There’s no combustion involved, as there would be with any system which relies on fossil fuels such as oil or gas, so you should be helping the UK to achieve its net zero target for carbon emissions (set for the year 2050).

Avoiding Power Cuts

If you have solar PV panels and battery storage installed, your system can be configured so your property or business isn’t affected by any power cuts. This avoids any inconvenience for homeowners and could be vital for businesses as production or sales won’t be affected by any outages.

Solar Installations in Suffolk with Doyle Electrical

We can supply and install a large range of the leading brands of energy storage, tailored directly to your individual needs.

We are also platinum partners with Duracell, which means we can also supply the Dura5 5kWh battery as part of an integrated renewable energy system. You can put up to modular 32 units together and you can add extra batteries at any time. And all of the batteries come with a 10-year warranty.

Whatever system you opt for, you can be sure it will be professionally installed by our team of experience engineers who will make sure it is functioning properly before we leave your premises. We will also make sure that any cabling is as unobtrusive as possible and that everything is tidied up after our visit.

If you would like to know more about any of our battery storage systems we can supply and install out of our Ipswich base, then click here or call us on 01473 622674. You can also fill in our online contact form.