Most cost effective way to add battery storage?

Spies

I have solar PV with a standard inverter in the loft, it's on a 16a circuit of its own, I have no more spare ways in my internal CU but I do have spares in my outdoor CU which has my car charger on. 

If I wanted to add battery storage in the most cost effective way to do so? 

QrizB

Are you thinking of AC-coupled storage, or hybrid? The cost is similar whichever you choose.

If your system is new enough not to have a FIT (and I think I remember you installing it a year or two ago), hybrid storage might be the best way to go. You'll replace your existing inverter and won't need a new circuit.

[Deleted User]

Cost effective: wait until the ongoing review of VAT on batteries has been completed.

Spies

QrizB said:

Are you thinking of AC-coupled storage, or hybrid? The cost is similar whichever you choose.

If your system is new enough not to have a FIT (and I think I remember you installing it a year or two ago), hybrid storage might be the best way to go. You'll replace your existing inverter and won't need a new circuit.

I was thinking this but then my Zappi won't know about the battery if its a hybrid inverter

Petriix

Define don't go hybrid with a Zappi. Battery prices are crazy high right now and electricity prices are falling rapidly so the numbers really don't stack up unless you have unusually high peak usage that you can't load shift. Best advice is to wait. 

EricMears

[Deleted User] said:

Cost effective: wait until the ongoing review of VAT on batteries has been completed.

Or Hell freezes over - whichever occurs first ? 

Coastalwatch

EricMears said:

[Deleted User] said:

Cost effective: wait until the ongoing review of VAT on batteries has been completed.

Or Hell freezes over - whichever occurs first ? 

Or buy a five year old 40 kWh Leaf for circa £12k. Think you would struggle to get anything cheaper, and you get a car into the bargain!

EricMears

Coastalwatch said:

Or buy a five year old 40 kWh Leaf for circa £12k. Think you would struggle to get anything cheaper, and you get a car into the bargain!

According to Autocar listings,
  https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertising-location=at_cars&fuel-type=Electric&include-delivery-option=on&make=&postcode=S44%205XF&price-to=7000&sort=price-asc

You could have an older Leaf (e.g. 2011/12 ) for under £4000.  Battery would be only £24kWh (and probably degraded after 10+ years but still well over 10kWh).    Slight snag in that you'd probably need to spend as much again to be able to get a bi-directional charger unit for it.

If budget would stretch to £7k  there would be a wider choice of models.

94JDH

Or this, but have my doubts!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256081096754?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1bMDc63ZT1m&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=-3rEWr69TAG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY