Are solar batteries worth it

lostboy2010

I’ve been doing a lot of research before deciding if I will benefit from solar panels and if I should include a battery. I looked at micro inverters power optimisers battery or no battery in my quest for the best system for me. I have a plug in hybrid car so my energy usage is over 4000kw a year. I decided in the end on a simple 6kw hybrid string inverter with a reasonably priced 5kw battery (nothing like £4500 as suggested in the article)
my break even should be 7-8 years (some installation companies suggested less but I like to err on the realistic side)
I think I will benefit from a system with a battery as I will switch to intelligent octopus go for my car and take advantage of the cheap electricity to charge my battery off peak as well especially in the shorter winter days.

Clive_Woody

We charge our battery overnight on the cheap tarrif (7p/kwh) and then solar panels top it up or export any excess at a higher rate (15p/kwh). It's been quite a while since we paid for any premium rate electricty. I work from home so reasonably high use.

EcoScruples

If you're using just over 4mw a year then it's probably not worth the outlay of a battery, export everything to the grid on a high paying SEG instead and use a cheap tarriff to charge you vehicle overnight.

Batteries are still expensive and unless you either use a lot of electric or the kw price shoots up then it probably doesn't make sense.

I have a battery and although I love it and use it to maximise peak price avoidance, I wouldn't have bought it knowing what I do now.

Solarchaser

4Mw is about 11Kwh /day
So a 12kwh battery would be about ideal for covering it.
4000Kwh at 7p = £280
4000Kwh at 23p = £920
Assuming on Octopus intelligent go
A saving of £600+/year

Seplos mason 15Kwh battery used at 80%dod is roughly 12Kwh
And costs £1500
https://www.fogstar.co.uk/collections/seplos-mason-kits/products/seplos-mason-280l-and-x16-grade-b-envision-305ah-battery-bundle

Less than 3 year payback.... surely it would be worth it?

Screwdriva

EcoScruples said:

If you're using just over 4mw a year then it's probably not worth the outlay of a battery, export everything to the grid on a high paying SEG instead and use a cheap tarriff to charge you vehicle overnight.

Batteries are still expensive and unless you either use a lot of electric or the kw price shoots up then it probably doesntbmake sense.

I have a battery and although I love it and use it to maximise peak price avoidance, I wouldn't have bought it know what I do now.

Agree 100%. If you have plans to fit a heat pump or suffer from blackouts, those would be the only factors that would push me towards a quality battery system. With your stated consumption, I would maximize the number of panels you can fit on your roof paired to a quality inverter brand with a long warranty, and skip the battery entirely.