A solar battery is an energy storage system that homeowners can connect to their solar panels. It is usually made from lead acid or lithium-ion, and can store up the electricity that your solar panels generate while you’re out during the day. Lithium-ion batteries are the best on the market, offering fast charging and high capacity.

When solar panels operate on their own, the majority of their efforts sadly go to waste. This is because solar energy can be used only as and when it is available.

The peak time for solar power generation is in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest point – but that’s also when you’re not at home. You’re unable to use it.

Then, once you’re back home in the evening, your panels have clocked off for the day; the sun’s down, and you have to pay for the power you use.

Fortunately, teamwork makes the dream work. Enter: the solar battery. You’ll be getting way more out of your solar panels.

All the unused electricity that’s produced throughout the day goes into your solar battery for safekeeping, ready for you to use whenever you need it. When there’s little or no daylight (or there’s a power cut), you can turn to your solar battery for assistance.

Pros and cons of solar energy storage

Pros

✔ More solar power. With a solar battery in place, you’ll use more of the electricity that your solar panels create. This means you’ll be using less of the National Grid’s power supply, and reducing your carbon footprint even further

✔ Energy bill savings. Increased solar power usage also means lower energy bills – Increased solar power usage also means lower energy bills. Batteries have the potential to help you save money on electricity greatly.

✔ Backup power supply. When a power cut strikes, your battery will suddenly become very useful. Some of our batteries like the Leonardo Pro-X, are programmed to work completely off-grid or on-grid being equipped with smart features to monitor for grid black-outs.

✔ Increased independence. Energy companies are always hiking up their prices and getting more money out of their customers. Buy a solar battery, and that’s one big step towards off-grid self-sufficiency. rid entirely, if you so wish.

Cons

✘ Expensive. With most solar batteries costing somewhere between £2,000 and £6,000, it’s not a cheap purchase – but for most people, the benefits outweigh the initial expense.

✘ Demands on your space. Some high-capacity solar batteries are about the size of a small kitchen fridge, so be ready to give over some room for one of these things – especially if the model can only be located indoors.