Solar PV & home battery storage

Solar photovoltaic panels turn daylight into electricity. An inverter converts the generated electricity for use by household appliances. Output changes with the season, weather, roof orientation and shading; panels can generate on cloudy days, but not at the same rate as in strong sunlight.

Usable roof space, roof condition and nearby obstructions affect the proposed system. Your electricity use during daylight hours also influences how much generated energy you can use directly.

A home battery can store surplus solar electricity for use later, including in the evening. Some systems can also charge from the grid, allowing use with suitable time-of-use tariffs. The battery, inverter and controls must support the intended setup.

Adding storage to an existing solar system may be possible, but compatibility needs checking. Battery capacity should reflect your usage and goals, not just the largest unit that fits. Installation location and the manufacturer's safety requirements are important parts of planning.

Share recent electricity usage, details of your roof and any existing solar equipment when enquiring. The assessment should consider the installation, electrical connections and any necessary network notifications or permissions.

Savings depend on generation, consumption, tariffs and the system cost, so no fixed reduction or payback period can be promised. Export payments have separate eligibility requirements. Backup power is also a specific system feature; a standard solar or battery installation should not be assumed to work during a power cut.