As more UK homeowners embrace solar energy, the demand for batteries for solar power storage is on the rise. Batteries enable you to make the most of your solar panels, storing excess energy generated during sunny hours for use at night or on cloudy days. Here’s a review of some of the best batteries for solar energy available in the UK, each offering unique benefits to suit different needs.

Five of the best batteries for solar power storage

1. Tesla Powerwall 2

Capacity: 13.5 kWh
Efficiency: 90% round-trip efficiency
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: High-capacity storage and smart home integration

The Tesla Powerwall 2 is one of the most popular and powerful home batteries available. With its large 13.5 kWh capacity, the Powerwall can cover nearly a full day of electricity needs for the average UK household. It also integrates seamlessly with Tesla’s app, allowing you to monitor energy usage, control charging times, and even detect power outages in real time. The Powerwall is designed to work efficiently with solar panels, and its 10-year warranty ensures reliability. Though on the premium end of the price range, it’s an ideal choice for those looking for a high-capacity, smart solution.

Find out more and get a quote via the Tesla website.

2. LG Chem RESU

Capacity: 9.8 kWh
Efficiency: 94.5%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Flexible capacity and compact design

The LG Chem RESU is a compact and versatile battery available in various sizes, with the 9.8 kWh version being ideal for UK homeowners. Known for its reliability and efficiency, the LG Chem RESU has a slim design that allows it to fit easily in garages or utility rooms. With its high round-trip efficiency, it ensures minimal energy loss, which translates to more stored energy for you. The RESU’s modular design is compatible with different inverters, making it easy to integrate into existing solar setups. It’s a strong contender for those looking for efficient, flexible storage in a more compact size.

Find out more and get a quote via the LG website.

3. Huawei LUNA2000

Capacity: Modular, starting at 5 kWh up to 15 kWh
Efficiency: 97%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Modular design for scalable storage needs

The Huawei LUNA2000 is a versatile, modular solar battery system that offers scalable storage, starting with a 5 kWh unit that can be expanded up to 15 kWh. This flexibility is ideal for those who may want to start with a smaller capacity and expand later. The LUNA2000 boasts an impressive 97% efficiency, ensuring that almost all of your generated solar power is usable. The system also integrates with Huawei’s FusionSolar app, allowing users to monitor and control their energy use. It’s a great choice for households looking for a scalable and future-proof storage solution.

Find out more and get a quote via the Huawei website.

4. Sonnen Eco

Capacity: 2.5 kWh – 15 kWh, modular
Efficiency: 89%–94%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Eco-conscious users and community energy sharing

Sonnen is known for its sustainability-focused design and its contribution to energy-sharing communities. The Sonnen Eco is a modular battery available in various capacities up to 15 kWh, making it suitable for households with both modest and larger storage needs. This system also allows users to participate in energy-sharing networks, meaning you can share excess energy with other Sonnen users, creating a local energy-sharing ecosystem. It’s a solid option for those looking to combine eco-friendly practices with innovative storage technology.

Find out more and get a quote via the Sonnen website.

5. Enphase Encharge 10

Capacity: 10.5 kWh
Efficiency: 96%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Reliable storage with microinverter compatibility

The Enphase Encharge 10 battery is designed to work seamlessly with Enphase microinverters, providing a highly reliable system that works well even in partial shading or in homes with complex roofing structures. With a 10.5 kWh capacity and 96% efficiency, this battery is well-suited to moderate-to-high household electricity needs. Enphase’s monitoring app allows for easy management of energy storage, while the Encharge 10’s durability makes it a strong choice for those focused on long-term investment in energy independence.

Find out more and get a quote via the Enphase website.

Summary – Best batteries for solar power storage

Each of these batteries brings something unique to the table. For homeowners looking for maximum capacity, the Tesla Powerwall 2 is the top choice. For those prioritizing flexibility and scalability, Huawei LUNA2000 and Sonnen Eco offer modular systems that can grow with your needs. Finally, LG Chem RESU and Enphase Encharge 10 are ideal for those looking for compact design and inverter compatibility.

Final Thoughts

Solar batteries are an investment that provides energy independence, cost savings, and environmental benefits. Choosing the right battery for your solar PV system can transform how you use and store solar energy, giving you more control over your energy and helping to reduce reliance on the grid.

If you can’t afford a solar battery check out the range of solar power diverters available, which can help maximise your savings from solar energy at a far lower price point.

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Whilst previously not very common for homes UPS systems have been used by businesses for decades, providing backup power to essential services when the grid falters.

As the cost of energy escalates, and everyone looks for energy saving options and to secure their own power generation capacity via solar PV or wind, backup power systems make even more sense. Just like demand flexibility services, batteries enable you to avoid buying energy at times of high demand, when electricity prices rise, and to operate completely independently from the grid.

In this post we look at the Bluetti EP500Pro home backup battery – a new system designed to power a whole house for a day or two in the event of an unexpected outage.

Bluetti is a relatively new player in the energy storage industry, who launched their first product on Amazon In July 2019. In 2020 they released their AC200 product on Indiegogo as a crowdfunding project and pulled nearly 7 million dollars in two months. Their HQ is in Vegas, Nevada.

They also sell a range of portable power stations for camping trips and outdoor events, expansion batteries, and solar generator kits which include PV panels, charge controllers and batteries with all the ports you need for a an off-grid life.

All-in-one Backup Power Station

The Bluetti EP500Pro is a standalone battery power system with a 5100Wh LiFePO4 battery pack and a 3000W rated pure sine wave AC inverter. It holds enough power to run a family camping trip, cabin workshop, or even your whole house for a day or two, presuming it’s not too energy hungry. Up to 14 outlet sources allow you to power anything from laptops and air conditioners to your electric vehicle.

Seamless UPS Backup

The EP500Pro will automatically become your home energy source for essential loads when the electricity grid goes down. You can also pair it with up to 1200W solar input to recharge or to keep your appliances running without depleting the battery.

The EP500Pro also features a clever battery management system to manage the charge and discharge cycles for improved safety and durability. It even comes with a built-in dual-core processor and Internet connection, meaning the EP500Pro’s firmware can be upgraded through your internet connection without you needing to lift a finger.

The EP500Pro is currently on sale at £5,699.00 but usually sells for £5,999.

You can order it online directly from Bluetti.

Bluetti EP500Pro Home backup battery – Specifications

• 5100Wh LiFePO4, 6000+Charge Cycle
• EP500Pro: 3000W Pure Sine Wave Output
• Movable power station
• In-grid UPS Mode & Flexible UPS Mode(24/7)
• Off-grid energy storage
• Multiple devices can be powered simultaneously
• Flexible recharging for ‘always on’ functionality
• App remote control
• Smart touchscreen
• 5 year warranty

• AC Power Rating: 3000W
• Weight: 83kg (182lbs)
• Dimensions: 500 x 300 x 760mm (22.8 x 11.8 x 29.9in)
• Battery Capacity: 5100Wh
• Battery Cell Type: LiFePO4
• Rated Life Cycle: 6000+
• Charge Temperature: 0°C ~ 40°C (32°F ~104°F)
• Storage Ambient Temperature: 0°C ~ 45°C (32°F ~113°F)
• Working Environment humidity: 10-90%
• Certification: PSE, FCC, CE, UN38.3, msds, UL, SAA and ROHS

Input Specs

• AC Input: 3000W Max
• Solar PV Input: 2400W Max

Output Specs

• Standard UK plug 220-240V AC x 3
• USB-C: 2 x 100W
• USB-A: 2 x Quick Charging, 36W Total, 2 x 5VDC, 3A Total
• Cigarette Lighter: 1 x 12VDC, 10A
• RV (Aviation Port): 1 x 12VDC, 30A
• DC 5521: 2 x 12VDC, 10A Total
• Wireless Charging Pad: 2 x 5/7.5/10/15W

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USB cell batteries can be used like a normal battery and can be recharged simply by plugging into a USB port.

With over 15 billion alkaline batteries made and thrown away each year – wasting resources, C02 and creating toxic Landfill – USB CELL batteries offer an eco-friendly alternative which can be re-used hundreds of times as no charge adapter or cable is needed, saving you money, hassle and waste.

Customer review:
“I love these batteries, I use them in just about everything. I bought mine a little while ago whilst trying to be a little more eco-friendly. The only thing I can’t use them in is my digital camera, because they die after about 3 shots, so these may not be for you if that’s what you’re after them for…They are a good introduction into rechargables because you do not need a dedicated charger for them. Most people have a USB port somewhere in our homes, and as the PC/games console is already turned on, recharging these babies is essentially free energy!”

Portability – Easy Energy on the Go
No need for a separate charger or cables when traveling.

Recharged Anywhere
Charge anywhere from any accessible powered USB.

Swap and Play
Easily charge cells in your game station and just swap over.

Top-Up
Charging for just a few minutes provides extra hours of instant use for most input devices.

• USB cell batteries use lithium, unlike alkaline, NI-MH, NI-CD batteries, Li-ion battery feature no memory effect which reduces the battery capacity over time, so provide a longer life and are more eco-friendly.
• Whether used for camping or home, you can simply charge USB cell batteries with single USB port. Up to 1000 cycles, no need to buy batteries frequently, or a separate charger
• One hour charging time – Fully charged in less than 2 hours, more energy efficient. LED indicator will turn on red when in charge, and turn out after fully charged.
• Can be used for toys, game controllers, wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, remote etc
• Safe, eco-friendly and non-toxic – Approved by FCC CE & RoHS

Buy on Amazon – Moixa USB Cell AA Batteries (Pack of 2)

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Elon Musk, Tesla’s founder and chief executive, made the much anticipated announcement last week, confirming the new modular Powerwall system would sell at $3,000 for a 7kWh battery, rising to $3,500 for a 10kWh unit. Deliveries are expected to start in late summer in the U.S.

Musk said the new Tesla Energy division represented a “critical step” in his ambition to shift the global energy systems towards greater use of renewable power.

“We’re talking about trying to change the fundamental energy infrastructure of the world,” said Musk at the launch. “This is actually within the power of humanity to do. It is not impossible.”

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery units that mount on the wall are designed to enable load-shifting. Solar energy produced when it is not needed will be stored and released at times of peak demand to prevent blackouts or recharge an electric vehicle.

U.S. solar installation specialist SolarCity, of which Musk is also chairman, already has installed around 300 batteries in homes in California as part of a pilot to test the system. SolarCity also will be one of a number of third parties approved to install the Powerwall system.

Tesla also will sell industrial sized 100kWh batteries that can be used by utilities or large businesses, costing $250 per kWh. Musk told reporters that one potential customer already wanted to install 250MWh worth of the grid-scale batteries.

In the long-term, Telsa expects to produce the batteries at its $5 billion “gigafactory” under construction in Nevada. Musk said he expected to build more factories in the long-term, predicting demand from countries with a large amounts of solar capacity already installed, such as Germany.
An energy tipping point?

Catherine Mitchell, professor of energy policy at the University of Exeter, called the announcement “a nail in the coffin” for conventional utilities.

“Storage offers the ability to extend both the displacement of fossil fuels and reduction of prices beyond peaks — making it even worse for companies whose business models are based on fossil fuels and peak pricing profits,” she said. “The question is no longer whether decentralization will happen within the energy system, but when the tipping point will be.”

Tesla is not the only company trying to crack the home energy storage market. Earlier this month, U.K. energy supplier Ecotricity revealed it was working on a “black box” that would allow consumers to store energy at times of low demand and then release it during peak times to help balance the grid. All the available battery options make it even easier to benefit from demand flexibility services.

Similarly, U.K. startup Moixa Technology offers its Maslow energy storage system, currently being trialed in 250 homes as part of a government-backed pilot project.

Advocates of energy storage maintain that it could slash energy-related emissions and drastically curb the cost of renewable energy, by ensuring periods of peak generation when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing are fully harnessed.

The post Tesla’s $3,000 home battery pack can power a home for 8 hours appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

Ecotricity has confirmed that it will begin a 100-home trial of its ‘Black Box’ energy storage system later this year. The energy supplier’s founder and notable green entrepreneur, Dale Vince said that the company’s research project is being driven by the knowledge that energy storage will play a critical role in the country’s move to a low-carbon economy.

Vince, who this week laid out his ‘vision’ to make Britain 80% renewable energy-powered by 2030, explained: “To get to a future where we are powered by renewable energy we need to develop a smart grid and storing energy is an important part of that.

“Often people talk about this needing to be done at a grid scale, but at Ecotricity we want to do this at a household scale, with a device we call the Black Box, which we’ve been working on for about three years now.”

Vince continued that Ecotricity has carried out “extensive modelling” of the UK’s current grid infrastructure to identify how energy storage can help shoulder the challenge of balancing variable energy sources.

The Black Box concept is a “device that takes houses on and off the grid at different times of the day to avoid the peaks, it’s really like taking cars off the road in the rush hour. This reduces the need for power stations on standby to hit those peaks of demand,” explained Vince.

The company has not yet revealed any details of the technology behind the device.

Vince has forecasted that the UK will derive 80% of its energy generation from renewable sources by 2030 as part of his ‘2030 Vision’ document, published this week. The document states Vince’s expectation that the UK will adhere to the Committee on Climate Change’s goal of decarbonising the UK’s energy sector within the next 15 years, hitting its target of 50 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour.

Vince expects there to still be large-scale solar farms being constructed in the UK but believes the technology will really take off on rooftops, with distributed generation being the biggest market for solar in the UK.

“The document is intended to spur people’s imagination. Some of it might seem a stretch, some of it is actually easier than we think – but all of it is possible,” Vince said.

The Ecotricity boss said his vision would see every house in the UK have an energy storage device and described the technology as pivotal in the global attempt to decarbonise our energy generation.

“Nationally if every home had one, we’ve modelled that we’d save 15% of power station capacity, which is about the current nuclear contribution, which I think is very important,” he said.

“On top of that we can use it as an energy company to absorb wind energy when we’ve got too much and to give it back when we don’t have enough, so its a distributed way of dealing with this intermittency problem. And at the same time improve the load factor of the national grid and reduce the number of power stations we need to build and that are currently sat idle. It’s about efficiency, through technology.”

Also being trialled at the moment by the government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is the installation of 250 residential storage systems by another UK company, Moixa. Having won direct funding in a competitive bidding process, the company is trialling the benefits of connecting residential storage systems together, both to provide integration of renewables and to help protect the grid network.

After a rush of activity late last year that implied a residential storage boom was imminent, the UK and the solar energy industry in particular has found itself more preoccupied with fighting uncertainty over policy and regulations for large-scale solar and awaits long-promised activity in the commercial rooftop segment. Also as the UK faces the final stretch of its wait for a general election to take place this week, the current government has ruled out any immediate commitment to energy storage, while it has hardly been mentioned on the campaign trail.

Along with Ecotricity and Moixa, it appears many UK-based and international companies still believe opportunities will open up at both economic and environmental level for energy storage. One company making battery-based systems, Powervault, recently raised over £500,000 in a crowdfunding drive, while another company, Sunamp, which PV Tech Storage spoke to today, is banking on batteries that store heat rather than electricity. Citing the high volume of heat energy used in the UK as a compelling reason to look at their alternative, or perhaps complementary, technology to electricity storage systems such as that launched internationally by Tesla last week, Sunamp CEO Andrew Bissell said that the heat batteries are currently undergoing certification and testing and are nearing their readiness for launch.

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