Best Solar Battery Storage UK: Expert Picks (November 2024)

If you want to make the most of your solar panels, your system’s ROI, and the energy they generate, complementing your system with a solar battery is a must. It allows for additional savings by using stored electricity during off-peak hours and allows for full energy security.

That’s why we’re giving you a rundown of the best solar battery storage systems on the market to help you answer the question: "Are solar batteries worth it in the UK?"

How much you pay will depend on the installer you choose. That’s why it’s best to compare multiple installers in your area. Why not fill in our 30-second form and let us do the rest? You can relax while we find and connect you with up to 4 trusted installers who will provide you with free, no-obligation quotes.

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We compile a list of the best solar batteries every year, comparing them in terms of price, efficiency, series output, unit output, and warranties. We also compare customer service, using online reviews and community posts from longtime users to give you a better understanding of how veteran users are fairing long-term.

Aside from the overall cost, we compare cost per kWh to the overall capacity along with the warranty period (which can be indicative of the overall lifespan). It’s important to look at more than the cost alone, as longevity also matters.

With these factors in mind, we decided that the Tesla Powerwall 3 is the best solar battery on the market. It offers a balance of low price per kilowatt (kW), high efficiency, high storage capacity per unit, and a fair warranty with an 80% efficiency guarantee after the warranty period.

Aside from the Tesla Powerwall 3, our research covered upwards of 30 other top solar battery brands in the UK. Here are the 6 best ones:

To get the best solar panel batteries for your home, it’s important to understand how each characteristic can affect energy generation. To learn more about solar battery specifications (such as efficiency and capacity), check out our explanation section, which details our selection process to help you make the best decision for your home.

Tesla Energy is probably the most popular name in solar technology right now, and for good reason. The Powerwall has received rave reviews due to its strong performance and high efficiency ever since its inception, with previous models winning our “best of” list as well. One of its other benefits is that it works well with and without solar panels, storing energy for later use.

Tesla’s connectivity features are also a plus. The Backup Gateway 2 is included as part of the package, which is a smaller box that communicates directly with Powerwall. This allows you to monitor energy use and manage backup energy reserves using any mobile device. In addition, the average Tesla Powerwall cost in the UK is quite favourable when factoring in cost per kWh.

Overall, this highly efficient solar battery by Tesla will suit any medium to large home in the UK, with a maximum capacity ranging up to 140kWh. While the battery is great, some issues are present with how the company handles customer service.

World-renowned electronics producer LG has a lot going for its systems. Its solar batteries come in a wide variety of sizes and capacities, much like SunPower. However, it stands out in its usable capacity both in series and for its larger battery units. They are also compact and slim for their relative power ratings.

The LG Chem Resu series ranges from 6.5 - 13kWh (LG Resu), 6.5 - 9.8kWh (Resu-H), and 10 - 16kWh (Resu Prime). As the numbers indicate, the Prime has the most capacity of the three, offering a continuous power output of 7kWh with a peak output of 11kWh. Perfect for maintaining full power in an outage with an above-average rate of consumption.

LG lithium-ion batteries perform better in the cold as they do not have liquid cooling (they only use passive cooling). This makes them a good choice for regions with colder climates. The LG Chem Resu series, ranging from 6.5 - 16kWh, has options that will suit any sized home. Additionally, with a high depth of discharge, it ensures most of your stored power will be used effectively.

Generac is one of the older companies on our list, with activities going back as far as 1959. Although its work with solar batteries may be fairly recent, it had a leg up in electric storage and the energy generation industry. Its PWRcell is widely available throughout the UK and is fairly popular, providing a great round-trip efficiency of 96.5%.

As the Generac PWRcell has been around for a while, it is a popular choice in the UK. As a range of batteries, it also provides a lot of different capacities, coming in 9kW, 12kW, 15kW, and 18kW energy ranges.

Overall, the Generac PWRcell provides a lot of different power options with great efficiencies. Their products can be a bit on the pricey side per kWh but the company provides a very high capacity in series.

Operating globally, Sunsynk has a significant market presence and is committed to providing innovative, eco-friendly energy solutions. The Sunsynk L5.1 battery is an affordable yet high-performance lithium-ion solar battery, perfect for homeowners seeking reliable energy storage at a lower cost.

Its compact design makes it ideal for smaller spaces, while its long cycle life ensures a durable and continuous power supply. This solar battery is the perfect choice for cost-conscious users with a need for dependable energy.

The Sunsynk L5.1 solar battery is a reliable and budget-friendly solar energy storage solution designed for users seeking efficient power management without sacrificing quality. With this battery’s capacity of 5.1kWh, it is ideal for homes with moderate energy needs or those with limited installation space.

Engineered for high-power scenarios, the Sunsynk L5.1 ensures consistent energy availability, even during peak usage times. Its life cycle is short, but the low cost per kWh can make it easily replaceable if needed.

Its compact size allows for easy integration into smaller setups, making it a versatile choice for urban environments or properties with space constraints. Currently priced between £1,400 to £2,000 (excluding installation) per unit, it is one of the more affordable choices in the solar battery market.

There are very few batteries on the market that can compete with SunSynk’s cost per kW. Due to the short warranty and relatively low capacity, they may be best for smaller homes or off-grid appliance usage.

Givenergy has been in the solar battery market since 2012. The company is popular in the UK and makes a competitive offer. Approved by an expert network of 1500+ approved installers, it has a wide reach. It also offers local support teams that can maintain your storage system and keep it up-to-date.

Givenergy boasts roughly 5,000 installations every month, gaining a lot of traction in various markets all over the world. The company has a great app and dedicated staff that help keep track of your system’s performance metrics. The company also claims that its battery components are ethically sourced.

Givenergy has great reviews and provides affordable prices, making it a suitable choice for many UK consumers. The cost per kW is also very reasonable with great cost-saving settings. The only caveat is that you may need a bigger battery if you have a very large home or need it for energy-consuming processes.

Founded in 2019 in Nevada, Bluetti has developed a wide range of battery systems in a short period of time. Since its inception, the company has developed novel technologies and affordable options in all sizes. They have online stores specifically for the UK market.

Bluetti’s EP760 battery systems can be stacked in series for a 19.4kWh capacity, which is more than enough for larger homes. For devices and light off-grid needs, the AC series can be appropriate. These models come in different sizes and stacks, which makes them a versatile option to suit various energy needs.

Bluetti is somewhat of a unique company in the realm of solar batteries. It covers a wide swathe of outputs with the intent of making home and off-grid energy solutions for every occasion. It even sells refurbished batteries from its official store, allowing for even better price options for those who need a shorter-term solution, albeit at the expense of a lower lifespan (as evidenced by the warranty on offer for low-cost systems).

Bluetti has made quite a splash with the numerous handy solar batteries they have in their portfolio, capable of charging with home energy, solar panels, and through generators. This makes them a versatile force on the market.

If any of the options above piqued your interest, you’ll probably be aching to get your hands on a solar battery or an extensive solar panel system. For that, you’ll need the help of a professional installer you can trust. Ordinarily, this can take days of extensive research, contacting installers, and assessing its offers. That’s why we provide a faster way.

We can help you obtain solar battery quotes from trustworthy installers instantly. We’ve vetted them for you so that you can be sure you’ll get the best prices and the best service. All you have to do is fill out a 30-second form with some basic info about what you need. No need to waste hours searching on your own!

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Here are the manufacturers that build the best batteries for solar panels in the UK and how well they fare in the UK market. We’re assessing the manufacturers based on several factors, including:

Here is our review of the manufacturers listed above:

In terms of quality of systems, Tesla may be the most well-balanced, making it very high quality. They may have a small range of batteries, but they provide them at low prices per kWh compared to their relatively high capacities. They also provide excellent warranties.

That isn’t to say it’s all smooth sailing for Tesla. While the Tesla Powerwall 2 is the best battery for home energy needs in many respects, the company does not have a particularly high score in customer service. They also have limited availability, and the batteries can only be installed by Tesla-certified installers. These hold the company back a bit despite the strength of their technologies.

LG and Givenergy both also have a decent claim for being the best battery systems for solar energy storage. Overall, all these manufacturers have their pros and cons that you should consider carefully based on what your home needs most.

You might be wondering how we picked this lineup, so let’s elaborate on our criteria for choosing the best solar battery in the UK.

With help from our solar energy expert, Joshua M. Pearce, we were able to narrow down our search to the solar battery brands with the best reputation for high quality and innovation. After picking the top 5 manufacturers, we were able to test each brand's product offerings using the following criteria:

Battery capacity: This metric indicates the energy storage capacity of each battery. Higher capacity batteries store more charge, which is typically preferred by consumers. However, it's important to consider this alongside the cost per kWh. A battery with high capacity and cost per kWh may become more expensive as it nears its full capacity. As mentioned earlier, the SunPower SunVault excels in this aspect.

The table below shows the battery size required per household size in the UK to cover their full household energy needs.

Total capacity in series: Solar batteries can be linked to increase their capacity levels. For instance, Tesla Energy allows you to connect up to 10 batteries in parallel, offering the highest capacity in a series configuration. While individual batteries may be powerful, understanding combined output is crucial if you plan to purchase multiple batteries. However, linking batteries can be costly yet potent.

Continuous power output: This indicates the level of power your battery can consistently provide. A high continuous power output means your battery can supply electricity to more appliances and electronics. Batteries with high CPOs are suitable for powering entire households, whereas lower outputs are more suitable for emergency power during outages.

Peak power output: Similar to CPO, this measures how much power your battery can produce but focuses on peak levels. It's useful for understanding the battery's performance limits without risking damage. The top-tier LG RESU Prime excels in this category with a peak performance rating of 11kWh.

Depth of discharge (DoD): This signifies the effective usable capacity of your battery. In many battery types, the full excess electricity stored cannot be withdrawn. A 100% DoD means you can utilise the entire battery capacity as specified in the specs. For example, a 90% DoD on a 10kWh battery means you have 9kWh of actual storage, with 10% lost as you use energy. Tesla Energy batteries boast nearly 100% DoD, making them highly efficient in this regard.

Round-trip efficiency: This measures how much of the solar power put into your battery will actually be available for storage over time. It's the ratio of input power versus retrievable power. Solar batteries consume energy during operation/charging, and this metric indicates the rate at which input power is lost.

Higher round-trip efficiency is crucial in areas with expensive energy costs, as it reduces reliance on the energy grid and minimises losses during transfer. The Generac PWRcell boasts one of the highest round-trip efficiency ratings in the industry, at 96.5%.

Warranty: Pairing a battery with an existing solar panel system represents a significant investment, so ensuring you get your money's worth is vital. Warranties play a key role in this, ensuring you can receive repairs or replacements for any faulty parts. A standard 10-year warranty is common, but companies like Enphase offer extensions of up to 15 years total.

Solar batteries can help save up to £5 per day, even without factoring in solar panels. With solar panels, they can save up to {solar-6kW-seg} if you export energy back to the grid. This can increase your energy independence and make your home eco-friendly.

Even smaller solar batteries can give you off-grid backup power for smaller appliances or vehicles. Currently, the UK has a 0% VAT scheme for solar batteries, which means you’ll save 15% on the total cost of installation for the foreseeable future. 2024 is a good time to invest in home storage while such policies are still in place.

Similarly, solar products come with great prices due to government solar panel grants. Another way to get the best prices is to hire a reliable installer.

Fortunately, we can help you get solar battery quotes from vetted professionals in no time. All you need to do is fill out a 30-second form, and you’ll receive up to 4 free, non-binding quotes from the best solar installers near you.

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