In the UK, hundreds of thousands of domestic and small commercial solar systems have been installed. Over the past two years, more and more of these systems are being retrofitted with a solar energy storage system to help maximise the benefits of solar PV generation. In several cases, the size of the original solar system is being extended.
Solar battery storage has the potential to solve the problems of intermittent supply of renewable energy (mainly solar and wind):
Installing storage affords the following potential benefits:
In economic terms, with the correctly sized system, the lifetime cost per kWh of stored electricity is around 12p per kWh. This compares to an average domestic grid cost of around 19p per kWh, and an average expected cost of around 25p – 30p per kWh over the life of a typical storage system.
The lifetime cost per kWh typically assumes an expected lifetime of between 10 years and 25 years (or 3,000 – 10,000 lifecycles), and whilst the overall economic case is favourable, solar energy storage should undoubtedly seen as a long-term investment.
There is no “one size fits all” solution in battery storage. When designing a solar storage system, our final recommendation needs to take into account sizing (excess electricity from the PV system, on site usage) and functionality, in particular whether or not an emergency power supply is required and whether or not the PV needs to function in a power cut. These requirements inevitably impact budget.
Having said that, for most of our domestic clients, the “best in class” for solar energy storage is Tesla Powerwall 2.
Our favourite inverter chargers are Victron and SMA. SolarEdge also provides a product called StorEdge, directly compatible with SolarEdge solar systems and indirectly with any solar PV system using an additional inverter.
Is the Tesla Powerwall 2 right for me? | ![]() |
![]() |
The installed cost of Tesla Powerwall 2 is around £8270 + VAT. Storage capacity is around 13.5kWh and so this gives a cost of around £613 + VAT per kWh.
This is about as competitive as it gets… on a cost per kWh basis, pretty much every other system will be a similar cost or more expensive.
For more information on costs and lifetime performance analysis, and for a detailed technology comparison, download our Guide to Residential Solar Storage:
Copyright © Spirit Energy 2022 · info@spiritenergy.co.uk · 0118 951 4490
44 Portman Road, Reading, RG30 1EA
Spirit Energy is the trading name of Spirit Solar Ltd · UK Company Number 07138647
Although care is taken to ensure that the information on our website (www.spiritenergy.co.uk) and any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, electronically or otherwise, are accurate and up-to-date, we cannot accept any responsibility for mistakes or omissions. We enter into no express or implied conditions, warranties, terms or representations regarding the quality, accuracy or completeness of the information. We exclude to the extent lawfully permitted all liability for loss or damage, whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of your use of our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, or from any information or omission contained in our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us.