How do you store solar power at home?

Homeowners and businesses have the option of storing their renewable energy in a battery, to use on demand rather than just at point of production, thanks to recent improvements in battery technology.   

This process means being able to use renewable energy even when no new power is being generated – for instance, running nightlights on solar power generated during the day. 

Years ago, anyone who had solar panels installed at home would generate power on a “use it or lose it” basis. One could only use solar power when the skies were clear and the sun was shining, and if the panels generated more power than immediately needed, the excess was lost. Thankfully, advances in both battery technology and the way solar panels integrate with the wider grid network have changed that. 

Can surplus power be sold back to the Grid? 

Yes. Many countries now permit both residential and commercially generated excess renewable energy to be sold back to the national grid at a percentage of the retail price of electricity. These schemes have existed since as far back as the 1980s, but in the UK the first Feed-in Tariff was only introduced in April 2010. These schemes mean that any surplus energy generated by a solar panel isn’t wasted; by feeding into the grid, this surplus reduces energy waste, can reduce the need to generate electricity by non-renewable means, and it has the benefit of generating extra income for solar panels’ owners. Unfortunately, in the UK Feed-in Tariffs were discontinued in 2019, though individual energy companies are obliged to offer similar incentives for renewable energy. 

Can solar energy be stored in a battery? 

Yes, as recent improvements in battery technologies have meant that homeowners and businesses now have the option of storing their renewable energy in a battery, to use when needed rather than just at point of production. Homeowners can also store excess energy as heat using thermal diverters, which automatically route surplus electricity to heat domestic hot water tank. 

It should be noted that electricity generated from solar panels is DC and requires an inverter to be transformed into AC (alternate current) to be used for standard mains power requirements (like plug sockets and pendant lights).