Solar PV & battery storage - is it worthwhile?

Yes! The main benefit is that it will save you money in the long term. Whilst it does carry an upfront cost, the return on investment can be relatively short and then you are into clear profit. A 3.6 kW PV system with 5 kWh of storage fitted to a bungalow could be installed for as little as £6,500. For a house, the cost of scaffolding needs to be added.

If the panels face south and do not have any shading issues, this system could generate around 3,000 kWh per year – that’s £810.90 at current electricity pricing.

The other benefit of having battery storage is that you can take advantage of electricity tariffs with cheap rate periods, such as Octopus. This is particularly useful in the winter when the solar panels will not be generating at full capacity. And did you know you can install battery storage without solar panels and simply make use of the cheap rate tariffs? The amount you can save can be quite surprising.

You can also move your electricity use away from peak demand periods when the grid is under peak load. This often happens for example between 4pm and 7pm. Why is this important? To satisfy demand during very high demand, the grid needs to use large diesel generators, which are expensive and cause pollution.

So, we can all do our bit by installing a system that will save us money and, if used effectively, reduce the demand on the grid at peak times, therefore reducing the impact on the environment. So why on earth – pun intended – would you not do it?!

For significant electricity users, the economics of installing a solar PV system with battery storage are even more compelling. We have recently installed two large systems for commercial customers:

The first installation is in a large property with gas heating, which we have replaced with a combination of air conditioning and a heat pump, plus PV with battery storage for their electricity needs. Previously, the cost of their gas and electricity was around £6,500 per year. Following the install of these renewable energy technologies, they now use about 156 kWh per month for all power needs – heating, lighting and cooking – and even exported 2,400 kWh (2.4 MW) in one month.

The second property is a care home that has a very high demand for electricity – around £100,000 per year. This property was fitted with a significant PV system without battery storage. The system was designed so that battery storage can be installed later without the need for any modification. This system has only been online for around 10 days but so far it has generated 2.147 kWh (2.1 MW), of which the property has used 1,856 kWh. That has saved the business nearly £500 in just 10 days. At this rate, this could represent a return on investment of just 4 years.

So why use Artimus for your installation?

If you look at the reviews on our website, you’ll get a good idea of how happy our customers are. We always ensure that the installation will perform as described and that you will have a solution that meets an agreed design. The solution might not be exactly what you initially thought you wanted – that's because we won't install a poor solution just to make you happy or line our pockets. We will install the right solution for your property and your budget. We also only fit equipment that has reliable technical support and warranty cover. This means we might not be the cheapest quote you receive but you will definitely get long-term value for money with us.

Email us at enquiries@artimus-limited.co.uk or ring Steve on 07743 193390