Almost 10,000 households across the UK paid nothing for their electricity use last year, thanks to using both solar panels and battery storage.
Not only did thousands of families dramatically reduce their energy bills, but by using these energy-efficient measures, they were also able to help the planet and, in some cases, even make money.
By installing solar panels to create extra energy, and a battery storage device to save it, 9,300 homes were able to generate enough money to offset their electricity bills, figures from Octopus Energy show.
This included standing charges, so effectively these households paid nothing for their electricity use over 12 months.
These households were on the combined import and export tariffs from Octopus Energy, the Octopus Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux, which automatically charge and discharge solar batteries to boost the amount of money a household can earn.
Some people were able to earn up to £300 over the year by selling the excess electricity they produced. This was possible because of the combination of solar panels to create energy, battery storage to save it, and a smart tariff to automatically sell energy back to the grid during peak hours.
Here’s how the combination of battery and solar works together to lower bills, boost the planet, and, in some cases, generate extra cash for households.
The first home in Britain to use solar panels to generate electricity was in 1995. But while the idea has been around for the last 30 years, having solar panels installed wasn’t affordable to most people until the last 10 years or so.
The concept of solar panels is simple – they harness the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity to be used in the home. Instead of relying on the national grid and often sky-high electricity prices, households can lower their bills by generating their own energy.
Some providers allow customers to sell excess energy back to the national grid, for other households to use, which is known as an export tariff (Photo: Getty)However, while solar panels on their own can be a great way to cut bills and help the environment, there’s no easy way to store any electricity made. You need to be at home and using the energy produced while the sun is out and shining to make the most use of it, which is not always possible.
This is where having a battery system alongside solar panels has revolutionised the way the system works. It allows them to save the excess energy they create and have a back-up available to use when they need it.
Some providers also allow customers to sell excess energy back to the national grid, for other households to use, which is known as an export tariff.
This is usually either a set amount known as a fixed tariff, so you earn the same whenever you send energy back to the grid, or you may be paid different amounts for busy and quiet periods, known as a time-of-use tariff. If you have a battery storage system, excess energy can be sent back to the grid when demand is highest, generating the most amount of money for you.
What about the installation of solar panels and a battery system?
Both solar panels and a battery system need to be installed by a qualified installer. Before you agree to anything, you should have a consultation and meet an expert to check that your house is suitable.
There needs to be a clear space for the panels, for example, ideally on a pitched and south-facing roof.
If you choose Octopus, you’ll be able to book a solar panel consultation and cost estimate, and this will give you an idea of how much you’ll be paying out.
square SCIENCE Mini solar panels to power your smartwatch and TV remote on sale in 3 years
Read More
During the installation of the panels, scaffolding is put up and “solar sales specialists will work with you to plan the perfect setup for your home, using state-of-the-art software to visualise the path of the sun, and where to position the panels on your roof,” Octopus says.
You will then be given a quote for the panels and the installation, and an estimated investment return period.
The installation of solar panels usually takes between two and four days, with time on either side for putting up and taking down the scaffolding.
If you decide to have a battery installed too, you’ll need to decide on the size of the battery, which is usually based on your home’s average energy consumption. You can fill out a remote survey on your property via the Octopus website to assess if it’s eligible for installation, and you’ll be given an estimated quote.
Solar panels and battery storage can dramatically cut your energy bills, but you also need to factor in the cost of buying them and installation.
It might be the case that you opt for solar panels on their own at first, and a battery later if the initial outlay is too expensive.
The exact price will be dependent on what you decide to go for. This includes the number of panels you want and whether you also have the battery system installed.
At Octopus, the cost of two solar panels starts at £6,163, while 10 panels and a 5kWh battery, its most popular system, costs from £8,477. The largest system it offers has 36 solar panels and a Tesla Powerwall battery and costs £17,876.
Providing relief for some, many of the biggest banks and mortgage lenders are offering up to £1,000 cashback to eligible customers.
Is it worth getting solar panels and a battery?
There are many benefits of having a solar panel and battery system, and bills can be reduced by around 90 per cent, according to Octopus. You can also generate money from selling your excess electricity back to the grid if you’re signed up to a smart tariff.
Adding battery storage allows you to save the energy you’re generating, but it’s an extra cost to think about on top of solar panels. The return on your investment is also not straight away, as Octopus estimates that its systems pay for themselves in nine to 10 years.
One question to think about is how much electricity you could generate in your home and when you are likely to use it.
If you’re out during the day and use most of your electricity at night, a battery system could be more efficient, as it could store the energy you create during the day for you to use later on.
A solar and battery system can also be more beneficial to households with other energy efficient measures, such as electric cars and heat pumps.
How can a smart tariff boost my savings?
As a battery saves the energy you use, if you’re also signed up to a smart energy tariff, you can take advantage of selling electricity you don’t use back to the grid.
You’ll usually be paid more if you do this during peak times, between 4pm and 7pm, and with a smart tariff, this can be done automatically.
The Octopus Flux tariff, for example, is an import and export tariff which takes advantage of peak and off-peak hours. It charges the cheapest rates early in the morning, between 2am and 5am, when households can top up their batteries, and then charges a peak rate between 4pm and 7pm, when they can sell surplus energy back to the grid via their battery system.
Octopus’s Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff works in a similar way, but with even cheaper rates during off-peak periods. It lets customers use electricity when prices are as low as possible and sell it back during peak hours. Octopus says that around half of its customers who signed up for this tariff have made money over 12 months.
Hence then, the article about thousands of households are paying nothing for their electricity and you can too was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Thousands of households are paying nothing for their electricity – and you can too )
Also on site :
- Human heads displayed at Ecuador tourist beach in warning to gangs
- Nazi salutes and drug cartels: Dutch mercenary recounts service with Kiev’s military
- Supermicro Announces Intelligent In-Store Retail Solutions in Collaboration with a Broad Range of Industry Partners