What storage does for your system
A solar system without a battery has a structural disadvantage: the production curve and the consumption curve do not coincide. Production peaks around midday, while in a home consumption peaks in the afternoon and evening. The result is that a large share of production is either exported to the grid at a lower valuation (under Net Billing), or is curtailed entirely (under Zero Feed-In).
The battery reverses this logic. It stores the midday surplus and delivers it in the evening, turning energy that was leaking away into energy that replaces purchased electricity at its full price. Combined with a hybrid inverter, it adds a second, independent benefit: backup during power cuts for selected critical loads.
The right battery size is a matter of study, not of catalogue. An oversized battery never fills in winter and never pays back; an undersized one empties before evening consumption is over. The an energy study finds the balance point.
What you gain with a storage system
Higher self-consumption
The share of production you use yourself rises dramatically – and that is the figure that decides the return on the investment.
Backup during outages
With a hybrid inverter, critical loads – fridge, lighting, network, medical equipment – keep running.
Peak management
For businesses, discharging at peak hours reduces power demand and the cost associated with it.
Independence from prices
The more of your energy you generate and store, the less price rises affect you.
A requirement for Zero Feed-In
In zero-export systems storage is practically essential, so that surplus production is not curtailed.
A higher subsidy
Support programmes often provide a higher rate when the system includes storage.
Suitable applications
Homes with evening consumption
Households that are out all day and consume in the evening – the classic case where a battery changes the economics.
Homes with a heat pump
Heating and hot water from solar energy stored at midday.
Hotels & hospitality
Evening operating peaks and zero tolerance for interruption during service hours.
Refrigeration facilities
24/7 loads where a power cut has an immediate cost in product.
Areas with an unstable grid
Locations with frequent or prolonged outages, where backup matters as much as savings.
Electric vehicle charging
Evening charging on the same day solar energy, rather than on grid electricity.
What we look at in a storage system
| Characteristic | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cell chemistry | LiFePO4 offers high thermal stability, safety and a very high cycle count – the preferred choice for fixed installations. |
| Usable capacity | The genuinely available energy, after the permitted depth of discharge – not the nominal figure on the datasheet. |
| Charge / discharge power | It determines how many loads the battery can supply at once and how quickly it charges. |
| Round-trip efficiency | How much of the stored energy actually returns to the loads. Every percentage point counts over a 20-year horizon. |
| BMS & protection | A management system that balances cells and protects against overcharging, deep discharge and thermal deviation. |
| Connection topology | DC-coupled (hybrid inverter) for new projects; AC-coupled for adding to an existing installation. |
| Backup mode | Transfer time and output power in island mode, and which loads are wired to the backup circuit. |
| Warranty | Stated in cycles or years and in retained capacity – that is the substantive criterion. |
| Installation space | Temperature range, ventilation, fire safety and accessibility for maintenance or future expansion. |
Delivery process
Hourly analysis
Recording the hourly consumption profile to determine evening demand.
Sizing
Calculation of usable capacity and power, with marginal-benefit analysis for each additional kWh.
Selecting critical loads
Defining the loads to be supplied during an outage and designing the backup circuit.
Installation
Installation of the array and hybrid inverter, backup panel, protection devices, earthing and communications.
Configuration
Setting priorities, charging thresholds and a reserve buffer for your particular use.
Testing & monitoring
Islanding test, performance verification and activation of remote monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
How big a battery do I need?
It depends on your evening consumption and your coverage target. Too small a battery empties before morning; too large a one never fully charges in winter and never pays back. The correct calculation comes from hourly consumption analysis, not rules of thumb.
Will I have power during an outage?
Only if there is a hybrid inverter with backup functionality and a separate critical-loads circuit. A plain grid-connected system, even with a battery in the wrong topology, shuts down during an outage for safety reasons.
Can I add a battery to an existing solar system?
Usually yes. Depending on the existing inverter, we either replace it with a hybrid unit, or add an AC-coupled storage system that works alongside the existing installation without altering it.
Are lithium batteries safe in a home?
LiFePO4 is among the most thermally stable lithium chemistries and comes with a BMS offering multiple protections. Safety depends equally on correct installation: a suitable location, ventilation, mounting, protection devices and adherence to the manufacturer instructions.
Let us find the right capacity for you
From your bills and a few questions about your habits, we calculate the optimal battery size – no less, no more.
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