Battery storage
Why battery storage matters in the Highlands
Inverness generates most of its solar power in summer — 18-hour days in June, barely 7 hours in December. A battery lets you store surplus summer generation and reduce what you buy from the grid in winter evenings.
A home battery stores surplus solar energy generated during the day so you can use it in the evening instead of buying electricity from the grid. In the Highlands, where summer days are long but winter days are short, a battery bridges the seasonal gap and can significantly reduce your electricity bills.
How does a home battery save you money?
A battery stores surplus solar energy you generate during the day, so you use it in the evening instead of buying expensive electricity from the grid.
The real value of a battery is not the export rate — it is displacing expensive grid imports. Every kWh you store and use yourself saves you whatever you would have paid to import it (typically 24–30p/kWh), not the 12p/kWh you would have exported.
Self-consumption
Without a battery, a typical Inverness home uses 30–40% of its solar directly. With battery storage, self-consumption rises to 60–80%.
Based on typical 3-bedroom household using approximately 3,500 kWh/year.
Import displacement
Each displaced kWh saves 24–30p at current grid rates. Over a year, that adds up to significantly more than exporting at 12p/kWh.
Time shifting
Charge from solar during the day, discharge in the evening when your family is cooking, watching TV, and running appliances.
What battery system do you install?
Our installer partner fits Hanchu LiFePO4 batteries with a 10-year warranty. LiFePO4 chemistry is safer and longer-lasting than standard lithium-ion.
Battery
Hanchu LiFePO4 (95% depth of discharge, approximately 8,000 cycles, approximately 22-year manufacturer design life at one cycle per day)
Inverter
Hanchu ESS hybrid inverter
Battery warranty
10-year battery warranty
Insurance-backed guarantee
Insurance-backed guarantee through the Independent Warranty Association, covering the system if the installing company ceases trading
Battery is included in our standard system at £12,500–£13,500 (including 0% VAT until 31 March 2027). 0% VAT applies to battery storage when installed alongside solar panels.
How much could a battery save me in Inverness?
Savings depend on your usage pattern and tariff. Use our free calculator to estimate what a battery could save based on your actual import rate.
Use the sliders below to see how a battery changes your economics. The model uses import-rate displacement, not export rate.
Battery savings estimator
The real value of a battery comes from displacing expensive grid imports, not from exporting at 12p/kWh. Adjust the sliders to see how this applies to your situation.
Self-consumption
35%70%
Extra kWh displaced
1,214
Net annual saving
£182
Saving = displaced imports at 27p/kWh minus lost exports at 12p/kWh. Real-world results depend on usage patterns, tariff, and battery efficiency. This is illustrative only.
Why do off-gas Highland homes benefit most from batteries?
Properties heating with oil, LPG, or electric storage pay more per unit of energy, so displacing those costs with stored solar power gives a bigger saving.
Many properties in the surrounding Highlands are off the gas grid, making solar-plus-battery or solar-plus-heat-pump combinations particularly relevant. These properties often have higher energy costs and benefit most from self-generation.
If your Highland property relies on oil, LPG, or electric heating, solar-plus-battery can make a substantial dent in your energy costs. Combined with a heat pump, the savings compound further.
How do I find out what a battery would save me?
Use our free battery savings calculator or request a quote. We will model savings based on your tariff, usage pattern, and system size.