A home battery is a kind of smart power bank for your home. Your solar panels often provide power at times when you don't need it (e.g. in the middle of the day). A home battery stores that power so you can use it later - for example, in the evening, when you come home, cook or do the laundry.
🔋 Without battery: you supply that power back to the grid.
🔋 With battery: use those yourself.
It is also called: increase self-consumption. And that is worth it.
You use more of your own power
With solar panels alone, you use an average of 30% of your generated power yourself. With a home battery, this can go up to 80%. This reduces your dependence on the grid and gives you more control over your consumption.
You are prepared for the phase-out of netting
The net-metering scheme - by which you settle electricity supplied back - will be phased out from 2027. Eventually, you will probably get nothing back. So self-use is becoming increasingly interesting.
You cleverly capitalise on power prices
With a dynamic energy contract, you can charge when power is cheap (e.g. at night or during surpluses) and use it when the price peaks.
⚡ Additional option: Trading on the imbalance market means buying or selling power together with your energy supplier to cover differences between expected and actual power supply or demand. This helps keep the electricity grid stable and can be financially advantageous.
You are more resistant to failures
Some batteries still provide power temporarily in the event of a power failure. Note that this is not possible with every system. Ask specifically if you think this is important.
The price depends on capacity, brand, type of battery and installation. A rough indication:
| Capacity | Average price (incl. installation) |
|---|---|
| 5 kWh | €4.000 - €6.000 |
| 10 kWh | €7.000 - €10.000 |
| 15 kWh | €10.000 - €13.000 |
❗ Good to know: There is no national subsidy for home batteries (yet). But: reclaiming VAT is possible! SustainableXL has developed a handy test for this, which will give you clarity in advance as to whether you qualify.
We like to keep it honest. These are the cons you need to know:
High acquisition costs
It takes time to pay it back. Consider a period of 4 to 12 years, depending on how you deploy the battery.
Not all systems are plug-and-play
Sometimes you also need to replace your inverter or have your meter box modified.
Not always suitable for emergency power
Do you want to keep your fridge running in case of power failure, for example? Then you need a separate backup unit with your battery. Note: this is slightly different from a standard home battery.
A home battery is not a gadget. It is an energy solution for people who:
already have solar panels;
want more control over their power consumption;
want to be prepared for the future;
want to be one step ahead of the energy market.
For many people already a smart investment. For others, not (yet) profitable. So be well informed and look beyond just the price tag.
A home battery is not a 'one size fits all' solution. But it is a smart step for those who really want to make the most of their solar energy. Get good advice, calculate what it will do for your situation and then decide.
At SustainableXL, we don't look at products, we look at your home and your goals. Would you like to save on your energy bill, be less dependent on the grid or simply find out whether a home battery is profitable for you? Then we will be happy to help you. Honest, clear and hassle-free.
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