More and more households are seeking energy flexibility – the ability to use less energy overall and to shift use times to when energy is abundant, clean, and cheap.
At the heart of the energy flexibility revolution? Home battery power.
In this post, we’ll tackle some of the most common questions customers have about home battery power, including how much capacity is right for you, and what happens if your battery runs out.
But to begin with, let’s find out why you would want home battery power in the first place.
Home battery power: what is it good for?
In short, battery storage in your home can bring the following benefits:
- Reduce energy bills by around 85% per year
- Reduce carbon emissions by around 300kg per year
Let’s say your home has solar panels on the roof or even a wind turbine in the back garden.
Without battery storage, a lot of the energy you generate will go to waste. That’s because wind and solar tend to have hour-to-hour variability; you can’t switch them on and off whenever you need them.
By storing the energy you generate, you can discharge your battery as and when you need to.
‘But I don’t generate renewables. Can I still have a home storage battery?’
Short answer: yes.
Domestic battery storage without renewables can still benefit you and the grid.
This is especially true for those on smart tariffs; charge your battery during cheaper off-peak hours and discharge during more expensive peak hours, cutting your bills and reducing strain on the grid during peak energy use times.
Now that we’ve got that out the way, let’s move on to something a bit more complicated.
How much battery capacity do you need?
Answering this is a bit like trying to answer, ‘how long is a piece of string?’
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to home battery power because different households have different energy needs.
Here are some questions you’ll need to answer before deciding what capacity battery is right for you:
- How much do you want to invest in your battery storage system?
- Will you install renewable technology or use a standalone battery?
- Do you have the space to install the battery storage system you want?
- How much electricity does your household use?
Let’s look at this in more detail with some hypothetical scenarios.
Scenario 1
Mark lives by himself in a 1-bedroom flat.
He typically uses around 1,800kWh of electricity per year in line with the average noted by UK energy regulator, Ofgem. On average, this works out at just under 5kWh per day.
Mark has neither the financial nor practical means to install renewable technology. However, he can use a home storage battery to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity rates, perhaps with the likes of the Octopus Flux tariff.
Due to its compact size, Mark opts for the Giv-Bat 2.6kWh. With an 80% depth of discharge, this gives him 2.08kWh of electricity on a full charge – about two fifths of his daily electricity needs.
He could upgrade to the larger Giv-Bat 5.2. With an 80% depth of discharge, this would give him 4.16kWh of electricity on a full charge. While this option would help him save more on his bills, it could also mean compromising on space in his tiny apartment.
Scenario 2
Sally lives in a 3-bedroom house with her husband and two children.
She and her family typically use around 2,700kWh of electricity per year in line with the UK average. This works out at around 7.4kWh per day.
Having done some calculations, Sally decides to install solar panels on the roof of her house to save on energy bills in the long-run. She opts for six panels which produce an average of 1,590kWh of electricity per year or 4.35kWh per day.
Sally opts for an 8.2kWh battery with a 100% depth of discharge. This offers adequate capacity to store the electricity generated from solar. In addition to solar, Sally also charges her battery from the grid.
On days when sunlight is in short supply, the battery is charged primarily or wholly from the grid and discharged around Sally and her family’s electricity needs.
Scenario 3
James and Meredith live in a large 5-bedroom house with their four children.
In line with the UK average for a property of their size, they use around 4,100kWh of electricity per year, or 11.2kWh per day.
As they are independently wealthy and eco-conscious, James and Meredith decide to erect a 2.5kW standalone wind turbine in the field opposite their house.
This generates around 3,520kWh of electricity per year, or 9.64kWh per day.
To store the energy generated from their wind turbine, they install a GivEnergy 13.5kWh All in One 3.6 with 100% depth of discharge.
To meet their electricity needs, they charge their battery from the grid as well as from their wind turbine.
On non-windy days, more energy is drawn from the grid during cheaper off-peak rates.
Disclaimer
These are hypothetical scenarios based on average electricity consumption. The amount of electricity used per household can vary depending on a range of factors.
Make sure to your own research based on your specific electricity needs and circumstances.
What happens if your home battery power runs out?
The answer to this is fairly simple; your home will almost always run on power from the grid by default… assuming you haven’t rung up your supplier and asked to be cut off.
At this point, it’s worth noting depth of discharge. This refers to the amount of battery capacity you can use safely.
For example, if a 12kWh battery has an 80% depth of discharge, this means you can safely use 9.6kWh.
You should never use your battery beyond its depth of discharge as this can cause permanent damage.
A minimum 80% depth of discharge is a good rule to live by when choosing a battery. All GivEnergy batteries start at 80% and go all the way up to 100% for more premium products.
Now back to your battery running out of charge.
Depending on your set up, you can recharge your battery from renewables or the grid.
Beyond this, is there anything you can do to maximise reliance on battery power and minimise reliance on the grid?
As mentioned above, you can charge your battery strategically. GivEnergy home batteries will charge and discharge intelligently by default, taking advantage of cheaper energy rates.
However, you can also take a more hands-on approach by setting schedules and timers around your energy usage and lifestyle. You can do this through the energy monitoring software: portal and app.
Furthermore, you can also closely monitor your energy usage and cut out any excess accordingly. This can be done via a smart meter for your overall energy usage and via smart plugs for individual devices.
Ultimately, this will enable you to get the most out of your battery and make you less reliant on the grid.
Give yourself some energy flexibility
Just in case it wasn’t clear already.
Home battery power is not always straightforward.
Deciding how much capacity is right for your property requires you to consider a whole load of different factors.
That being said, the benefits of energy flexibility can also be rewarding.
If you’ve done your research and are ready to give yourself some energy flexibility, search for an approved GivEnergy installer near you.
