SOLAR BATTERY · SCOTLAND
Should I add a battery to my solar panels?
A battery stores the electricity your panels make during the day for use in the evening. Here is how to tell whether storage is worth it for your home.
Quick answer
For many homes, yes. A battery stores the electricity your solar panels generate during the day for use in the evening, which suits households out during the day or on time-of-use tariffs. Whether a battery is worth it depends on your usage pattern, system size and available space — all checked at survey before you decide. Most existing solar systems can take a battery.
Last updated: · Reviewed by the Scottish Energy Efficiency team
KEY FACTS FOR SCOTLAND
Is a solar battery worth adding?
- A battery stores daytime solar electricity for use in the evening.
- We install through MCS-certified partners after a survey of your home.
- Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status.
- Residential solar panels, batteries and heat pumps are currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 (HMRC, VAT Notice 708/6).
- Batteries can be added to most existing solar systems.
- The survey checks your inverter, fuse board and available space.
- Your quote shows the cost with and without a battery so you can compare.
GET A QUOTE
Would a battery work for your home?
Tell us about your home and usage. An adviser arranges a survey, then you receive a written quote showing the cost with and without a battery — no obligation.
- Fixed price after survey, no obligation
- We install through MCS-certified partners
- Interest-free credit available, subject to status.
Get Your Quote
Two minutes. No obligation. No deposit.
No obligation · We install through MCS-certified partners · Scottish homes and businesses
WHAT A BATTERY DOES
What does a solar battery actually do?
Without a battery, any electricity your solar panels generate that you do not use at that moment is exported to the grid. A battery changes that: it captures the surplus during the day and stores it, so you can use your own electricity in the evening and at night instead of buying from the grid.
This matters most for households that are out during the day. If nobody is home to use the electricity your panels generate, most of it is exported — and a battery lets you use it later. If someone is home all day using electricity as it is generated, the benefit of a battery is smaller, though it still helps on days when generation exceeds demand.
EXISTING SYSTEMS
Can I add a battery to solar panels I already have?
Usually, yes. Most existing solar systems can take a battery, either alongside your current inverter or with a hybrid inverter that manages both panels and storage. The survey checks your inverter, your fuse board and the space available for a battery, which is typically wall-mounted in a garage, utility room or cupboard.
Your written quote explains which option suits your existing setup, so you can see what is involved before deciding. There is no obligation to proceed.
WHO BENEFITS MOST
Which homes benefit most from a battery?
Homes that benefit most from a battery tend to share a few traits: the household is out during the day, so solar generation is exported rather than used; the home is on a time-of-use tariff where evening electricity costs more; or the household uses a lot of electricity in the evening and overnight.
Homes with a heat pump can also benefit, because a battery lets you store solar electricity to run the heat pump in the evening. If you are moving from oil, LPG or electric heating, this combination can be particularly effective. See our heat pumps and battery storage pages for more.
SIZE AND WARRANTY
What size battery do I need?
Battery size is matched to how much electricity your panels generate and how much you use in the evening. A battery that is too small will not capture all your surplus; one that is too large will rarely fill. The survey looks at your usage pattern and system size to recommend a suitable capacity.
Solar batteries typically carry a warranty of around 10 years and are designed for daily charge and discharge cycles. Your written quote includes the warranty details for the specific battery proposed.
FINANCE AND VAT
Can I pay monthly for a battery?
Yes. If you choose solar panels with a battery, the combined system can be included in the finance agreement. Interest-free credit available, subject to status. Your adviser explains the monthly figure alongside your written quote.
Residential solar panels, batteries and heat pumps are currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 (HMRC, VAT Notice 708/6).
NEXT STEPS
How do I decide whether to add a battery?
Call 0141 230 0198 or use the quote form above. An adviser arranges a survey of your roof, inverter, fuse board and usage, then you receive a written quote showing the cost with and without a battery. There is no deposit and no obligation. See our how it works page for the full process.
For more guidance, see solar panels and more answers from Scottish Energy Efficiency.
Last updated October 2026 · Reviewed by the Scottish Energy Efficiency team
QUESTIONS
Common questions about adding a battery to solar panels
Do you install in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Yes. We arrange solar panels, batteries and heat pumps for homes across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and every AB postcode in Aberdeenshire. Our installation partner carries out the work after a survey of your property, so nothing is agreed until you have seen a written quote.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar panels?
Usually, yes. Most existing solar systems can take a battery, either alongside your current inverter or with a hybrid inverter. The survey checks your inverter, fuse board and the space available, and your written quote explains which option suits your home.
Is finance available?
Interest-free credit is available, subject to status and affordability. Terms and conditions apply. Your adviser can talk you through the options alongside your written quote, with no obligation to go ahead.
How do I get a quote?
Call 0141 230 0198 or fill in the quote form. An adviser arranges a survey of your home, then you receive a written, no-obligation quote. There is no deposit to request a quote and no pressure to proceed.
Should I add a battery to my solar panels?
For many homes, yes. A battery stores the electricity your panels generate during the day for use in the evening, which suits households that are out during the day or on time-of-use tariffs. The survey checks your usage pattern and whether a battery would pay back for you before you decide.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar panels?
Usually, yes. Most existing solar systems can take a battery, either alongside your current inverter or with a hybrid inverter. The survey checks your inverter, fuse board and the space available, and your written quote explains which option suits your home.
What size battery do I need?
Battery size depends on how much electricity your panels generate and how much you use in the evening. The survey looks at your usage pattern and system size to recommend a suitable capacity. Your written quote includes the recommended battery size and explains why.
How long does a solar battery last?
Solar batteries typically carry a warranty of around 10 years and are designed for daily charge and discharge cycles over that period. As with solar panels, output gradually reduces over time. Your written quote includes the warranty details for the specific battery proposed.
Does a battery work with a heat pump?
Yes. A battery can store solar electricity to run a heat pump in the evening, which helps if you are moving from gas, oil or LPG heating. The survey covers how solar, battery and heat pump work together for your home. See our heat pumps page for more.
Can I get a battery on finance?
Yes. If you choose solar panels with a battery, the combined system can be included in the finance agreement. Interest-free credit available, subject to status. Your adviser explains the monthly figure alongside your written quote.
Find out if a battery is worth it for your home
Tell us about your home and we will arrange a survey and a written, no-obligation quote.
No obligation · We install through MCS-certified partners · Scottish homes and businesses