Solar battery storage

Typical battery costs

The Energy Saving Trust says battery storage tends to cost around £5,000 to £8,000. Checkatrade's guides give ballpark figures by size:

Battery size	Ballpark cost	Source
4kWh (entry level, supply and fit)	around £4,000	Checkatrade battery guide
5kWh (added to 3kW solar)	around £4,500	Checkatrade solar guide, June 2026
8kWh (added to 4kW solar)	around £8,000	Checkatrade solar guide, June 2026
10kWh (added to 5kW solar)	around £9,000	Checkatrade solar guide, June 2026

So a home battery is typically from about £4,000, with larger systems costing more. Prices vary by brand, inverter set-up and whether it's fitted with new panels or added later.

When does a battery make sense?

• You're out during the day: without a battery, much of your solar output is exported rather than used.
• Export pays less than you buy: the Energy Saving Trust notes typical export payments of around 12p a unit, while you'd normally pay more than twice that to buy electricity.
• You're on a time-of-use tariff: a battery can store cheaper off-peak electricity and help you avoid peak rates.
• You have or plan an EV or heat pump, increasing evening use.

Things to check in a quote

• Usable capacity (kWh), not just headline size.
• Whether a new or hybrid inverter is included.
• Warranty length and cycle/throughput limits.
• Where it will be installed (garage, loft, outside) and DNO notification.

VAT

Batteries installed in homes are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, including batteries retrofitted to existing solar, according to HMRC VAT Notice 708/6. The rate then reverts to 5%.

Related: Solar panel costs · Grants & SEG