Battery Storage Installation — Store Your Energy, Save More
MCS certified, award-winning installation by ALPS Electrical. 250+ five-star reviews on Checkatrade.
Typical Payback
With solar + tariff savings
VAT on Batteries
With solar installation
Annual Savings
Combined solar + battery
Warranty Period
All brands we install
How Battery Storage Works
A home battery storage system stores electricity in lithium-ion cells for use when you need it most. The concept is straightforward: charge the battery when electricity is cheap or free (from your solar panels during the day, or from the grid overnight on a cheap tariff) and discharge it when electricity is expensive (during peak daytime and evening hours). This simple principle can save you hundreds of pounds per year and dramatically increase the value of a solar panel system.
Modern home batteries are compact, wall-mounted units that sit in your garage, utility room, or even outside. They are silent in operation, require no maintenance, and are managed entirely through a smartphone app. The battery communicates with your inverter and the grid in real time, automatically deciding when to charge and discharge based on your energy usage, solar generation, and tariff schedule.
Why Install Battery Storage?
Slash Energy Bills
Store cheap overnight electricity and free solar energy to use during expensive peak hours.
Energy Independence
Reduce reliance on the grid and protect yourself from rising electricity prices.
Power Cut Protection
Battery systems with backup capability keep your home running during outages.
Maximise Solar Value
Use more of your own solar generation instead of exporting it cheaply to the grid.
Smart Tariff Savings
Automatically charge at 7.5p/kWh overnight and avoid paying 24p+ during the day.
Future-Proof Your Home
Prepare for EV charging, heat pumps, and an increasingly electrified future.
Hybrid vs AC-Coupled: Which Battery Type Do You Need?
Understanding the difference between hybrid (DC-coupled) and AC-coupled battery systems is important when choosing the right setup for your home. Each approach has advantages, and the best choice depends on whether you are installing a new system or adding storage to an existing solar installation.
Battery System Comparison
| Feature | Recommended Hybrid (DC-Coupled) | AC-Coupled |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | New solar + battery installs | Adding to existing solar |
| Round-trip Efficiency | 95-97% | 89-92% |
| Single Inverter | ||
| Works with Existing Solar | Requires inverter swap | |
| Backup Capability | ||
| Installation Complexity | Simpler | More components |
| Popular Brands | GivEnergy, FOX ESS, Sigenergy | Tesla Powerwall |
Hybrid (DC-Coupled) Systems
In a hybrid system, the battery connects directly to your solar panels through a hybrid inverter. Solar energy passes through a single conversion from DC to AC, which means higher efficiency, typically 95 to 97 percent. The hybrid inverter manages both the solar panels and the battery, simplifying the installation and reducing the number of components. This is the preferred approach for new solar and battery installations, and it is what we recommend for most customers who are installing solar panels and battery storage at the same time.
AC-Coupled Systems
An AC-coupled battery connects to your home's electrical circuit independently of the solar inverter. The battery has its own built-in inverter that converts electricity between AC and DC. This makes AC-coupled batteries the ideal choice for retrofitting storage to an existing solar panel system without replacing your current solar inverter. The Tesla Powerwall is the most well-known AC-coupled battery, and it can be paired with virtually any existing solar installation.
Not sure which type you need?
Time-of-Use Tariffs: Saving Money Without Solar
One of the most compelling reasons to install battery storage, even without solar panels, is the ability to take advantage of time-of-use electricity tariffs. These tariffs charge different rates depending on the time of day. By charging your battery during the cheapest periods and discharging during the most expensive, you effectively buy electricity at wholesale prices and avoid paying peak rates.
Octopus Go Savings Example
Popular Time-of-Use Tariffs
Octopus Go offers a flat cheap rate of around 7.5 pence per kWh for four hours overnight (typically 12:30am to 4:30am), with a standard daytime rate of around 24 pence per kWh.
Octopus Flux is designed specifically for solar and battery owners. It offers cheap overnight rates for charging, standard daytime rates, and premium export rates during the 4pm to 7pm peak window.
Intelligent Octopus Go is tailored for EV and battery owners, providing extended cheap rate windows that the tariff dynamically adjusts based on grid demand.
Battery Sizing Guide
Choosing the right battery size is crucial. Too small and you will not capture all your available solar energy or cheap-rate electricity. Too large and you are paying for storage capacity you do not use.
Recommended Battery Sizes
| Feature | Small (2-3 Bed) | Recommended Medium (3-4 Bed) | Large (4+ Bed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Usage | 6-8 kWh | 10-14 kWh | 16+ kWh |
| Solar System | 3-4 kW | 4-6 kW | 6+ kW |
| Battery Size | 5-6 kWh | 9-10 kWh | 13-17 kWh |
| Best Options | GivEnergy 5.2kWh, Fox Cube 5.2kWh | GivEnergy 9.5kWh, Powerwall 13.5kWh | Powerwall 13.5kWh, Sigenergy |
The Battery Systems We Install
Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall is the world's most recognised home battery. The latest Powerwall 3 features a built-in solar inverter, 13.5 kWh of storage, and the industry-leading Tesla app. With the Backup Gateway, it provides whole-home backup during power cuts. We are one of the few Tesla Certified Installers in the North East.
GivEnergy Gen 3
The GivEnergy Gen 3 system has rapidly become one of the UK's most popular home battery solutions. It offers modular battery sizing (add modules in 4.7 or 5.2 kWh increments), an intuitive app with detailed energy flow data, and an open API that integrates with home automation platforms. GivEnergy offers a 12-year warranty on Gen 3 batteries.
FOX ESS Fox Cube
The FOX ESS Fox Cube is a compact, well-priced battery system available in 5.2 and 10.4 kWh configurations. It pairs with FOX ESS hybrid inverters for a streamlined DC-coupled installation. FOX ESS provides a 10-year warranty on the Fox Cube battery.
Sigenergy
Sigenergy is a premium all-in-one energy system that combines inverter, battery, and energy management in a single sleek unit. It offers outstanding build quality, high efficiency, and full home backup capability. Ideal for customers who want a future-proof platform.
Battery Storage with Existing Solar
If you already have solar panels installed and want to add battery storage, you have two main options. An AC-coupled battery like the Tesla Powerwall can be added to any existing solar system without modifying your current inverter. Alternatively, if your existing string inverter is approaching end of life (typically 10 to 15 years), replacing it with a hybrid inverter and DC-coupled battery can be more cost-effective in the long run.
We carry out a full assessment of your existing solar system before recommending the best battery solution. This includes checking your current inverter model and age, your solar panel configuration, your consumer unit capacity, and your available space for battery installation.
Our Battery Installation Process
Free Consultation
We discuss your energy usage, goals, and budget. We review your existing solar system if applicable and recommend the best battery solution.
Home Survey
A detailed on-site assessment of your property, electrical infrastructure, and installation location. We finalise the system design and quote.
System Design
Our team designs the optimal battery configuration, including inverter selection, cable routing, and any consumer unit upgrades required.
Installation Day
Professional installation by our MCS-certified team. Most battery installations are completed in a single day with minimal disruption.
Commissioning & Handover
We configure your battery, set up your app, register warranties, and walk you through how everything works. Full aftercare support included.
Is Battery Storage Worth the Investment?
Battery storage payback periods have improved dramatically as electricity prices have risen and battery costs have fallen. A well-sized battery system typically pays for itself in 5 to 8 years through a combination of increased solar self-consumption, time-of-use tariff savings, and reduced grid imports.
Beyond the financial case, battery storage provides energy security and independence. During power cuts, battery systems with backup capability keep your essential circuits or entire home running. As the UK grid faces increasing strain from electrification of transport and heating, having your own energy store provides valuable resilience.
Contact ALPS Electrical today for a free, no-obligation battery storage assessment. We will review your energy usage, existing solar system if applicable, and recommend the optimal battery solution for your home.
Brands We Install
Watch Our Installations
Areas We Cover
Frequently Asked Questions
Battery storage costs in the UK range from £2,500 for a small 5kWh unit to £12,000+ for premium systems like the Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh). A mid-range system like the GivEnergy Gen 3 with 9.5kWh storage typically costs £4,000-£6,000. Prices include installation and are subject to 0% VAT when installed alongside or added to an existing solar panel system.
Yes, battery-only installations are increasingly popular. By charging your battery overnight on cheap tariffs like Octopus Go (7.5p/kWh) and using that stored energy during the day when rates are 24p+/kWh, you can save hundreds of pounds per year. Our Fox Cube battery-only installation video on YouTube demonstrates the savings potential in detail.
Both are excellent systems. The Tesla Powerwall 3 has a built-in inverter (simplifying installation), 13.5kWh capacity, backup gateway capability and the polished Tesla app. GivEnergy Gen 3 offers more flexible sizing, a strong community following, open API access and typically lower cost per kWh of storage. We install both and recommend based on your specific needs, budget and whether you want full home backup capability.
Modern lithium-ion solar batteries typically last 10-15 years, or 6,000-10,000 charge cycles. Tesla Powerwall comes with a 10-year warranty. GivEnergy offers a 12-year warranty on Gen 3 batteries. After warranty expiry, batteries continue to work but with gradually reduced capacity, similar to a mobile phone battery. Most batteries retain 70-80% of original capacity after 10 years.
A hybrid (DC-coupled) battery connects directly to the solar panels via a hybrid inverter, converting energy once and achieving higher efficiency (typically 95-97%). An AC-coupled battery connects to your home electrical circuit and works independently of the solar inverter, making it easier to retrofit to existing solar installations. We install both types and recommend based on whether this is a new installation or an addition to an existing system.
It depends on the battery system. The Tesla Powerwall with Backup Gateway can provide whole-home backup during grid outages. The Sigenergy system also offers full home backup. Most other batteries (GivEnergy, FOX ESS) provide backup to selected essential circuits only. Full home backup requires additional hardware and typically costs more. We can design a system to meet your specific backup requirements.
Time-of-use tariff arbitrage means charging your battery when electricity is cheapest (typically overnight at 7-10p/kWh on tariffs like Octopus Go, Intelligent Go or Flux) and using that stored energy during expensive peak periods (24-35p/kWh). This can save £300-£600 per year even without solar panels. With solar panels as well, savings can exceed £1,000 per year.
A G99 application to Northern Powergrid is required when your total inverter capacity exceeds 3.68kW per phase (single-phase) or 11.04kW (three-phase). Most residential battery and solar systems require a G99 application. The process takes 4-12 weeks and we handle the entire application on your behalf at no additional charge. Systems under 3.68kW only require a simpler G98 notification.