Do solar panels power your entire house?

Unleashing the Full Potential of Solar and Battery Systems

If you’re after the quick answer to this and don't want to read the entire article, then the answer is, most likely no. However, It is possible, and it boils down to this… can you get enough panels on your roof to be able to provide the amount of power that your property is going to consume and a battery that can store it for you. Most of the time these things aren’t possible and so the answer is likely a no, but in theory it is possible. There are off grid systems that power homes all over the world, these though, have been specifically built with energy consumption in mind, rather than retrofitting a system to an existing house. Lots of houses can get very close to it though, with enough thought and planning. 

Maximising Solar Energy Utilisation

Before batteries were in the mainstream, the energy generated on a roof had to be used in the house in real time. If it wasn’t then it would be exported back to the grid, effectively at a loss to the home owner because they wouldn’t be utilising the energy they have generated. Now that batteries are more widely available this energy can be captured and used in the home when required. Therefore the possibility of using more energy in the home has significantly increased. For instance, a typical working family who were out of the house during the day between 9-5, that had solar on their roof with no battery, could have exported as much as 70% of their overall generation. Not ideal. 

Smart energy usage can help you reduce energy imported from the grid.

There will always be times when you will need to import from the grid because you either aren’t generating (it’s December in the U.K. and 5pm and there is of course no sun), you haven’t generated enough during the day to charge the battery and/or you have depleted the battery from what was charged. 

Reducing Grid Reliance: Smart Appliance Usage

There are things that you can do to decrease the likelihood of importing from the grid and therefore getting as close to your solar and battery system powering as much of your house as possible. 

This can be done by employing smart appliance usage as and when you have the power being generated on your roof or in your battery to do so. This would mean doing certain things at certain times of the day when the sun is shining and you are generating a lot of power, rather than just waiting until later in the evening and using the power in your battery that could be used for standard lighting and television usage in the evening. 

If your battery reaches full capacity by lunchtime, you would still end up exporting to the grid if it isn’t needed in the house. In the summer months you could have a full battery by 11am, you could use the energy in your battery, then charge your battery again. When a battery charges and depletes this is known as a cycle. 

Future Trends in Solar and Battery Systems

With our electricity usage going up and estimated to continue increasing over the next 20-30 years, with electric heating becoming mandatory and electric cars being the norm, it will become more and more important to have a solar and battery system in your home. Knowing how to maximise the power from your system will mean you can maximise the usage of your generation.

Exploring Tariff Options for Optimal Charging

Exploring energy supplier tariffs offers an additional avenue. Some tariffs allow charging your battery from the grid at a lower rate during the night, ensuring a fully charged battery in the morning. However, delving into these details requires a dedicated article beyond the scope of this one.