Can Solar Panels Power a House?

There are over a Million homes with solar panels installed in the UK, and in 2021 another 67,000 solar systems were added to the roofs up and down the country. We all know that solar panels with little to no moving parts can make a real dent in customers’ energy bills, but there is only one problem. The power from solar panels is only created in daylight conditions meaning power is sometimes created when people are either at work or school and not using the power being created. It isn’t all bad, as most people have set up export payments (SEG) or feed in tariffs (FITs) that pay the homeowner when they export a kWh of electricity. 

One of the questions Callidus is regularly asked is, ‘How can I charge my home?’. The answer to this has been around for a good few years, and technology continues to improve meaning. Lithium batteries are the perfect way to maximise the benefits of a solar PV system. 

Lithium batteries can be quickly charged and discharged, making them ideal for domestic and commercial solar panel installations. They take any excess solar energy that would normally be exported back to the grid and save this energy to power your home when the solar panels are no longer generating power. 

Many electricity companies offer split tariffs and charge a lower rate for nighttime electricity use. This works well with battery charging at a lower rate at night, allowing you to use the stored electricity during the day when power is more expensive. Solar panels are less effective in winter, and many customers will support their system using grid charging in winter. 

A standard solar PV array works with power being put into the inverter from the panels, and if you can use this power through appliances running in your home, then the solar power will support this. If you are not or the solar panels are generating more power than you can use, the excess will be exported back to the grid. Battery storage will allow you to store the excess energy generated from solar panels and pull the power from this battery when needed. Our battery storage works without you having to do anything, as the systems are like most smart devices. The equipment Callidus installs will also allow you to monitor your battery storage and solar panel systems and get updates on when things may go wrong. If you would like to learn more about solar installations and off-grid systems and their impact on your home, please go to www.callidus.co.uk and get a free no obligation quote by clicking ‘request a quote‘. 

Batteries often come with 10 year guarantees and around 6000 cycles (a cycle is a full charge and discharge). Callidus can install batteries to most existing solar panel installations and will not affect their existing tariffs. Lithium batteries don’t like conditions that are too hot (lofts) or too cold (external sheds). They can be stored in garages and utility areas but don’t worry; our friendly solar surveyors will identify the best place for them on your property. 

Battery storage can support homes in all other situations, like a blackout or power cut. We have helped many vulnerable customers who need to maintain critical equipment and can’t lose power failure. With the added support of battery storage, our solar panels can efficiently power your house. Contact our team for more information.