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Home Battery: Storing Solar Energy at Home – FAQ & Alternatives

A home battery can store solar energy from your solar panels for later use, so you can benefit from your self-generated electricity in the evening or during a power outage.

What is a home battery?

A home battery (also known as a home storage battery) is a large rechargeable battery for residential use. It allows you to store electricity, such as the surplus energy your solar panels generate during the day. Instead of feeding that energy back into the grid, the home battery stores it so you can use it later when your panels generate little or no electricity (for example, in the evening or on cloudy days). This increases your self-consumption of solar energy and reduces your dependence on the power grid. A home battery therefore makes your household more energy self-sufficient.

How does a home battery work with solar panels?

A home battery works together with your solar panels through a smart control system. When your solar panels produce more power than you’re using at that moment, the inverter or an energy management system directs the surplus to the battery. Only once the battery is full will any additional solar power be fed back into the grid. When you later need electricity (e.g. in the evening) and the panels aren't producing, the battery will discharge first to power your home. If the battery is empty, you automatically draw electricity from the grid again. Modern inverters are bidirectional: they convert alternating current (AC) from the grid or solar panels into direct current (DC) to charge the battery, and vice versa, converting stored DC back into AC to power your home.

Sidenote: Some advanced systems can also charge a home battery from the grid when electricity prices are low (in the case of dynamic energy contracts) and discharge it when electricity is expensive. This so-called "smart charging and discharging" helps you benefit from price fluctuations but requires intelligent control. Additionally, some home batteries can act as a backup power source during an outage, so your home still has electricity when the public grid fails (depending on the type of inverter and setup).

What are the advantages of a home battery?

A home battery offers several benefits for households with solar panels:

• Use more of your own solar power: With a home battery, you can utilize a greater portion of your self-generated solar energy instead of sending it back to the grid. Without a battery, only ~30% is typically consumed directly, but with a battery of about 10 kWh, this can rise to around 60%. You then use more of your "free" solar energy, even in the evening.
• Lower energy bills: Since you need to purchase less electricity from your supplier, your energy bills may decrease. Especially now that feed-in compensation is being reduced (see net metering), maximizing self-consumption is good for your wallet. With a dynamic energy contract, you can also save money by charging during low-price periods and using the power during expensive peak times.
• Self-sufficiency and independence: A home battery gives you more independence from the grid and energy providers. During peak hours or even a power outage, you can (to some extent) rely on your stored power. This increases your household’s energy security.
• Sustainability: Storing energy locally increases your solar system’s efficiency and reduces waste. You contribute to a more sustainable energy system, as your excess solar energy doesn’t go unused. It also reduces the load on the electricity grid by feeding less back at once during sunny afternoons.

What are the disadvantages of a home battery?

However, there are also some disadvantages to home batteries you should consider:

• High upfront cost: Home batteries are currently quite expensive to purchase and install. An average home battery (~6 kWh capacity including inverter) costs several thousand euros. Larger systems of 10 kWh or more range from €7,000 to €10,000. This investment is not quickly recovered through energy bill savings (see further below).
• Limited storage capacity: The capacity of home batteries is limited. Many residential batteries range from 2 to 6 kWh. Even with a 6 kWh battery, you can’t store all surplus solar energy during summer (on a sunny June day, 10 panels can generate ~15 kWh, more than the battery can hold). In winter, solar output is often so low the battery doesn’t even fill. You’ll still need a grid connection and won’t be fully self-sufficient.
• Environmental impact of production: Manufacturing batteries requires a lot of energy and rare materials, which impacts the environment. Most home batteries are lithium-based (often lithium iron phosphate or lithium NMC), requiring materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Production causes CO₂ emissions, and mining these resources has ecological consequences. Thus, a battery isn’t automatically environmentally beneficial unless it helps you use more renewable energy that would otherwise be lost.
• Technical limitations and lifespan: A home battery typically lasts 10 to 15 years before its capacity significantly declines. Replacement or performance loss means added long-term costs. Furthermore, not all systems offer backup functionality; in some setups, the battery won’t work during a power outage without special equipment.

How much energy can a home battery store?

This varies by model and brand. Small residential batteries start at around 2 kWh capacity (enough for a few hours of lighting or one washing machine cycle). Average home batteries are about 5–6 kWh, which is considered standard. This can supply an average household with electricity for half a day, assuming enough sunlight to charge it. Larger batteries of 10 to 20 kWh are also available. A 10+ kWh battery can store a significant portion of daily consumption (for reference: a Dutch household uses ~9 kWh per day). However, even 10–20 kWh isn’t enough to go completely off-grid; it can cover hours to a few days, but not entire seasons.

For comparison: an electric car battery often has a capacity of 40–60 kWh – much larger. Some people therefore use their car (battery) as additional storage (see alternatives below). There are also alternative battery types with different characteristics, such as saltwater batteries that are more eco-friendly in composition but heavy and with lower peak output. Traditional lead-acid batteries can technically be used too, but they are toxic and outdated and are rarely sold anymore for home energy storage. For most consumers, lithium-based home batteries remain the current standard.

How much does a home battery cost?

The cost of a home battery depends on the capacity, type, and installation. A rough estimate: expect to pay between €4,000 and €10,000 all-in (including VAT and installation) for a complete system for an average household. Smaller plug-and-play systems of a few kWh sit at the lower end of that range, while a high-end 10 kWh battery with an appropriate inverter can cost between €8,000 and €10,000. On average, you pay around €700–€800 per kWh of storage capacity for the entire system.

Tip: Battery prices are steadily declining as the technology matures. In recent years, the cost per kWh has already dropped. Keep an eye on developments; with expected growth in demand and production, home batteries could become more affordable in the coming years. Additionally, there have been periods (especially in Belgium/Flanders) with subsidies for home batteries. Check whether there are current subsidies or incentives available in your region, as they can make the investment more attractive. ``` Let me know if you'd like help turning this into optimized website content, a downloadable PDF, or email copy.

Is a Home Battery Worth the Investment?

At the moment, a home battery is often not considered financially viable according to independent sources. Due to the high purchase costs, it takes a long time for savings on your electricity bill to offset the investment. For example, Milieu Centraal calculated that a home battery is unlikely to pay for itself over its lifetime, even with extra savings on purchased electricity. Even with larger battery systems for commercial purposes, it's uncertain whether the returns outweigh the costs.

A simple calculation: Suppose you buy a 10 kWh battery for ~€7,500. If you use it wisely with a dynamic contract, you can take advantage of cheap electricity and avoid expensive peak times. In 2022, the average difference between low and high electricity prices was 15 cents per kWh; a 10 kWh battery could then save about €548 per year. Even in that favorable case, the payback period is about 14 years – almost as long as the expected lifespan of the battery itself. Without a dynamic rate and after the phase-out of net metering (see below), the savings per kWh will likely be lower, extending the payback period even further.

Better to save first: If your primary goal is to save money on energy, there are currently more effective measures than an expensive home battery. Think of using more of your solar power directly (e.g., doing laundry during sunny hours), improving home insulation, or installing a heat pump. These investments often yield returns faster and also contribute to sustainability. While a home battery can offer other benefits (such as comfort and backup), purely financially, in 2025, it’s not yet a golden move for the average consumer.

What Does the End of the Net Metering Scheme Mean for Home Batteries?

The Netherlands will maintain the net metering scheme until the end of 2026, allowing you to fully offset solar power fed back into the grid against your own consumption. As of January 1, 2027, this scheme will be abolished. This means that from 2027 onwards, you will only receive limited compensation for each kWh you feed into the grid, rather than a one-to-one offset. Energy suppliers must reimburse at least 50% of the electricity rate for fed-back power until 2030, but this is often significantly less than what you pay for electricity consumption. Additionally, some suppliers charge feed-in fees.

Consequence: Without net metering, it becomes much more attractive to use your solar power yourself instead of sending it to the grid. Every kWh you store and consume yourself saves you the full electricity price, while a fed-back kWh earns you at most half the price. In this new landscape, a home battery could play a more important role in keeping your energy bill low. It’s a way to partially offset the loss of net metering by storing your surplus energy for later use.

Still, the decision remains complex: the investment in a battery must still be justifiable. After 2027, battery systems will likely become more popular, but it’s wise to keep a close eye on price trends and any new feed-in tariffs. Suppliers may introduce dynamic pricing or special “storage services” that could be attractive even without a personal battery. In any case, consider in good time how to make the most of your solar energy once net metering ends – whether that’s with a home battery or one of the alternatives below.

What Are the Alternatives to a Home Battery?

Not everyone wants or is able to invest immediately in a home battery. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to make optimal use of your own solar energy without a home storage system. Here are some key options:

• Optimize direct consumption: Try to use as much of your solar energy as possible when it is being generated. For example, run household appliances while the sun is shining. Preferably turn on your washing machine or dishwasher during the day when your panels are producing a lot. If you have a boiler or heat pump, have it heat water around midday. This prevents surpluses that would need to be stored. You can adjust your routine manually or use timers. This approach – using more of your own solar power directly – is more eco-friendly and efficient than buying a battery.
• Smart energy management: Use smart systems that automatically manage your energy flows. A Home Energy Management System (HEMS) can control your appliances and charging stations based on solar availability or low electricity prices. Think of a smart boiler that activates when there is surplus solar energy or an air conditioner that boosts when plenty of solar power is available. Some inverters and smart home systems offer this control, allowing you to run your heat pump boiler, dishwasher, and dryer at optimal times. Smart energy management synchronizes your usage with generation, reducing the need for storage while minimizing grid feed-in.
• Electric car as battery (Vehicle-to-Home): If you have an electric car, you essentially already own a large battery. Through bidirectional charging, certain EV technologies can not only store electricity in the car but also feed it back to your home or the grid when needed. In the near future, this so-called Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) or Vehicle-to-Grid will be increasingly supported. Benefits: your EV battery has a much larger capacity than a standard home battery, and you don’t need to buy a separate one. Downside: not all electric cars and charging stations currently support this. You’ll need a special bidirectional charger, and the car manufacturer must allow it without affecting warranties. But once it works, you can charge your car with solar power during the day and use that energy at home in the evening. A kind of home battery on wheels! Although this is still limited in 2025, V2H could become a valuable alternative or addition in the future.
• Hydrogen storage: A more experimental but potentially powerful alternative is converting your surplus electricity into hydrogen. With an electrolysis device, you can use electricity to split water into hydrogen gas, which you store in tanks. Later, you can use that hydrogen through a fuel cell or special boiler to generate electricity or heat. The big advantage is that hydrogen is suitable for seasonal storage – you could save summer surpluses for winter. However, efficiency is low (~30–40% energy recovery), and the technology is expensive and not yet consumer-ready. So hydrogen storage is mainly a future option or something for enthusiastic DIYers with plenty of space and budget.

Alternatives to a Home Battery

• Local energy grids: Join a neighborhood cooperative to share or exchange surplus energy with others nearby.
• Feed back to the grid: Send surplus energy back to the electricity grid and receive compensation through feed-in schemes.
• Pumped hydro storage: Use surplus electricity to pump water into a higher reservoir, which can later generate energy.
• Hydrogen storage: Convert surplus electricity into hydrogen for later use as fuel or electricity.
• Thermal storage: Store energy as heat in water or special materials for heating or hot water.
• Larger heat pumps: Use a heat pump with a larger buffer tank to store excess energy in the form of heat.
• Optimize direct consumption: Use smart devices and technologies that synchronize energy use with generation.
• Commercial battery systems: Use large-scale storage services offered by businesses.
• Flywheel storage: A mechanical system that stores energy through a rapidly spinning flywheel.
• Hybrid systems: Combine smaller batteries with other storage methods for maximum efficiency.

In addition to the above, there are even more alternatives or complements, such as thermal storage (in hot water or materials for heating), collective neighborhood batteries, or energy cooperatives implementing shared storage, and even innovative technologies like flywheels and small-scale pumped hydro (less practical for individual use). The best solution depends on your situation and goals. Often, a combination of measures is ideal: first maximize your direct consumption, then consider a (car) battery or other storage for the remaining surplus.