With electricity costs soaring, home batteries have never looked so attractive. Whether you want to store the excess generated by your solar panels or simply buy electricity at the cheapest possible rate to use later when power is most expensive, a home battery can help. It’s never been easier to get a home battery installed, but this rapidly expanding market can be confusing, and there are several things to consider before you buy.

There are several reasons you might want to invest in a home battery, and they are not mutually exclusive: store excess power from your solar panels, live off-grid, guard against power outages, or buy electricity at a cheap rate and store it for use later. Home batteries are a win-win, potentially benefiting power companies too, because battery storage is an essential part of grid balancing and can help manage and make the most of the intermittent power generated by renewables (solar, wind, waves).

Home batteries work like big power banks, but they tend to be lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4) for safety reasons. Modular systems allow you to add capacity as needed, but inverter compatibility is crucial—opt for a hybrid inverter if you have solar panels or plan to add them.

When buying a home battery, consider the following: capacity measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), power output measured in kilowatts (kW), depth of discharge, efficiency and warranty. The amount of battery you need depends on your use case, but for those just looking to buy electricity at cheaper rates, any capacity will benefit you.

The installation process may require some upgrades to your main electrical panel and could involve permission from electric distribution utilities or local network operators. It’s a good idea to shop around for installers with the right certification (MCS in the UK), read reviews, and get at least three quotes to compare before proceeding.