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Home battery storage

Home battery storage, with or without solar

A home battery stores electricity for when you need it: solar power from the daytime, or cheap off-peak power from the grid overnight. Hasmart installs batteries with new solar systems, adds them to existing ones, and fits battery-only systems for homes without panels.

Three ways to use a battery

With new solar panels

A hybrid inverter runs your panels and battery together. Spare daytime solar goes into the battery for the evening instead of going to the grid.

Added to existing solar

Already have panels? We can usually add a battery without changing your existing system, so you keep more of your own power.

Battery only

No panels? Pair a battery with a time-of-use tariff: charge it with cheaper overnight electricity and run your home from it at the expensive times of day.

Why fit a battery?

  • Use more of your own solar. Without a battery, much of a typical home's solar generation goes back to the grid during the day while nobody's using it.
  • Lower bills with smart tariffs. Batteries pair well with tariffs that offer cheap electricity at set times.
  • Backup power (on suitable systems). Some systems can keep selected circuits running in a power cut. We'll explain the options for your home at survey.
  • 0% VAT. Batteries installed in homes currently have 0% VAT, including when they're added to an existing solar system, until 31 March 2027.

What's involved

We start with a survey of your electrics, your existing solar system if you have one, and the best place for the battery and inverter. Batteries are usually fitted in a garage, utility room or loft, or outside in a suitable weatherproof unit. We size the battery to how much electricity you use and when, not just to the biggest one available.

Batteries count as generation equipment, so they have to be notified to, or approved by, Northern Powergrid. We handle the G98 or G99 application for you. Some larger systems need approval before we can install, and we'll tell you if that applies.

On the day, our electricians install and commission the system, set it up to charge and discharge the way that suits your tariff, and connect the monitoring app so you can see what it's doing.

Systems we install

We regularly install systems from established manufacturers, including Fox ESS and Solax, and we can add batteries to many existing solar systems. The right choice depends on your home, your existing equipment and whether you want backup power. We'll recommend a system at survey and explain why.

How much does a battery cost?

It depends mainly on battery capacity, whether you need a new inverter, and how much work the installation needs. Use our online calculator to see an estimate, then we confirm the price at a free survey.

What customers say

★★★★★
“We used Hasmart to install our solar and battery system, as well as to diagnose and repair issues with our heating system. The solar installation was carried out professionally and has exceeded our expectations. Niall was excellent when fixing our heating system: knowledgeable, thorough, and quick to identify the issues.”
Solar, battery and heating · Google review
★★★★★
“Had solar installation carried out this week by Antonio and the team. Excellent experience from start to finish, everything was explained to me as the installation progressed. All work was done to a high standard and they kept my home clean and tidy.”
Solar installation · Google review

Read all our Google reviews

Questions we get asked

Can I add a battery to my existing solar panels?

In most cases, yes. We check your existing inverter and system at survey and recommend the simplest way to add storage.

What size battery do I need?

That depends on how much electricity you use in the evening and overnight, how much solar you generate, and your tariff. We look at your usage and size the battery to fit. A bigger battery isn't always better value.

Is a battery worth it without solar panels?

It can be. With a time-of-use tariff, a battery charges when electricity is cheap and powers your home when it's expensive. How much you save depends on the gap between the cheap and peak rates on your tariff.

Will a battery keep my power on in a power cut?

Only if the system is designed for it. Some inverters offer emergency or backup power to selected circuits. Tell us at survey if this matters to you.

Do I need permission from the network operator?

Yes. Batteries have to be notified to Northern Powergrid, and some systems need approval first. We do the application for you.

Areas we cover

We're based in South Shields and carry out installations across the whole of the North East, including:

  • South Shields
  • Jarrow
  • Hebburn
  • Boldon
  • Whitburn
  • Cleadon
  • Sunderland
  • Washington
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Gateshead
  • North Tyneside
  • Whitley Bay
  • Tynemouth
  • Durham
  • Chester-le-Street
  • Northumberland
  • Teesside

See all the areas we cover

Ready for a price?

Get an instant estimate online, then book a free survey. We confirm the final price on site before any work starts.