Is it worth increasing my home solar array?

One of our most commonly asked questions in 2019 has been based around home batteries and solar PV. Is it worth increasing my solar array before installing a home battery such as the Tesla Powerwall?

The answer is in most cases, yes.

Although there is no longer any Government subsidy available, the cost of installing solar panels has dropped considerably over the past few years, generating healthy savings and reduced payback periods.

With transport accounting for 23% of the UK’s CO2 emissions – more than any other sector, the Government has set a target of halving non-electric vehicle sales by 2030 and ending them entirely by 2040.

With this ever growing EV market it is evident that most households will own an electric car going forward and therefore need to install a charge point during the next few years. It is worth noting that in order to claim the Electric Vehicle Home Charge Scheme (EHVS) which provides grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installation you must use an OLEV certified installer and your charge point must be ‘smart enabled’ – for more information please visit residential electric vehicle charging.

With this additional load as well as the fact that most appliances will switch to electric in the next few years, it makes sense for most homeowners to increase the size of their solar array when considering a home battery. Whereas a typical 4kWp solar PV system would power most 4 bedroom homes, going forward it is more likely to be nearer 6kWp in order to power these additional loads.