Solar Panel Batteries in Ireland: Guide and Pricing 2024

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

A solar panel battery can cost between €1,500 to €7,000. The main factor that influences the cost of a solar battery is its capacity with lager capactity batteries costing more. With proper maintinence, most solar batteries can last up to 15 years. Unlike solar panel installation, there are no SEAI grants available for the purchase of solar batteries.

What Is a Solar Panel Battery?

A solar panel battery is a home storage device that allows you to store excess solar energy produced by your solar panels or other sources.

They work in a similar way to the rechargeable battery in your mobile phone and are made of the same lithium-ion material.

Given there are times when your solar panels will produce more energy, it is a convenient and cost effective way to maximise thier output by storing energy for later use.

Solar batteries can be charged by either:

1. Surplus solar power energy - any excess energy produced by the panels can be stored in the batteries for later use in the home.
2. Electricity from your supplier - you can take advantage of cheap night time rates to charge your solar batteries to use during the day time hours when rates are higher.

Most homes won't use all of the electricity generated by their solar panels so having solar batteries installed is a great way to make sure you maximise the output, and savings, offered by your solar panels.

Are There Differernt Solar Panel Batteries?

Our homes and electricity grid use AC (alternating) current, while solar panels and batteries produce and store DC (direct) current. Therefore, the energy produced by the panels must first be converted to AC before we can use it in our homes.

There are two types of solar battery systems that allow for the energy produced by the panels to be used in the home:

1. AC-Coupled System
   In an AC-coupled system, the electricity from the solar panels passes through an inverter in order to convert it to AC (alternating current) before it powers your home.
   The excess then needs to be converted back into DC before it can be stored in your solar panel battery.
   The stored electricity in your battery will need to be converted back into AC in order to use it for your home.
2. DC-Coupled System
   A DC-coupled system uses a direct current (DC) where the electricity generated by the solar panels flowing directly in the solar panel battery is stored for later use. This is more efficient than the AC-coupled system but takes more time to install.

How Much Does a Solar Panel Battery Cost?

Solar panel storage batteries cost between €1,500 to €7,000 to purchase and install.

There are several factors that will affect your final price including:

1. Capacity
   The capacity of your solar panel battery will most likely be the biggest factor in determining the final cost. You should make sure you get the capacity your house and family might need in order to match your usage.
2. Warranty
   Solar panel battery warranties can usually last up to 10 years based on the number of charging cycles you have.
3. Battery Type
   Your solar battery type will not only affect its longevity but also its cost. The cheapest solar power batteries will typically be lead acid ones as lithium-ion can be a little more expensive.
4. Maintenance Cost
   Maintenance will be a long-term ongoing cost for your solar power battery over time. You want to perform maintenance on your battery every year to make sure everything is working properly and so boost its lifespan.

According to Purevolt.ie, the estimated savings in one year based on a standard 5.1 kWh battery with a 10 year warrenty, on Energia's standard nightsaver rate with a 24c export rate are:

• 🔋 Estimated Battery Savings
• Annual Savings from Solar Storage - €222.47
• Annual Savings from Night Rate Storage - €220.88
• Annual Total Savings - €443.35
• Payback (years) - 5.6
• Total Savings by end of Warranty - €3,883.38
• Total Profit by end of Warranty - €1,383.38

Where Can I Buy a Solar Panel Battery?

You should be able to get a solar panel battery from the same solar panel company that you've bought your solar panels from.

Here are some of the main solar panel companies in Ireland:

• Electric Ireland
• Solartricity
• Solar Electric
• Alternative Energy Ireland
• NRG Panel
• Green House Renewable Energy
• LVP Renewables
• Thermasol
• PureVolt Solar

Are There Grants Available For Solar Batteries?

Unfortunately there are no SEAI grants available for solar batteries and the cost must be covered 100% by the homeowner.

Despite this, you can avail of SEAI grants for solar panel installation and DIY solar panel installation. The savings made from the grant could be reinvested into a solar battery to maximise the savings potential of your new solar panal system.

What Is the Lifespan of a Solar Panel Battery?

The lifespan of a solar panel battery depends on a number of factors. Overall, most solar panel batteries will last between 5 to 15 years so you can expect to need to replace it around then.

However, there are some that can last around 20 to 30 years and also habits you can incorporate to make sure they last longer.

How Does the Solar Panel Battery Type Affect the Lifespan?

Crucially, one of the most important determinants will be the material your battery is made of since you can have two different types of solar panel batteries: lithium-ion, lead acid.

1. Lithium-ion
   A lithium-ion solar panel battery is most agreed to be the best type to get. Lithium-ion batteries usually have the longest lifespan and are the most compact. They also have a higher Depth of Discharge (DoD) meaning they can be more depleted before needing to be recharged.
2. Lead Acid
   A lead acid solar panel battery has been the standard for a long time now but they are slowly being phased out due to their lower DoD. They also don’t last as long as lithium-ion batteries. However they are still much cheaper than the other options available.

What is Depth of Discharge? The Depth of Discharge (DoD) of a solar panel battery is the percentage of a battery’s capacity that can be used safely. This means that a higher DoD means that more of a battery’s capacity can be used before it needs to be recharged. For example, if a battery has a DoD of 90%, this means the battery can drop to 10% capacity before it needs to recharge. A higher DoD generally means a longer lifespan.

What Other Factors Affect a Solar Panel Battery Lifespan?

There are also other factors that can affect the lifespan and are worth considering when looking at buying a solar panel battery and while looking after it:

1. Usage
   The frequency in which you use your solar panel battery to store electricity will affect how long it will last. If it’s been regularly used then it’s likely that the battery will lose efficiency over a shorter period of time.
2. Temperature
   Keeping your solar panel battery at an optimal temperature will affect its efficiency. You want to make sure that the battery is neither overheating or too cold. Your solar panel battery installer will usually recommend where you should have it installed to maximise its lifespan.
3. Maintenance
   Regular annual maintenance is critical for making sure your solar panel battery is working well and as efficiently as possible. It can cost a little more, but it’s worth it for extending your solar panel battery’s life.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Solar Panel Battery?

Overall, there are lots of advantages and disadvantages to using solar power.

If you’re considering having solar panels installed, you should definitely consider having a solar panel battery to go with it and factor its costs into your calculations.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of a solar panel battery:

Advantages of a Solar Panel Battery

• Better for the Environment
  Having a solar power battery means you’ll be able to take even more advantage of reducing your carbon footprint and Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions to hit our Paris Agreement targets. Solar panel batteries will also ensure you don’t have to rely on the grid as much and therefore reduce your impact on the environment.
• Less Wasted Power
  With a solar power battery, you will be able to maximise the output of your solar panels by being able to store the excess energy for later. This is important since you won’t let as much renewable electricity go to waste.
• Less Reliance on Energy Suppliers
  A solar panel battery will also reduce the amount of energy you use from your energy supplier. While you won’t go off the national grid completely, you can still use the solar panel battery to reduce your electricity bills.
• Backup Against Power Cuts
  Not needing to worry in the event of a blackout is another big plus to having a solar panel battery. Since you’ll have the excess electricity stored in your solar panel battery, the power will start flowing from here in the case that you have a power cut in your area.

Disadvantages of a Solar Panel Battery

• High Costs
  The high upfront costs to a solar panel battery is the greatest barrier to having one installed. You should really consider if you really want one or you can make do with just the solar panels.
• Tricky Installations
  Especially DC-coupled solar panel batteries, you might find that it’s trickier to install than originally planned depending on the type of solar panel you have.
• No SEAI Grant Available
  Although you can get an SEAI grant for photovoltaic solar panels, there’s no such option for a solar power battery meaning you’ll most likely need to fund the battery yourself.