Solar batteries maximise the advantages of solar panels in providing free energy for homes. You rely even less on expensive mains electricity and further reduce your carbon footprint.
The government says electrical energy storage (ESS) plays a crucial role in renewable energy strategies and expects demand for solar batteries to rise sharply.
To optimise the benefits of solar storage, your battery needs to be installed in the right place. This post explores the key considerations in deciding on the best location for residential solar batteries
We’ll also explain new guidelines on battery fire safety and whether they change where you can locate your battery. First, we’ll look at how solar batteries work. This will help you understand why some places are better than others for your battery.
How Do Batteries Work With Solar Panels?
Solar panels generate electricity from the sun. A solar battery allows you to make the most of this. It stores solar energy so you can use it later, typically when your solar panels aren’t producing power after sunset.
This increases cost savings and further reduces CO2 emissions because you draw less electricity from the National Grid. And it opens up the opportunity to sell your stored solar energy to the utilities company under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
You can have a solar battery installed at the same as your solar panels or add one later. It can be floor- or wall-mounted, inside or outdoors.
Factors to Consider in Solar Battery Location
Temperature, maintenance, safety, and space requirements are important considerations when choosing where to install your solar battery.
Temperature
Solar batteries work better and last longer when they’re not exposed to extreme temperatures. They achieve optimal performance at room temperature. This is why they’re often placed indoors, although outdoor locations are possible.
Maintenance
Like a boiler, a solar battery needs regular maintenance to ensure it’s working properly. A location that’s readily accessible makes battery maintenance, monitoring, and cleaning easier.
Safety
Solar batteries should be located away from flammable materials and other potential fire hazards, and installed in a well-ventilated location.
Space
Modern solar batteries are sleek, slim and lightweight. Others take up more space.
New Guidelines on Battery Fire Safety
Residential battery fires are extremely rare. Most solar batteries use lithium ion phosphate technology and are fire resistant under normal circumstances.
Additional battery fire safety precautions were proposed in April 2024 with the introduction of new guidelines on installation locations. Some industry insiders say this will significantly impact where solar batteries are installed.
Batteries are commonly located in places such as lofts or understairs cupboards, particularly when space is at a premium. However, the new specifications stipulate the best place for solar batteries is an outbuilding.
Where this isn’t practicable, batteries should be separated from living spaces and fire escape routes, and fire alarms installed in battery locations.
The new industry-driven best-practice standards on battery safety were initiated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
Specific indoor locations where batteries are not recommended include:
- Bedrooms (which would rule out batteries in wardrobes or bedroom storage cupboards).
- Lofts.
- Basements or cellars with no direct exit from the property.
- Staircases.
- Landings.
- Corridors.
- Within two metres of flammable materials.
Outdoors, batteries should not be installed within a metre of doors or windows.
Solar Experts’ Reaction to New Battery Fire Safety Standards
Certified solar panel and battery installers point out that the new recommendations on solar battery fire safety are not regulations but best-practice suggestions aimed more at housing associations and local councils.
The specifications will remain recommendations until officially adopted as a British Standard, a process likely to include revisions based on industry feedback over time.
Solar experts question whether the guidelines take into account fire ratings of newer, safer solar battery technology.
Under current regulations, solar batteries can be installed in places such as lofts as long as certain considerations are met such as having a smoke detector and fire alarm nearby.
Best Indoor Locations for Solar Batteries
Unless, and until, the new battery fire safety recommendations become official regulations, the best indoor locations for solar battery storage remain the same.
Ideally, a solar battery should be near your household electrical consumer unit (or fuse box in old properties) and in a location where temperatures are fairly constant – neither too cold nor too hot. Batteries also need adequate ventilation. This prevents them from getting too warm.
A location away from anything flammable minimises fire risks, and installing your battery where it’s easy to get to will help when it comes to maintenance.
Many householders choose an indoor battery installation that’s out of the way, such as in a loft or a utility room or a cupboard or cabinet.
The average UK household with a 4kW (kilowatt) or 5kW solar panel system needs a 10-20kWh (kilowatt hour) battery. A lithium battery in this range measures around 1.15 metres high, 75cm wide, and 15cm deep.
Solar Batteries in Lofts
Lofts can be a good location for a solar battery because they’re often under-used spaces.
Locating your battery in the loft increases its efficiency by minimising wiring and energy loss between rooftop solar panels and the battery. Most lofts in the UK don’t reach high enough temperatures to affect battery operation. But good ventilation needs to be ensured to avoid battery overheating.
Solar Batteries in Utility Rooms
Utility rooms are another popular location for a solar battery. They have the necessary infrastructure such as electrical connections, and temperature remains constant. They’re also easy to access for battery maintenance.
Solar Batteries in Cupboards
Cupboards provide a handy location for a solar battery. These could be a purpose-built enclosure, an understairs cupboard, or hallway cupboard, for example.
Best Outdoor Locations for Solar Batteries
Sometimes, an indoor battery installation isn’t practical. Fortunately, more solar batteries are now being designed for outdoor operation. Lithium-ion batteries can handle external fluctuating temperatures and various environmental conditions better than a lead-acid battery.
Ideally, the battery should be installed facing north. This shields it from direct sunlight and avoids overheating. Outdoor solar batteries also need a special weatherproof casing or cabinet to shield them from rain and snow.
Installing a solar battery in a location such as a garden or on a house wall provides natural ventilation and generally easy access for maintenance. However, a weather-resistant outbuilding such as a garage is a better location for your battery.
Solar Batteries in Garages
Installing a solar battery in a garage outbuilding is a popular choice because it’s usually an accessible, secure location with good airflow. A further benefit is that the battery and solar inverter can be installed close together. This reduces voltage loss and optimises battery efficiency.
Types of Solar Batteries: Lithium Vs Lead-Acid
Besides location, the type of solar battery you choose is also important. Two kinds are commonly installed in homes, based on different technologies. Lithium batteries are the most widely used but lead-acid batteries are also available.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries were developed in the late 1970s and are commonplace in consumer electronics. One type, the lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, has become increasingly popular in solar energy systems.
Traditional li-ion batteries have a lithium cathode. LiFePO4 batteries have an iron phosphate cathode.
Lithium ferrous phosphate batteries cost more than lead-acid batteries but store energy more reliably and more efficiently, and last longer – 10 to 20 years.
Lead-Acid Batteries
Lead-acid batteries – wet cell batteries – have been around for hundreds of years. The technology has been refined over time but they’re basically the same today as they were a hundred years ago.
Electricity is produced as lead dioxide plates react with a solution of distilled water and sulfuric acid. Lead-acid batteries are cheaper than li-ion batteries but typically have a much shorter lifespan and are less reliable.
Solar Battery Costs and Savings
Solar batteries cost on average around £2,500 to £10,000 depending on energy storage capacity.
Most homes need around 5kWh of battery storage. These batteries typically cost £3,500- £5,000.
Combining battery storage with solar panels can cut electricity bills by up to 90 percent. And most solar batteries pay for themselves in seven years.
Need More Help on Where to Install Your Solar Battery?
Leading national solar panel and battery provide Effective Home can help you decide on the best location for your solar battery.
We’re accredited by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), the country’s leading certification organisation for the electrical contracting industry.
So you can be assured our solar panels and batteries are installed to current national standards. We also keep a close watch on industry developments such as the new recommendations on solar battery fire safety.
If you have a solar battery installed and maintained by our professionals, it will be one of the safest electrical devices in your home.
Our solar batteries come with a 10-year warranty and our solar panels with a 25-year warranty.
Contact us to find out more about the best location to install your solar battery.
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