Should you buy a home battery?
A home battery stores solar power for later. That helps after net metering ends. But it is a big investment. Read these steps first.
No obligation: you go to the provider’s website and decide yourself. Advertisement: this page contains sponsored links.
The quick explanation
A home battery stores power that your solar panels make during the day. You use it in the evening. You buy less power and feed back less. Whether it pays off depends on your use, your panels and the price of the battery. A good battery fits your own evening use. So measure first. Then you buy neither too big nor too small, and you know what to expect.
Step 1: choose your goal
Do you want to use more of your own solar power? Do you want to smooth out peaks? Or do you want power during an outage? Pick one main goal. It decides which battery fits.
Use more of your own solar power →
Step 2: measure your use
Use a P1 meter. See how much power you use in the evening and at night, and how much you feed back during the day. Without numbers you buy on a hunch.
Step 3: choose the right capacity
A good guide is 60 to 80% of your daily use. If you use 10 kWh a day, a battery of 6 to 8 kWh fits. Check the difference between stated and usable capacity. A battery that is too big never empties overnight. One that is too small fills up fast.
Read next: Plug-In Battery →
Step 4: work out the payback time
Payback depends on the price, your use and your contract. A rounded example: you store 1,600 kWh a year. Buying costs 40 cents per kWh and feeding back earns 9 cents. You save about 1,600 x 31 cents, roughly 496 euros a year. If the battery costs 7,000 euros installed, payback takes about 14 years. This is an example, not a promise. Use your own numbers.
How a dynamic contract works →
Step 5: check for subsidies
There is no national subsidy for home batteries for private households in the Netherlands. The ISDE scheme does not cover them. Some provinces or municipalities have their own scheme. Ask your municipality.
Read next: Plug-In Battery →
Step 6: choose an installer
Have a large home battery installed by a professional. Ask for at least three quotes. Compare price, warranty, features and maintenance. Take your time. Never sign at the first visit.
How a dynamic contract works →
Want to start small?
A plug-in battery goes into a normal socket. The HomeWizard Plug-In Battery has 2.7 kWh and 800 watts. It gives no backup power. It suits a small household that wants to start carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Is a home battery still worth it after net metering ends?
For some households yes, especially with a lot of feed-in by day and use in the evening. Calculate it first. Read about the feed-in tariff →
How big should my home battery be?
A guide is 60 to 80% of your daily use. Measure your use with a P1 meter first. Meter and control with HomeWizard →
Is there a subsidy for a home battery?
There is no national subsidy for private households. Check your municipality or province. Read next: Plug-In Battery →
Ready to save?
- You open the provider’s website.
- You see the current prices and terms yourself.
- You decide. There is no obligation.