Deep Dives

Longer pieces on sizing, payback, technology and the questions homeowners keep asking us, regularly updated with our latest research so you are working from current numbers, not last year's.

Independent & unbiased
Updated regularly
No sales pitch

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Where Your Electricity Bill Goes: Wholesale, Network and Policy Costs

What the Ofgem price cap is made of, from wholesale and network costs to policy and supplier costs, and which parts a home battery can touch.

25/08/2026

A pale blue lounge chair with a cushion beside a white radiator against a stone wall

Home Battery With a Heat Pump: What It Can and Cannot Do

A heat pump uses a lot of electricity in winter, when solar is weakest. See where a home battery helps, where it does not, and what to check first.

23/08/2026

An open notebook and a pen on a wooden table

Standing Charges and Unit Rates: Which Half of Your Bill a Battery Can Change

Your electricity bill has a daily standing charge and a price per kWh. A home battery can only act on one of them. Here is which, and why it matters.

21/08/2026

Charging cable plugged into the charge port of a grey electric car with the charge flap open

Can you charge an electric car from a home battery?

You can charge an electric car from a home battery, though capacity limitations usually provide partial range.

19/08/2026

Hand pressing a calculator beside printed paperwork, with a person holding a document and a laptop in the background

Do you pay VAT on a home battery in the UK? (0% VAT rule)

Qualifying UK home battery installations are currently VAT-free, offering significant upfront savings for homeowners.

18/08/2026

Cosy living room in the evening with a floor lamp and table lamp lit beside a sofa, shelving unit and woven rug

Whole Home Battery Backup: How Does It Work?

Whole home battery backup systems keep critical household appliances running seamlessly during grid power outages.

15/08/2026

Row of red brick terraced houses with chimney pots and slate roofs along a residential street

Can You Use a Home Battery Without Solar Panels?

You can use a home battery without solar panels by charging cheap electricity from dynamic grid tariffs.

14/08/2026

A charging cable plugged into the port of a grey electric car

Vehicle-to-home (V2H) versus a home battery: what each does

Vehicle-to-home uses your car's battery to run the house. A home battery stays put. Here is how they differ and what to check before relying on either.

12/08/2026

Woman with her hand on her forehead reading a paper bill at a kitchen table beside a laptop and a calculator

How much can you save with a home battery in the UK?

A home battery saves money by storing solar power and charging during cheaper off-peak electricity hours.

10/08/2026

A panel of electricity meters with green displays on blue-grey mounts

Time-of-Use Tariffs Explained: Fixed Windows Versus Half-Hourly Prices

How time-of-use tariffs work, how they differ from dynamic tariffs, and what a home battery needs from them to be worth running.

08/08/2026

A house with solar panels on a grey roof against a blue sky

Hybrid Inverter vs Battery Inverter: What Each One Does in a Home Battery System

A hybrid inverter and a separate battery inverter both manage your battery, but they connect differently. Learn the trade-offs before you buy a system.

05/08/2026

Close-up of the terminals on a row of large batteries with red and blue caps

Sodium-Ion Batteries Explained: What They Could Mean for Home Storage

Sodium-ion is a newer battery chemistry that avoids lithium. Here is how it compares on energy density, cost and cold performance, and where it stands today.

02/08/2026