Solar panels with home battery storage: is it worth it?

Key takeaways 

• Solar panels work best when paired with home battery storage, letting you use more of your own energy and rely less on the grid 
• Aira combines solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps into one intelligent system (Aira Home Energy System) that uses AI to optimise how your home uses energy 
• With Aira Intelligence and a smart tariff, you can cut energy bills by up to 90%, reduce your carbon footprint and stay protected from rising energy prices 

Rising energy prices have made more homeowners look seriously at solar panels. But on their own, solar panels only get you so far. Add battery storage, and that’s when the real savings – and control – begin. 

So, is a solar and battery system actually worth it? For many UK homes, the answer is yes. Especially when it’s designed as one intelligent system, not a collection of disconnected parts. 

Let’s break down why.

Why solar panels alone shouldn't be the full story

Solar panels generate clean, renewable energy by turning sunlight into electricity. Even in the UK, solar PV systems can produce meaningful power on grey days – not just bright summer ones. 

But here’s the catch: most solar generation happens during the day, when many homes aren’t using much electricity. Without home battery storage, that excess solar energy is usually exported back to the National Grid for a relatively small return. 

Later that evening, when your home needs power most, you buy it back at a higher price. That limits how much your solar panels can really reduce your electricity bills. 

What battery storage changes 

Adding battery storage turns your solar system into something far more powerful. 

Instead of exporting unused solar energy, solar batteries store it. That means: 

• You use more of the electricity your solar panels generate 
• You rely less on the grid during peak hours 
• You protect yourself from volatile energy prices 

In short, battery storage lets you keep your free energy and use it when it matters most. 

A well-sized home battery storage system increases self-consumption dramatically, which is why solar panels and battery storage work best together. 

How solar panels and home batteries work together

Here’s how a modern solar and battery system works in practice: 

• Your solar array (your collection of multiple solar panels wired together) generates electricity during the day 
• Your inverter converts electricity from DC to AC and your home uses what energy it needs immediately 
• Any excess solar generation charges your home batteries or is sold to the grid
• In the evening, stored energy powers your home instead of expensive grid electricity 

Most modern systems, like the Aira Power Store, use advanced lithium-ion batteries, managed by a smart battery management system, to safely control charging, discharging and battery capacity over time. 

The result? Lower energy bills, better energy security, and far less dependence on fossil fuels.

Let's talk money: is it worth the investment?

Solar panels and battery storage do cost more upfront than solar alone. But the long-term maths often works strongly in your favour. 

With the right system: 

• You reduce electricity bills by using more of your own power 
• You avoid peak energy prices in the evening 
• You benefit from time-of-use tariff and smart tariff pricing 
• You’re less exposed to future price rises 

For homes with heat pumps, the savings add up faster. If you swap your gas boiler for an Aira Heat Pump, solar panels and Aira Power Store, you could save up to 90% on your energy bills. 

So, what's the payback?

Solar panels on their own usually take longer to pay back, because much of the energy they generate is exported to the grid at low rates.

Add battery storage, and more of that free solar energy gets used in your home – especially in the evenings, when electricity prices peak. That typically brings payback down to around 7–12 years for many UK homes.

Add an Aira Heat Pump into the mix, all optimised by Aira Intelligence, and savings can go much further — cutting energy bills by up to 90%. Which means payback can be quicker still.

Where Aira is different: intelligence, not just hardware

Taking control of your home's energy used to mean patching together separate systems. Solar here. A home battery there. A heat pump somewhere else. And getting them to all work together? A real headache. Aira changes that. 

Every Aira solar and battery system is designed as a single home energy ecosystem, powered by Aira Intelligence – smart AI that continuously learns how your home uses energy and adapts in real time. 

Aira Intelligence: 

• Forecasts how much solar power you’ll generate each day and plans your energy use around it 
• Learns your daily routines and heats the right amount of hot water when you need it 
• Anticipates temperature shifts and sunlight, adjusting heating to avoid wasted energy 
• Coordinates your solar panels, Aira Power Store, heat pump and Power Hub (inverter) so they work together – not against each other 

The result? You save more without lifting a finger. 

What about smart tariffs, and can home batteries charge using electricity straight from the grid?

Battery storage isn’t just about solar energy. 

With a time-of-use tariff, home batteries can also charge from the grid when electricity is cheap, then power your home when prices rise. This “buy low, use high” approach can cut energy bills even further – even in winter, when solar generation is lower. 

And with the Aira Home Energy System (your Aira Heat Pump, solar and Power Store), Aira Intelligence does all this for you. It syncs with your energy tariff to make the most of changing prices, storing energy when it’s cheapest and using or selling it when prices peak. 

Prefer a little more control? Aira Intelligence talks with your Aira Home Energy app, so you can see exactly how your home is being powered in real time. You can even choose what Aira Intelligence prioritises – using as much of your free solar as possible, or optimising around your energy tariff to power your home when electricity is cheapest.

Beyond the savings: the other benefits of combining solar with a home battery

1. Energy independence and security 

Producing and storing your own electricity reduces reliance on the grid and improves energy security. 

2. Protection during power outages 

Some systems can provide limited backup power during a power outage, keeping essentials running when the grid goes down.  

3. Lower carbon footprint 

By using more renewable energy at home, you significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Less grid electricity means fewer emissions and less reliance on fossil fuels. 

Is solar with battery storage right for every home?

Not every roof or household is identical. The value of solar panels and battery storage depends on: 

• Roof size, angle and shading 
• Your energy use patterns 
• Available storage capacity 
• Tariffs and local incentives 

That’s why Aira starts with a free home energy assessment. We design a bespoke system around your home, habits and future needs – not an off-the-shelf package.

So, is it all worth it?

For most UK homes, solar panels paired with battery storage are absolutely worth it – especially as energy prices continue to increase. 

You get: 

• Lower electricity bills 
• Greater control over your energy 
• Better use of your solar PV 
• Long-term protection from rising costs 
• A meaningful reduction in your carbon footprint 

Solar panels are a great first step. Battery storage is what unlocks their full potential.