Last Updated on May 27, 2025

Solar Power Diverters vs Solar Batteries

As more UK homeowners and landlords embrace solar energy, one common question arises: How many storage batteries are needed to power a house? The answer depends on several factors, including your electricity usage, battery size, solar system size, and backup requirements. 

Understanding the right number of solar batteries to meet your energy needs is crucial for optimising performance and return on investment.

Solar Power Diverters vs Solar Batteries: A Quick Comparison

Before we dive deeper, here’s a quick comparison of the key differences between these two technologies:

Why Solar Batteries Are the Smarter Long-Term Investment

While diverters offer a short-term way to utilise surplus solar power, they fall short in delivering the full energy-saving potential that solar battery storage systems offer.

Store Now, Use Later

Solar batteries allow you to store excess solar power generated during daylight hours and use it when the sun goes down, especially during high-demand periods when grid electricity costs more. 

For homeowners wondering how long a solar battery can power a house, the answer depends on the system size and usage, but the freedom to power your essentials at night or during outages is invaluable.

Maximise Your ROI

Every kilowatt-hour stored is a kilowatt-hour not bought from the grid. This means greater energy independence and a faster return on investment. Plus, with electricity prices in the UK climbing, storing your own power ensures more predictable energy bills.

If you’re asking are solar batteries worth it?, the long-term savings and flexibility make them an increasingly wise investment for modern homes and commercial properties.

Add-on Friendly

If you already have solar panels and are wondering if you can add a battery to your existing solar system? — absolutely. Many battery systems are modular and retrofittable, giving you the option to upgrade when you’re ready.

When Might a Solar Diverter Be a Good Option?

If your energy use is minimal, you don’t mind running your hot water on excess solar, or you’re looking for a low-cost entry into solar efficiency, diverters can help you make small savings. But they only make sense when you don’t need the flexibility or backup power that batteries provide.

Factors to Considerations When Choosing Solar Batteries

Battery Size & Capacity

A big question many ask is what size solar battery do I need? This depends on your energy consumption patterns. High-usage homes may benefit from larger storage capacities.

Lifespan & Safety

Modern lithium batteries are built to last, but how long do solar batteries last? On average, 10 to 15 years. And are solar batteries safe? With the right installation and battery technology (e.g., LiFePO₄), they are extremely safe even when installed outdoors (can solar batteries be installed outside).

Performance Issues

If you’re currently experiencing problems like your solar battery draining fast?, it may be due to load mismatches or faulty inverters.

Solar Batteries for Outage Protection

With UK weather getting increasingly erratic, power outages are more common than ever. Unlike diverters, solar batteries can keep your lights on and your essentials running even during blackouts. Learn more about how long a solar battery power a house and if backup power is right for you.

What If You Don’t Want a Battery Yet?

For those asking can you run solar panels without batteries?, yes, you can. But you’ll still be dependent on the grid during evenings and outages. Diverters offer a basic way to optimise self-consumption, but they can’t replace the reliability or flexibility of a battery setup.

Types of Solar Batteries You Can Choose

Choosing the right type of battery is important for efficiency and longevity. Whether you’re looking at lithium-ion, AGM, or gel batteries, our guide on types of solar batteries breaks it all down, helping you select the best fit for your energy goals.

How Many Batteries Do You Need?

One of the most common questions we hear is how many storage batteries are needed to power a house? That depends on your home size, energy usage, and whether you want partial or full backup. Our experts at Eco Happy can walk you through a tailored plan that suits your needs.

Get a Free Solar Battery Quote from Eco Happy Today

Why settle for limited savings when your home or property could run smarter and greener with a solar battery system? At Eco Happy, we help UK homeowners and landlords maximise their solar investment with safe, long-lasting, high-efficiency batteries that fit your lifestyle and energy needs.

 Honest advice
Tailored system design
Professional installation
Ongoing support

Take the next step today. Request your free, no-obligation solar battery quote now — and discover how much more your solar panels could be doing for you.