A Practical Guide for Scotland: Using a Home Battery Without Solar Panels

Paying peak price for your electricity is a mug's game. You're buying a product when it's at its most expensive, every single day.

There is now a way to stop doing that, and it doesn't require you to own a south-facing mansion with a roof covered in solar panels. This guide explains how to use a home battery by itself to buy electricity when it's cheap and use it when it's expensive.

It's the single biggest, no-nonsense shift you can make to take control of your energy bills.

PS. We are MCS-certified battery installers across Scotland. Get a fixed price quote here.

---

At a Glance

This is about something called grid arbitrage. It means you use a home battery to play the energy market. You buy low. You use high.

---

Q. How Do the Savings Work?

Your battery is set to charge automatically overnight. This is when your 'Time-of-Use' tariff makes electricity very cheap. Maybe 7p per unit. During the evening peak, your house draws power from the battery instead of the grid. You are using the 7p power while your neighbours are paying the 30p peak price. The battery's software handles all of this for you.

---

Q. Can you show me an example?

• The Household: A family of four in Stirling.
• The Problem: High energy bills due to evening routines – cooking, TV, washing machine, and car charging after 6 PM.
• The Solution: A 13.5kWh home battery installed and paired with an Octopus Agile tariff.
• The Outcome: The battery charges fully overnight for a low price. It runs the house during the evening peak. The EV only ever charges on the cheapest possible electricity.
• The Result: Their peak-time grid usage is now close to zero.

---

Q. So, what kit is it that you would need?

• A Home Battery System: This is the main unit that would store the power.
• A Smart Metre: Your property must have one installed and fully working.
• An ‘Agile’ or ‘Time of Use’ Energy Tariff: You will have to switch to one of these from your current supplier, if you’re not already on one. Scottish Power, Octopus, and others offer them here in Scotland.

Many of our customers have success with Octopus's smart tariffs. If you switch to them via our partner link, you can get a £50 credit.

Claim Your £50 Octopus Energy Credit →

---

Q. Do You Need Solar Panels?

No, this is the entire point. The system is designed to save you money using just the battery and the grid. Adding solar panels later is a bonus that will increase your savings.

---

Q. Is there financial help in Scotland?

The funding landscape for renewables in Scotland is evolving. Here’s the current situation:

• Home Energy Scotland (HES) Loan: As of mid-2024, the interest-free loan is no longer available for standalone battery installations. Funding is now primarily focused on heating upgrades, and a battery may only be included as part of a larger package (for example, with a new heat pump).

• ECO4 Scheme: If your household is on a low income and meets specific criteria, the UK-wide ECO4 grant scheme may offer funding for a battery, usually as part of a whole-house energy efficiency upgrade.

Because rules and eligibility can change, it is essential that you check the official Home Energy Scotland website for the most up-to-date information.

Pro Tip: Stop buying electricity when it's expensive. It's that simple.

---

Q. What is the Installation Process Like?

The installation process is straightforward and usually takes less than a day. We design the system and give you a fixed price online. On the installation day our MCS certified electricians fit the battery, usually in a garage or utility. We connect the battery to your internet and set up the app on your phone. We show you how it works and provide all your certification documents.

---

Q. Are There Any Catches?

Yes. You need to know these.

• This is a cost saving system, not a blackout backup system (that requires different, more expensive hardware).
• Your savings are directly linked to the price difference between your peak and off-peak electricity prices.
• You must be able to switch to a Time-of-Use tariff.
• You must inform your home insurance provider that you have installed a battery system. This is a standard requirement.

---

Q. What about common myths?

• "Home batteries are noisy and smelly.": The reality is that they are fully sealed, silent, and produce no emissions.
• "They are a fire hazard.": The truth is all batteries we install are certified to the highest UK fire safety standards (including MCS). They are significantly safer than having a car full of petrol in your garage.
• "The technology is too new and unreliable.": Battery storage has been used commercially for decades. The technology is mature, and most leading batteries come with a 10 year warranty as standard. They require virtually no maintenance.

---

Q. What Size Battery Is The Right Size For You?

This depends entirely on your home's evening energy usage. We calculate the optimal size for you as part of our free quote process. Most 3-bedroom homes in Scotland fit a battery between 5kWh and 13.5kWh.

---