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The right battery size depends on your household electricity usage, when you use electricity and what you want your system to achieve.

A 6kWh battery may suit smaller households or homes with lower electricity usage. A 12kWh battery is often a good fit for a typical family home that wants to store more solar energy for use in the evening. A larger 23kWh battery may be appropriate for properties with higher electricity consumption, multiple electric vehicles, heat pumps or a greater desire for energy independence.

We'll analyse your electricity usage and recommend the battery size that provides the best balance between performance, future flexibility and value.

The largest battery isn't necessarily the most economical choice.

For example, if your home only regularly uses a relatively small amount of electricity overnight, installing a very large battery may leave you with unused capacity.

Conversely, a larger household with an EV, heat pump or high electricity consumption may be able to make much greater use of additional storage.

Our job isn't to sell you the biggest battery. It's to find the battery size that makes the most sense financially for your home.

That's a powerful differentiator.

Yes. Many modern battery systems can be programmed to charge during cheaper off-peak periods.

This means your battery can potentially be used in two different ways:

During sunny periods:

Store surplus solar energy that would otherwise be exported.

During cheaper periods:

Charge from the grid when electricity is cheaper and use that stored energy later when electricity costs more.

Used intelligently, battery storage can therefore help you make better use of your solar generation and take advantage of cheaper electricity tariffs.

The right strategy depends on your tariff, battery system and household consumption, which is why we'll look at your individual circumstances when designing your system.

Some electric vehicles support Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) or Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, allowing energy stored in the vehicle to be used by your home.

However, not every vehicle or charger currently supports these features.

For most households today, a dedicated home battery remains the most practical solution, but we'll always discuss the latest technology and whether it could benefit your property.

This is one of the most common misconceptions about solar and battery storage.

The answer depends on how your system has been designed.

A standard grid-connected solar panel system will automatically switch off during a power cut. This is a safety feature designed to protect electricity network engineers who may be working to restore power.

If your system includes a battery, it doesn't automatically mean your home will continue to have electricity during a power cut. Many battery systems are installed without backup functionality, meaning they will also shut down when the grid goes offline.

However, some battery systems can be designed with backup power or whole-home backup capabilities. With the correct battery, inverter and backup equipment, your home can continue to receive power during a power outage.

For example, Sigenergy systems can be installed with the Sigenergy Energy Gateway, which automatically detects a power cut, safely isolates your home from the electricity grid and allows the battery to continue supplying power to your property. Depending on the system design and battery capacity, this can provide backup to selected essential circuits or, in many cases, the whole home.

Tesla Powerwall also offers backup functionality when installed with the appropriate Tesla Backup Gateway. In the event of a power cut, the system can automatically disconnect from the grid and continue powering your home using stored battery energy, helping to keep essential appliances and, where designed, much of your home running.

The level of backup available will depend on several factors, including the battery capacity, the inverter and gateway equipment, your home's electrical installation, whether the system has been designed for essential-load backup or whole-home backup, and the amount of electricity being used during the outage. If having electricity during a power cut is important to you, we'll discuss this during your consultation and design a system that provides the level of resilience that's right for your home and lifestyle.

It's an important question.

Battery manufacturers continue to improve the way batteries are designed, manufactured and recycled, and the industry is investing heavily in reducing environmental impact.

While lithium-based batteries remain the most widely used technology for domestic energy storage, recycling processes and alternative battery chemistries continue to develop.

If sustainability is particularly important to you, we'll explain the available technologies and help you choose the most appropriate solution for your priorities.

In many cases, yes. Solar and battery systems can often be expanded, depending on your existing equipment, roof space and electrical capacity.

If you think your energy usage may increase in the future - for example because you are planning an electric vehicle, heat pump, extension or home office - we can take this into account when designing your system.

We'll explain the expansion options available with your chosen equipment so you can make a decision that supports both your current and future requirements.

If you've been researching solar panels or battery storage, you may have come across the terms G98, G99 and G100. These are UK engineering standards that govern how solar panels, battery storage and other electricity generation systems connect to the local electricity network.

The good news is you don't need to complete these applications yourself. As part of our service, Shine Solar will prepare and submit the required application or notification on your behalf.

A G98 is a "fit and notify" process used for smaller generation systems that meet specific

technical limits. This means your system can usually be installed first, with the local electricity network operator (known as the Distribution Network Operator or DNO) being notified afterwards.

A G99 application is required for larger or more complex systems that need approval before installation. The DNO will assess whether the local electricity network can safely accommodate the proposed installation and may approve the system as designed, approve it with certain conditions such as an export limit, or occasionally request network upgrades before the installation can proceed.

A G100 relates to export limitation. Specialist equipment continuously monitors the export and automatically limits it to an agreed maximum. This allows many larger solar and battery systems to be installed without requiring costly upgrades to the local electricity network.

Applications are assessed by your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) - the company responsible for operating and maintaining the electricity network in your area. Your electricity supplier does not approve G98, G99 or G100 applications.

Every application is different. A G98 notification is usually submitted after installation and processed quickly. Many straightforward domestic G99 applications are determined within around 45 working days, although times can vary depending on the complexity of the project and the workload of the local DNO. More complex applications can take several months where detailed network studies or reinforcement works are required.

We'll identify which application is required, prepare the technical documentation, submit everything to the DNO and manage the process from start to finish.

If your solar panels generate more electricity than you're using, the surplus can often be exported back to the electricity grid. Many energy suppliers offer payments for this through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

The amount you're paid depends on your electricity supplier, the export tariff you choose, whether you have a smart meter capable of recording exported electricity, and the terms and conditions of your chosen tariff.

While export rates change over time, many current Smart Export Guarantee tariffs pay between 5p and 30p per kWh, with some specialist tariffs offering higher rates under certain conditions. However, exporting your electricity isn't always the most valuable option. For many homeowners, it's worth significantly more to use the electricity they generate themselves rather than exporting it. This is because the cost of buying electricity from the grid is often considerably higher than the amount paid

for exported electricity.

This is where battery storage can make a real difference. Instead of exporting surplus electricity during the day, a battery allows you to store it and use it later in the evening when your solar panels are no longer generating. Many battery systems can also be programmed to charge overnight using cheaper off-peak electricity tariffs, helping to reduce your energy costs even further.

During your consultation, we'll explain the different export options available and help you choose the strategy that offers the best overall value for your home and your energy usage.

Your installation includes manufacturer warranties covering the equipment supplied, together with our workmanship guarantee. Our panels have a 25-year manufacturer warranty and batteries and inverters come with 10–15-year warranties.

We'll explain exactly what is covered before installation so you have complete confidence in your investment.