Installing solar panels has changed how you power your home.
Your freshly installed panels sit ready on your roof, converting sunlight into electricity.
But they could work even harder for you. With the right additional components, you can increase your savings and squeeze even more value from your home solar system.
Modern solar technology offers various ways to boost your system’s performance and put more of your generated power to good use. From battery storage to smart monitoring, these essential solar add-ons can transform how you generate, store and use electricity in your home.
Each component serves a specific purpose, working alongside your panels to increase efficiency, reduce waste and maximise the benefits of your solar system. Choosing the right combination of add-ons can help you create a comprehensive home energy system that reduces your bills further and gives you greater control over your power use. Here’s what to consider:
Power optimisers and microinverters
Traditional home solar systems use a single inverter for all panels, meaning one shaded or dirty panel can affect the whole array.
Power optimisers solve this problem. They work alongside your central inverter, adjusting each panel’s output to maintain maximum efficiency. They prevent poor-performing panels from reducing the output of others, increasing overall generation.
Each optimiser monitors its panel’s performance and adjusts its voltage output to match the system’s needs. This technology particularly benefits installations where some panels might experience partial shade during the day, or where panels face different directions.
Microinverters convert DC to AC electricity at each panel, eliminating the need for a central inverter. This approach maximises generation and provides detailed performance data for each panel. While typically more expensive than power optimisers, microinverters offer excellent reliability and are easy to maintain. They also make expanding your system easier, as you can add panels without upgrading your central inverter. Many homeowners choose microinverters for their superior monitoring capabilities and longer warranty periods, which often extend to 25 years.
Battery storage storage
Solar battery systems store the excess electricity generated during sunny periods, making it available when you need it most. Instead of sending surplus power to the grid, you keep it for evening use or cloudy days.
Solar storage batteries mount securely on your wall. They connect directly to your solar system and home electrical network. When your panels generate more power than you’re using, this electricity charges your battery. Later, when your panels aren’t producing enough power, your battery automatically supplies the stored energy to your home.
Modern home solar batteries – like the Tesla Powerwall 3 – offer impressive storage capacity. A typical system stores between 5-13.5kWh of electricity, enough to power an average home through the evening and into the night. Many battery systems include built-in inverters and smart controls, managing power flow automatically to maximise your savings. They also provide backup power during grid outages, to keep your essential appliances running.
The technology continues to improve and become more affordable. Current battery systems last 10-15 years and often pay for themselves within a few years through reduced electricity bills.
Solar immersion controllers
Solar immersion controllers like the My Energi Eddi put excess solar power to work heating your water. When your panels generate more electricity than you use, instead of exporting it to the grid, the controller diverts it to your immersion heater.
The Eddi monitors your generation and consumption in real time, only using surplus power for water heating. It ensures you benefit from free hot water without reducing the power available for your other appliances. Many users find they rarely need their boiler for hot water during the summer months. The system automatically adjusts to your energy use, ensuring your home’s power needs always take priority over heating your water.
These controllers typically cost around £500 plus installation, making them an affordable way to increase self-consumption. They work particularly well alongside battery storage, creating a comprehensive energy management system.
Most units offer remote monitoring through a smartphone app, letting you track exactly how much solar energy goes into heating your water and the resulting savings on your energy bills.
Smart meters and monitoring systems
Smart meters provide detailed insights into your energy use patterns. They show precisely when you import and export electricity, helping you match your consumption to your solar generation.
This information proves invaluable for maximising self-consumption and reducing your bills. Understanding your energy flows means you can make informed decisions about when to use appliances and how to adapt your habits.
Modern monitoring systems display real-time generation, consumption and battery status through a smartphone app. They track historical performance, helping you spot trends and optimise your energy use even further. Some systems even predict your generation based on weather forecasts, helping you plan your power-hungry activities, like cooking, ironing or washing your clothes.
Solar EV chargers
If you own an electric vehicle or plan to get one, solar-compatible EV chargers make perfect sense. You can power your car directly from your solar panels, cutting charging costs and reducing your carbon footprint further.
Smart EV chargers can prioritise solar charging. They monitor your home’s power consumption and adjust charging rates to prevent overload.
Many units offer scheduling features, ensuring your car charges when electricity costs less.
Advanced models automatically balance charging between solar and grid power, ensuring your car charges efficiently while protecting your home’s electrical supply. This integration between your solar system and EV charger creates a seamless charging experience, maximising the use of your solar generation.
Choosing the right add-ons
Picking the right solar add-ons depends on how you use power in your home. So, start by looking at when you consume the most electricity.
Do you run lots of appliances in the evening after work? A battery system might be your best first upgrade.
Does your family use plenty of hot water? A solar immersion controller could slash your water heating bills.
Your budget will shape your choices, too. Battery systems cost more upfront but can dramatically cut your electricity bills over time. If you want to start smaller, an immersion controller gives you quick savings on water heating for a lower initial outlay. Many of our customers start with one add-on and build up their system over time as they see the benefits.
Take time to check what works with your current setup. While most modern add-ons connect easily to any solar system, some need specific types of inverters or monitoring systems. Our team can check your system’s compatibility and help you plan the most effective upgrades for your situation.
How can we help?
Get in touch to discuss how these add-ons could improve your home solar system’s performance. We’ll assess your current system, energy use patterns and goals to recommend suitable upgrades.
Our team keeps up with the latest solar technology developments, ensuring you get reliable, efficient solutions. We handle everything from initial advice through to installation and setup, making sure your solar system works perfectly.
We’ll explain your options, answer your questions and help you make informed decisions about upgrading your solar installation. Reach out for an initial chat and quote. We look forward to hearing from you.
