Homes across the South East are using more electricity than ever before – particularly in the evenings. Electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, induction cooking, home offices and smart appliances all tend to peak after normal work hours, precisely when grid electricity is most expensive. For households with high evening demand, battery storage paired with solar PV is one of the most effective ways to reduce bills, improve self-consumption and increase energy resilience.
At SolarTherm UK we design battery led systems specifically for high usage households in Essex, Kent, Suffolk and the wider South East.
Why Evening Energy Use Is a Cost Problem
Homes generate solar electricity during daylight hours, but many homes have the largest loads after sunset. EV charging typically starts in the evening, heat pumps ramp up as temperatures start to drop and cooking, lighting and after work entertainment peak in the evenings.
Without battery storage, surplus daylight solar is exported to the grid, often at a relatively low rate, while expensive electricity is bought back later. This mismatch is where a solar battery delivers the greatest value.
How Battery Storage Solves the Evening Usage Gap
A home battery stores surplus solar generation during the day and releases it to power your home when its needed most – usually between 4pm and midnight.
Solar battery helps you consume more of your own free electricity, generated from the solar panels on your roof. This results in lower reliance on peak rate grid electricity which can be expensive. You can also use your stored solar energy to charge your EV overnight, further increasing self-consumption.
For many high demand households, battery storage is the difference between “having solar” and using solar effectively.
Battery Storage for EV Charging at Home
EVs are one of the largest electrical loads in the modern home. A battery allows you to store daytime solar and use it to charge your EV (for free) overnight and reduce or eliminate peak rate charging. Combine your solar and battery storage with off peak tariffs for maximum savings, benefitting from free solar during the day and cheaper off peak grid electricity to charge your battery overnight. In the South East, battery backed solar systems are increasingly essential for cost effective home charging.
Supporting Heat Pumps with Solar Batteries
Heat pumps run for long periods and often peak in the early morning and evenings. Battery storage helps by powering the heat pump with stored solar energy rather than grid electricity. This can help the UK’s transition to an electric energy system by reducing strain during peak tariff periods, improving overall system efficiency and predictability.
For homes transitioning away from gas, pairing heat pumps with battery storage significantly improves running costs and long term return on investment.
What Size Solar Battery Do High Usage Homes Need?
Battery sizing depends on your usage profile, not just system sizing. High evening usage homes typically require larger battery capacity to cover EV charging and heating. Battery storage is usually scalable to allow for future expansion if your usage patterns change or increase.
At SolarTherm UK we analyse consumption data to design battery systems that match your usage patterns, rather than relying on generic assumptions. We provide you with smart monitoring so you can prioritise critical loads and balance your battery system to suit your lifestyle and needs.
Is Battery Storage Worth It Without Solar?
Yes – particularly for high usage households without a suitable roof for solar. A solar battery paired with a suitable time of use tariff can charge cheaply overnight on off peak grid electricity. This electricity can then be used to power your home during expensive evening peak periods and deliver savings, even if you don’t have solar. Many homeowers in the South East install battery storage first then add solar PV panels later when budget or roof work allow.
Why High Usage Homes in the South East Benefit Most
The South East benefits from strong solar generation, high electricity prices and widespread adoption of EVs and heat pumps. This combination makes battery storage especially effective at reducing long term energy costs and increasing household energy independence.
Expert Battery Design from SolarTherm UK
Every home uses energy differently and at SolarTherm UK we don’t believe in a one size fits all approach to solar design and battery storage. We carry out a detailed energy usage analysis and use this to custom design your battery storage system. All our systems are future proofed and scalable, allowing you to add more storage in the future if your energy needs increase.
At SolarTherm UK our MCS accredited installers provide high quality, compliant systems and expert long term aftercare. If your home has a high evening electricity usage, battery storage is not an optional upgrade, it’s a strategic investment.
Speak to SolarTherm UK
If you are running EVs, heat pumps or simply use more electricity at night, our expert team can design a battery storage solution tailored to your home and lifestyle. Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free, no obligation quote, tailored to your home, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
