‘Significantly lower energy bills’: How do solar batteries work and are they worth the investment?
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As Europeans scramble to install rooftop solar panels or even plug-in alternatives, the need for battery storage systems continues to grow.
Solar has been described as a “shining star” of Europe’s clean transition, rapidly boosting interest in battery storage systems.
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Amid the war on Iran, home-grown renewables are helping cushion European households from volatile fossil fuel shocks, with recent analysis showing that solar power saved Europe more than €100 million per day throughout March by reducing gas imports.
If gas prices remain high, which is mainly due to Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, experts say that total savings in 2026 could reach a staggering €67.5 billion.
Solar soars across Europe
In the UK, new government data shows that more than 27,000 solar installations were completed in March 2026, the highest monthly total since 2012. It means solar capacity has increased by 11.7 per cent over the past year, adding 2.3 GW of clean, homegrown electricity to Britain’s energy mix.
To put that into perspective, a power plant with a capacity of 1 GW could power around 876,000 homes for one year, based on typical US household consumption rates.
In Germany, energy firm Enpal BV found that inquiries for solar panels and heat pumps have spiked by around 30 per cent since the US-Israel conflict began in the Middle East, while solar firm 1KOMMA5° GmbH has also reported an almost doubling of interest in solar.
RelatedThe UK is the latest European country to also greenlight the commercial sale of plug-in solar panels, for households who cannot afford to install traditional rooftops – or for those living in shared/rented accommodation.
These mini devices, which don’t need to be professionally installed, could save a typical UK household £1,100 (around €1,261) during their 15-year lifetime, according to an analysis by Carbon Brief, and have long been a staple of homegrown energy in Germany.
What is battery storage?
Battery storage allows households to keep electricity stored and ready so it can be used when needed.
These batteries are charged using excess electricity generated from solar power or other forms of home generation, or can even be charged through your mains electricity supply.
Most people use less electricity during the day (due to being out at work or school). But this is when solar panels will be generating the majority of electricity.
Batteries therefore allow households to use the stored energy at night or during very cloudy days when their solar panels aren’t generating much electricity. You can also export electricity generated by solar panels back to the grid, and get paid to do so.
“Batteries, when combined with smart tariffs, can significantly lower energy bills,” Phil Steele, of UK energy firm Octopus Energy, tells Euronews Earth.
“Rather than paying the same flat rate around the clock, smart tariffs like Agile Octopus automatically charge the battery when electricity is at its cheapest and discharge it when prices are at their highest, so customers get the most out of every unit of energy stored.”
How much do batteries cost and how long will they last?
According to the International Energy Agency, average battery costs have plummeted by 90 per cent since 2010 due to advances in battery chemistry and manufacturing.
In the past five years, more than 2,000 GWh of lithium-ion battery capacity has been added worldwide, powering 40 million electric vehicles and thousands of battery storage projects.
The price of a battery depends on your home’s needs. For example, a 5kWh battery from Octopus Energy, which can power a typical British home for around six to eight hours, starts at £3,447 (around €4,028). Batteries with a larger voltage, such as a 10kWh model, can cost more than €7,000 – but can store enough energy for around a day and a half.
The typical lifespan of a battery, depending on how you use it, tends to be around 10-12 years – but as research into the devices improves, this could soon be extended.
Can battery storage improve Europe’s energy grid?
Europe is currently facing a rising trend of negative electricity prices, where supply outstrips demand. This has reiterated calls to bolster industrial battery energy storage systems across the continent.
Last year, the EU installed 27.1 GWh of new battery storage systems – marking 12 consecutive years of record growth. However, a report by Solar Power Europe says the EU must repeat its tenfold growth once again to meet its 2030 targets.
Five EU markets delivered more than 60 per cent of all new BESS capacity in 2025, with Germany and Italy leading the race. Bulgaria became the fastest-growing market, bumping up to third place, followed by the Netherlands and Spain.
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