Solar Panels vs Solar Batteries: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve been looking into solar energy for your home, you’ve likely come across two terms again and again: solar panels and solar batteries. They’re often mentioned together, but they aren’t the same thing, and they each play a different role in helping you to generate and use clean, renewable electricity.

This guide will break down exactly what each does, how they work together and how to decide what’s right for your home and budget. Whether you’re in Lincoln, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, or one of our county’s many rural villages, you’ll have a clear picture of your options by the end.

 

What Are Solar Panels?

First, let’s look into solar panels and how they work. Solar panels – or photovoltaic (PV) panels – are the part of the system that turns sunlight into electricity. They contain many small solar cells made from semiconductors that absorb photons from sunlight. Essentially, this knocks electrons loose, creating a flow of electricity.

A typical solar panel installation is between 3 kW and 8 kW in size. For example, a well-sited 4 kW system in Lincolnshire can generate around 3,400 kWh a year, which is enough to cover a large portion of an average household’s electricity needs.

Key factors that affect output:

• Roof Orientation: South-facing is best, but east and west-facing properties still work well.
• Tilt Angle: Around 30–40° is optimal for our latitude, and this is particularly important in winter with fewer hours of daylight. See our blog: ‘Do Solar Panels Work in Winter?’ for more information.
• Shading: Trees, chimneys or nearby buildings can reduce generation. A benefit of owning solar panels in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire is that our terrain has many flat areas, and with few cities in either region, tall buildings tend not to be an issue.

 

What Are Solar Batteries?

Meanwhile, solar batteries store any surplus electricity your panels produce. Without a battery, unused electricity goes back into the National Grid – which you can get paid for via the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). With a battery, that surplus is saved for you to use later, such as in the evening when your panels aren’t generating.

Battery capacities for homes usually range from 5kWh to 15kWh. The right size depends on:

• How much electricity you use at night.
• How much surplus you tend to produce.
• Whether you want to cover occasional outages.

Some modern batteries also allow you to charge them with cheap, off-peak electricity from the grid, so you can use that stored power during peak rate times.

 

Key Differences: Solar Panels vs Solar Batteries

If we were to fit it in a nutshell, here is the simplest way to put it:

• Solar Panels = generation
• Solar Batteries = storage

Without solar panels, a battery is just an expensive box with nothing to store. Without a solar battery, panels still save you money, but you’ll export any excess instantly instead of using it later. Having the option to use your energy at a later date offers greater energy independence and flexibility. However, there are other factors between panels and batteries.

• Cost: Solar panels are usually the larger investment upfront, but batteries add significantly to the system price.
• Savings impact: Panels save money every time they generate electricity you use. Batteries help you use more of your own electricity, increasing your total savings.
• Lifespan: Solar panels typically last 25+ years, whereas the batteries generally last 10-15 years before capacity reduces.

 

How Solar Panels and Batteries Work Together

A handy way to think of it is like this: think of your solar system like a water tank. Your solar panels are the tap filling the tank with water (electricity), and the battery is the actual tank that stores it until you need it. On bright summer days in Lincolnshire or Yorkshire, your solar panels might generate more than you use, but the battery keeps the extra for later. In winter, generation is lower, but a battery can still help you make the most of every sunny hour we receive on a crips, winter’s day.

 

Is a Battery Worth It in Lincolnshire?

A solar battery can be a smart investment if:

• You use a lot of electricity in the evenings.
• You want to increase energy independence.
• You’d like protection during the occasional power cut.
• You want to store cheap off-peak electricity.

However, if most of your electricity use is during daylight hours (for example, if you work from home or have family who like streaming whilst playing video games), you might get less benefit from a battery initially and could add one later.

 

Choosing the Right Setup

The best system you go with depends on a few factors, including:

• Your Budget: Start with solar panels first and then add a battery if your budget allows it, or if you think your long-term savings will be greater with a battery.
• Roof Size: More solar panels may bring better returns than a battery if space allows.
• Future Plans: Electric vehicle? Heat pump? These may make a battery more worthwhile in the long run.

Our team at Lincs Renewables can design a system that’s right for your current needs but can also be expanded later.

 

Why Choose Lincs Renewables?

We’re a Lincolnshire-based, MCS-certified installer with years of experience designing and fitting solar systems across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. We know the local conditions, the best products for our climate and how to make the numbers work for you. Plus, our friendly survey process is free and comes with no-obligation.

 

Conclusion

Solar panels and solar batteries go hand in hand, but they serve very different purposes. To summarise, solar panels generate clean energy, whereas solar batteries store excess energy so you can use it when you want or need to. Whether you need both right now or just want to start with solar panels, the important thing to note is that every kWh you generate brings you closer to lower bills and a lower carbon footprint.

Contact us today to request a quote and receive expert, local advice tailored for your property, or download our free solar guide for more information on the benefits of switching to solar energy.