How it works without solar
A home battery without solar works through tariff arbitrage – buying electricity when it's cheap and using it when it's expensive. Time-of-use tariffs like Octopus Go charge around 7p/kWh overnight compared to 29p+ during the day. Your battery charges during cheap hours and powers your home during expensive ones.
The battery connects to your home's electrical supply and the grid. No solar panels, no roof work, no planning permission needed. It sits on a wall or floor in your garage, utility room, or outside.
(Octopus Go)
(what you'd pay)
(every day)
Why would I skip solar?
Solar panels are great if you can get them. But many UK homes can't – or don't want to right now. Your roof might face the wrong way, be shaded by trees, or be unsuitable for panels. You might be renting, in a listed building, or simply not ready for the upfront cost of a full solar array.
A battery-only system costs significantly less than solar+battery, installs faster, and starts saving money from day one. You can always add solar panels later if you want to.
Battery only vs battery with solar
🔌 Battery only
- Charge overnight at 7p/kWh
- Power your home during the day
- Save the 22p/kWh difference
- £600-800+ annual savings
- Works in any home
- Add solar later if you want
☀️ Battery + solar
- Store your free solar energy
- Use it in the evening instead of exporting at 4p
- Boost self-consumption from 30% to 80%
- Still benefit from overnight tariff charging
- Higher upfront cost
- Needs suitable roof
What tariff do I need?
Any time-of-use tariff with cheap overnight rates works. The most popular options are Octopus Go (7p overnight), Intelligent Octopus Go (7p with a longer window), and Economy 7 (approximately 12p overnight). You need a smart meter – if you don't have one, your energy supplier will install one for free.
Can I add solar panels later?
Yes. Habo bundles include a hybrid inverter that's ready for solar. When you're ready to add panels, your installer connects them to the existing inverter. The most expensive component is already in place – adding solar later is a relatively straightforward upgrade.
The Habo approach
Most battery companies assume you have solar. We don't. Habo bundles are designed for battery-only households from the start. Everything's included – battery, inverter, cables, mounting kit, and installation guide. Pre-configured for UK tariffs. Any electrician can install it.
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