The 5 biggest benefits of battery storage for social housing residents
As the UK moves toward its net zero goals, many social landlords have already taken significant steps to decarbonise their housing stock. One of the most popular upgrades so far has been installing solar panels under government-backed schemes like WH: SHF (Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund). Solar panels are a relatively cheap way to bring up EPC ratings to meet ambitious government targets.
But while solar PV is a valuable first step, many residents are only seeing part of the benefit. Without battery storage, solar panels only provide free electricity during daylight hours. That means after sunset, tenants are still reliant on the grid and facing higher energy costs and vulnerability to blackouts.
For asset managers in housing associations or local authorities, adding a solar battery storage system should be the next step. It maximises the existing solar infrastructure, improves resident outcomes, and supports long-term sustainability objectives.
In this blog, we’re exploring the five biggest benefits of battery storage for social housing and why it should be part of every retrofit or new-build strategy.
1. Low maintenance
One of the common concerns for asset managers is the long-term stress of maintaining new technology. Fortunately, modern energy storage systems are designed to be low maintenance and very reliable, even in high-demand environments like social housing.
Once installed, most systems come with remote monitoring capabilities, self-diagnosis functions, and robust manufacturer warranties, sometimes covering up to 15 years.
This makes it easy for housing teams to monitor performance across their portfolio without adding workload or making subcontracted maintenance teams even thinner on the ground. Plus, routine servicing can often be bundled with existing planned maintenance programmes, to help with compliance and budgeting.
2. Increased energy independence for residents
Solar panels alone can reduce daytime electricity use, but without storage, residents still need to buy from the grid when the sun goes down. Unfortunately, the bulk of people will be out and about in the daytime, returning to use appliances, lights, and heating at nighttime.
By adding solar panels with battery storage, residents gain energy independence around the clock. During the day, solar energy powers the home and any excess is stored in the battery. In the evening or during grid outages, the system automatically draws from the stored energy first, reducing reliance on costly grid supply and shielding vulnerable tenants from instability or price spikes.
This energy resilience is particularly important for households that include elderly residents, young children, or those with medical needs that rely on powered equipment.
In short, battery storage can protect resident wellbeing and reduce fuel poverty in a meaningful, long-term way.
3. Lower energy costs all year round
One of the clearest benefits for both residents and landlords is the potential for lower energy costs.
Without battery storage, around 40–50% of generated solar energy is typically exported back to the grid unused. While social housing residents may get back some money for each kilowatt exported, it’s at much less than the standard grid rate, and therefore, residents are much better off using their energy instead.
With a solar battery storage system, much more energy is captured and used, significantly reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be purchased from the grid.
This leads to year-round savings. Even in winter, when solar generation is lower, stored energy can help offset peak-time tariffs, which are often the most expensive. And in properties with time-of-use tariffs, batteries can even be programmed to store cheaper overnight electricity for daytime use.
For asset managers, this supports wider value-for-money objectives, reduces arrears risk, and makes homes more financially sustainable for tenants.
4. Long life and high lifetime ROI
One of the reasons why battery storage for solar housing is becoming more attractive is the improvement in technology and therefore improvement on return on investment.
Today’s leading energy storage systems can last 10–15 years or more with minimal degradation. When combined with solar panels that can operate effectively for 25+ years, this gives landlords a strong, long-term asset that delivers measurable environmental and financial performance.
As energy prices continue to rise, the lifetime ROI of a solar battery storage system becomes even more attractive. Asset managers can demonstrate value against decarbonisation KPIs while avoiding the cost of underperforming PV systems that export excess energy back to the grid for minimal return.
Some providers also offer performance guarantees to ensure that the system delivers a fixed amount of usable energy over its lifespan, which reduces risk and provides reassurance for budget holders and residents.
5. Supports government net zero targets
The UK government has set ambitious climate targets, including achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The social housing sector plays a key role in reaching these goals as it makes up for 18% of all carbon emissions across the UK. The expectations are to decarbonise homes, reduce fuel poverty, and improve EPC ratings across the board.
By installing solar panels with battery storage, asset managers can directly support these goals. Energy stored reduces the load on the national grid, especially during peak times, which lowers carbon emissions and improves the energy efficiency profile of each property.
Battery storage also enables more accurate carbon accounting and reporting, making it easier to meet ESG criteria, and demonstrate compliance with WH:SHF or ECO funding conditions.
For landlords who are serious about long-term sustainability, solar battery storage systems provide this, and keeps landlords in-line with the government’s expectations.
Why battery storage is the next step for social housing:
For many social landlords, the challenge is making sure they deliver maximum benefit for residents. Without battery storage, a significant portion of energy generated is essentially wasted.
For asset managers, the case for battery storage in social housing is clear:
- It protects tenants from energy price shocks
- It delivers measurable environmental and financial return
- It aligns with national and local decarbonisation goals
If you’re already investing in solar, adding energy storage systems is the next logical step.
At Carbon3, we specialise in delivering end-to-end renewable energy solutions for the social housing sector. From solar PV and battery storage to grid connections and maintenance, our in-house team makes energy transformation simple, scalable, and future-proof.
Want to know how much more value your solar systems could be delivering?
Contact our team today to get a tailored assessment of the savings and carbon impact battery storage could bring to your housing stock.
As the UK moves toward its net zero goals, many social landlords have already taken significant steps to decarbonise their housing stock. One of the most popular upgrades so far has been installing solar panels under government-backed schemes like WH: SHF (Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund). Solar panels are a relatively cheap way to bring up EPC ratings to meet ambitious government targets.
But while solar PV is a valuable first step, many residents are only seeing part of the benefit. Without battery storage, solar panels only provide free electricity during daylight hours. That means after sunset, tenants are still reliant on the grid and facing higher energy costs and vulnerability to blackouts.
For asset managers in housing associations or local authorities, adding a solar battery storage system should be the next step. It maximises the existing solar infrastructure, improves resident outcomes, and supports long-term sustainability objectives.
In this blog, we’re exploring the five biggest benefits of battery storage for social housing and why it should be part of every retrofit or new-build strategy.
1. Low maintenance
One of the common concerns for asset managers is the long-term stress of maintaining new technology. Fortunately, modern energy storage systems are designed to be low maintenance and very reliable, even in high-demand environments like social housing.
Once installed, most systems come with remote monitoring capabilities, self-diagnosis functions, and robust manufacturer warranties, sometimes covering up to 15 years.
This makes it easy for housing teams to monitor performance across their portfolio without adding workload or making subcontracted maintenance teams even thinner on the ground. Plus, routine servicing can often be bundled with existing planned maintenance programmes, to help with compliance and budgeting.
2. Increased energy independence for residents
Solar panels alone can reduce daytime electricity use, but without storage, residents still need to buy from the grid when the sun goes down. Unfortunately, the bulk of people will be out and about in the daytime, returning to use appliances, lights, and heating at nighttime.
By adding solar panels with battery storage, residents gain energy independence around the clock. During the day, solar energy powers the home and any excess is stored in the battery. In the evening or during grid outages, the system automatically draws from the stored energy first, reducing reliance on costly grid supply and shielding vulnerable tenants from instability or price spikes.
This energy resilience is particularly important for households that include elderly residents, young children, or those with medical needs that rely on powered equipment.
In short, battery storage can protect resident wellbeing and reduce fuel poverty in a meaningful, long-term way.
3. Lower energy costs all year round
One of the clearest benefits for both residents and landlords is the potential for lower energy costs.
Without battery storage, around 40–50% of generated solar energy is typically exported back to the grid unused. While social housing residents may get back some money for each kilowatt exported, it’s at much less than the standard grid rate, and therefore, residents are much better off using their energy instead.
With a solar battery storage system, much more energy is captured and used, significantly reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be purchased from the grid.
This leads to year-round savings. Even in winter, when solar generation is lower, stored energy can help offset peak-time tariffs, which are often the most expensive. And in properties with time-of-use tariffs, batteries can even be programmed to store cheaper overnight electricity for daytime use.
For asset managers, this supports wider value-for-money objectives, reduces arrears risk, and makes homes more financially sustainable for tenants.
4. Long life and high lifetime ROI
One of the reasons why battery storage for solar housing is becoming more attractive is the improvement in technology and therefore improvement on return on investment.
Today’s leading energy storage systems can last 10–15 years or more with minimal degradation. When combined with solar panels that can operate effectively for 25+ years, this gives landlords a strong, long-term asset that delivers measurable environmental and financial performance.
As energy prices continue to rise, the lifetime ROI of a solar battery storage system becomes even more attractive. Asset managers can demonstrate value against decarbonisation KPIs while avoiding the cost of underperforming PV systems that export excess energy back to the grid for minimal return.
Some providers also offer performance guarantees to ensure that the system delivers a fixed amount of usable energy over its lifespan, which reduces risk and provides reassurance for budget holders and residents.
5. Supports government net zero targets
The UK government has set ambitious climate targets, including achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The social housing sector plays a key role in reaching these goals as it makes up for 18% of all carbon emissions across the UK. The expectations are to decarbonise homes, reduce fuel poverty, and improve EPC ratings across the board.
By installing solar panels with battery storage, asset managers can directly support these goals. Energy stored reduces the load on the national grid, especially during peak times, which lowers carbon emissions and improves the energy efficiency profile of each property.
Battery storage also enables more accurate carbon accounting and reporting, making it easier to meet ESG criteria, and demonstrate compliance with WH:SHF or ECO funding conditions.
For landlords who are serious about long-term sustainability, solar battery storage systems provide this, and keeps landlords in-line with the government’s expectations.
Why battery storage is the next step for social housing:
For many social landlords, the challenge is making sure they deliver maximum benefit for residents. Without battery storage, a significant portion of energy generated is essentially wasted.
For asset managers, the case for battery storage in social housing is clear:
- It protects tenants from energy price shocks
- It delivers measurable environmental and financial return
- It aligns with national and local decarbonisation goals
If you’re already investing in solar, adding energy storage systems is the next logical step.
At Carbon3, we specialise in delivering end-to-end renewable energy solutions for the social housing sector. From solar PV and battery storage to grid connections and maintenance, our in-house team makes energy transformation simple, scalable, and future-proof.
Want to know how much more value your solar systems could be delivering?
Contact our team today to get a tailored assessment of the savings and carbon impact battery storage could bring to your housing stock.