Solar Battery Storage in Stroud and the Five Valleys

Often, yes. In summer the sun clears the valley sides almost everywhere, so a valley roof makes about as much as a hilltop one, and that’s when a battery stores the most. In winter, a shaded roof makes very little, so the battery does more of its work by charging on a cheaper overnight rate. We look at both before recommending a size.

Yes. On a tariff with a cheaper overnight rate, the battery can charge at night and power your home through the more expensive part of the day. It’s most useful in winter, when your panels make less. We set the battery up to suit your tariff.

Probably not from solar alone. A 4 kWp south-facing system in Stroud town makes about 129 kWh in December, roughly 4 kWh a day, and most of that is used as it’s made. On the valley floor at Chalford, PVGIS’s terrain model puts December at about 29 kWh. Overnight charging fills the gap.

At midday on the shortest day, the sun in Stroud is only about 15° above the horizon, so a hillside to the south can block it for weeks. We check the hills, trees and buildings around your roof at the survey, and work out what that means for your panels and battery.

Usually on an outside wall, in a garage or store, or in a utility room. The fire safety guidance for home batteries, BSI PAS 63100, rules out lofts, bedrooms and escape routes such as narrow cottage stairs and landings. We find the safest practical spot and plan a tidy cable route.