Why every solar PV owner should consider a Sunamp heat battery

Solar panels are one of the best ways to reduce your reliance on the grid and take control of your home’s energy usage. However, many solar PV owners quickly discover that generating your own electricity is only part of the challenge: the real benefit comes from using as much of that electricity as possible yourself.

During sunny periods, solar panels can often produce more electricity than a home needs. If nobody is home, appliances are not running and there is no way to store the excess energy, that surplus electricity is exported back to the grid.

While exporting energy through a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff is better than wasting it completely, many homeowners are looking for ways to maximise their solar investment by using more of their own generation.

This is where a Sunamp heat battery can make a significant difference.

Rather than storing electricity like a traditional home battery, a Sunamp stores energy as heat. This allows surplus solar electricity to be converted into stored heat, ready to provide hot water whenever it is needed.

For homeowners with solar PV, a Sunamp can be a simple and effective way to increase self-consumption, reduce reliance on imported grid electricity, and make better use of renewable energy generated at home.

The challenge of surplus solar electricity

Solar panels typically generate the most electricity in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, this is often when household energy demand is at its lowest.

Most people use the majority of their electricity in the mornings and evenings, when they are preparing breakfast, cooking dinner, relaxing, or getting ready for bed. This means there can be a mismatch between when solar energy is generated and when energy is needed.

Without a way to store that excess generation, the electricity only has two options: it can be exported to the grid or used by appliances running at that time. A Sunamp provides another option by allowing homeowners to store that surplus energy as hot water.

How does a Sunamp work with solar panels?

A Sunamp heat battery works by storing thermal energy inside a phase change material (PCM). Instead of keeping a large volume of hot water stored in a cylinder, the energy is stored within the compact heat battery and released when hot water is required.

When your solar PV system produces excess electricity, that energy can be used to charge the Sunamp. Later in the day, when you need hot water for a shower, bath, or washing up, the stored energy is released to heat fresh mains water instantly. This means the electricity generated by your solar panels can be used when it is most valuable, rather than being exported during the day and replaced with imported electricity later.

Increase your solar self-consumption

One of the biggest advantages of adding a Sunamp to a solar PV system is improved self-consumption. For many solar homeowners, increasing self-consumption is the key to getting the best return from their system. The more of your own renewable energy you use, the less electricity you need to purchase.

A Sunamp helps to achieve this by creating a useful destination for surplus solar generation. Instead of exporting excess electricity, your solar energy can be stored as heat and used later when your household needs hot water.

Why store solar energy as heat?

When people think about energy storage, they often immediately think about batteries. Home batteries are an excellent solution for storing electricity, but they are not the only option.

Hot water is one of the largest energy demands in many homes, and storing solar energy as heat can be a highly efficient wat of reducing electricity costs.

A Sunamp is designed specifically for this purpose. It allows homeowners to store renewable energy in a form that will be used every day. For households that already have solar PV, this can be a practical way to make better use of the energy they are already generating.

Sunamp heat battery vs traditional hot water cylinder

Traditional hot water cylinders store a large volume of heated water, which means they need space and can lose heat over time. A Sunamp works differently. By storing energy within a phase change material, it can provide a compact alternative to a conventional cylinder while still delivering hot water at mains pressure. This makes Sunamp particularly attractive for homes where space is limited or where homeowners want to move away from traditional hot water storage.

The compact design of the Sunamp Thermino means they can be installed in locations where a traditional cylinder would not be practical.

Can a Sunamp work with a home battery?

Yes, a Sunamp and a home battery can complement each other because they store energy in different ways. A home battery stores electricity for household appliances, lighting, electric vehicle charging, and other electrical loads. A Sunamp stores energy specifically for hot water.

By using both systems together, homeowners can optimise their energy usage even further. The electrical battery can focus on powering the home, while the Sunamp provides efficient hot water storage,

For many solar PV owners, combining solar panels, battery storage, and a heat battery creates a highly efficient home energy system.

Using a Sunamp with smart electricity tariffs

Solar generation is not the only way to charge a Sunamp. Many homeowners are now taking advantage of smart or time-of-use electricity tariffs, that offer cheaper electricity at certain times of the day. A Sunamp can be charged during lower-cost periods, allowing homeowners to heat their water at a reduced cost.

This can be particularly useful during winter months when solar generation is lower, or for households that want greater flexibility in how they use electricity. Combing solar PV with smart tariffs and a Sunamp gives homeowners more control over how and when they use energy.

Is a Sunamp worth adding to a solar PV system?

A Sunamp can be a particularly worthwhile investment for homeowners who:

Regularly export excess solar electricity

Want to increase their solar self-consumption

Are replacing an old hot water cylinder

Have limited space for traditional hot water storage

Want to reduce their reliance on grid electricity

Are creating a more energy-efficient home

Every property is different, so the benefits will depend on your solar system size, household energy usage, and hot water requirements. However, for many solar PV owners, a heat battery provides a practical way to use more of the renewable energy they generate.

Choosing the right Sunamp for your home

Sunamp heat batteries are available in different sizes to suit different households and hot water demands. The right model depends on factors including the number of people living in your home, how much hot water you typically use, whether you have solar PV or a heat pump, and your available installation space.

Choosing the correct size ensures you have enough stored energy without paying for more capacity than you need.

Make more of your solar investment

Solar panels are already helping thousands of homeowners reduce their energy costs and lower their carbon footprint. However, the biggest benefits come from using as much of your own generated energy as possible.

A Sunamp heat battery provides an effective way to store surplus solar energy as heat, giving you hot water when you need it while reducing wasted renewable generation.

Whether you are installing solar panels for the first time, or looking for ways to improve an existing system, a Sunamp can help you get more value from every unit of electricity your panels produce. Explore our range of Sunamp Thermino heat batteries today, or contact our team on 01244 732705 if you need help choosing the right model for your home.