The best way to do it is: charge your battery at night when you will probably pay the lowest rates for power in your area, and let it discharge when the highest electricity rates apply.
If you have a renewable energy system, such as solar panels, overnight charging can complement your energy strategy. By charging your battery at night, you ensure that it is full and ready to store solar energy during the day. This can maximise your use of clean energy and further reduce reliance on the grid.
Can I charge my home battery storage system overnight?
Utilising these rates to charge your home battery storage system or storage heaters overnight at this cheaper rate can help you to maximise your energy savings. Your home can then run off this stored energy during the day – as long as you have a large enough system.
All home battery systems will by default charge up from spare solar. In addition, all the ones we sell also have the option to charge up at specific times of the day or night so allowing you to charge up on cheap electricity if you have a 'time of use' tariff such as Economy 7 or Octopus Go.
How do you charge a battery?
To do so, it can take charge cheaply from renewable sources, and / or from the grid using off-peak rates. Then, it can discharge when energy costs are high. So, let's say you want to take advantage of smart tariffs. You can charge your battery using the super-low overnight rates on offer, and then switch to battery power during peak hours.
Overnight charging involves force charging electricity from the grid to your battery storage system during off-peak hours, typically at night. Many energy providers offer lower tariffs during these hours due to the reduced demand for electricity because everyone's asleep, but the grid is still being powered.
One of the primary benefits of overnight charging is the potential for financial savings. By taking advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak hours, you can significantly reduce your energy costs. The savings can be particularly substantial for households with high energy consumption or businesses operating around the clock.