Battery storage · Lancashire & North West
Store the electricity your panels generate, use it overnight, earn from grid export when prices peak, and collect income from the National Grid. Alliant installs Tesla Powerwall 3 and Fox ESS systems from approximately £3,500, fully installed
*The 5-Year Workmanship Warranty covers Alliant's own installation and labour — distinct from the manufacturer's product and performance warranties (up to 30 years on panels), which cover the equipment itself.
Solar battery storage in Lancashire lets you store the electricity your panels generate, use it overnight, earn from grid export when prices peak, and collect income from the National Grid — turning your home's energy system from a cost into a revenue stream. Alliant Energy installs Tesla Powerwall 3 and Fox ESS systems from approximately £3,500, fully installed across Lancashire and the North West.
Key takeaways
Why now
A solar panel system without battery storage is working against itself for half the day. From roughly 10am to 2pm on a clear day, a typical 4kW system generates more electricity than the house uses — and that surplus is exported to the grid at whatever rate the Smart Export Guarantee pays (currently 4.1–25p/kWh). After 4pm, the sun dips, generation falls, and the home starts importing electricity from the grid again at 25p/kWh+. The battery closes that gap.
The numbers are driving adoption fast. MCS registered almost 20,000 home battery installations in the first half of 2025 alone — a 130% increase on H1 2024 — and over 30% of all new UK solar systems are now paired with storage, up from just 10% five years ago. In Lancashire, the combination of the Ofgem Q3 2026 import rate of 25.2p/kWh and readily available -eligible packages has made battery storage the standard choice on new installs rather than the premium option.
growth in UK home battery installs H1 2025 vs H1 2024
MCS / pv-magazine
new UK solar systems paired with battery storage
Atlantic Renewables / MCS
self-consumption uplift with a 5kWh battery
SunSave / industry data
est. annual value solar+battery+Levelise
Alliant Levelise hub data
The smart layer
Every Alliant residential solar and battery installation includes the Levelise smart hub — a software platform that sits on top of the Fox ESS or Tesla battery system and optimises every charge and discharge decision in real time. A standard battery charges from solar when the sun shines and discharges overnight. Levelise does considerably more than that:
Power your home from your own system instead of importing from the grid at 25p/kWh+
Smart Export Guarantee payments for surplus electricity exported to the grid
Buy cheap overnight electricity (e.g. Octopus Go ~7p/kWh), use instead of peak 25p+ imports
Income from National Grid Demand Flexibility Service — average across Levelise customers operational 36+ months
Extra savings from near-instant hub response to system changes and rate fluctuations
Total estimated annual value — solar + battery + Levelise (3.5kW solar, 10kWh battery, 28p/kWh import, 15p/kWh SEG)
The Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) element deserves particular attention. As of March 2026, over 2.46 million assets are registered with the National Grid's DFS, and Levelise customers participate automatically. When the grid is under stress, the hub modifies your battery's behaviour to provide balancing services — and you get paid for it. This is income that a standard battery system without smart management software cannot access.
The batteries we install
Alliant currently installs Tesla Powerwall 3 and Fox ESS systems for residential customers, alongside Puredrive for commercial and large residential applications. The choice depends primarily on your home's size, whether you need backup power capability, and your budget. See our full Tesla vs GivEnergy vs Fox ESS comparison.
The Tesla Powerwall 3 launched in the UK in October 2024. Its distinguishing features are the integrated hybrid inverter (meaning you don't need a separate solar inverter), 13.5kWh usable capacity, and 11.5kW continuous power output — enough to run a full home on battery alone during a grid outage. The 10-year warranty covers unlimited charge cycles (most batteries cap at 4,000–6,000 cycles), and expansion units add a further 13.5kWh each, up to 54kWh total capacity. Installed cost in Lancashire: approximately £9,500–£10,500 standalone, or bundled with solar as part of an Alliant system design.
Fox ESS is the battery system in all three of Alliant's standard residential solar packages. The Fox H3 3.7kW hybrid inverter pairs with two ECS2900 modules (2.88kWh each) for a 5.76kWh usable capacity — sufficient for most 2–3 bedroom homes. The system uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is more thermally stable and longer-lived than the NMC chemistry in older residential batteries. A Fox ESS system with Alliant's installation and the Levelise hub is included in packages starting at £5,999 — making it the most accessible battery storage option in Lancashire.
Puredrive's IP67-rated modular batteries scale from 2.5kWh up to 25kWh per system. The IP67 rating makes them suitable for external or garage installation where space or environmental conditions preclude indoor mounting. For larger Lancashire homes, commercial properties, or customers wanting to scale capacity over time, Puredrive offers a flexible alternative to a single large-capacity unit.
Sizing
Battery sizing depends on three things: your overnight electricity demand, the size of your solar system's daily surplus, and whether you want grid arbitrage capability. For Lancashire homes:
| Home size | Typical overnight demand | Recommended battery | Self-consumption coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bed flat or terrace | 3–5 kWh | Fox ESS 5.76kWh | 80–90% of overnight demand |
| 3 bed semi-detached | 5–8 kWh | Fox ESS 5.76kWh or 11kWh | 70–85% of overnight demand |
| 4–5 bed detached | 8–12 kWh | Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) | ~90% of overnight demand |
| Large home / EV charging | 12–20+ kWh | Tesla Powerwall 3 + expansion | 90%+ — near grid independence |
The right battery also depends on your tariff. If you are on a flat-rate tariff (no cheap overnight window), a 5–6kWh battery sized to your solar surplus is optimal. If you are on or planning to switch to a time-of-use tariff like Octopus Go, Agile, or Intelligent Flux, a larger battery (10kWh+) dramatically improves the arbitrage economics — the more cheap overnight electricity you can store, the more expensive peak imports you displace.
Read our guide: How to size a home battery for a UK home.
Grants & incentives
The relief on residential solar PV and battery storage runs until 31 March 2027 under Schedule 7A of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 — saving £1,800 on a £9,000 system. For households in Lancashire whose Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is rated D or below, the Lancashire County Council Warm Homes Local Grant — funded under the UK Government Warm Homes Plan — can reduce the cost of a solar + battery system to zero for eligible households. Qualification is means-tested, with income thresholds assessed by Lancashire County Council. Alliant Energy handles the eligibility assessment and grant application as part of project on-boarding — you do not need to navigate the Council portal yourself.
| Incentive | Applies to | Value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery installed with new solar | Saves ~20% on install cost | 31 March 2027 | |
| Warm Homes Local Grant | EPC D or below, means-tested | Free solar+battery install | While funds last |
| Warm Homes Plan loans | Most Lancashire homeowners | Up to £12,000+, 0% interest | Ongoing |
| 0% APR finance | Subject to status | Spread cost over agreed term | Ongoing |
Note: standalone battery storage retrofitted to an existing solar system does not qualify for. The relief applies to systems installed as part of a qualifying energy-saving materials installation. If you are adding a battery to an existing solar array, speak to Alliant about your specific VAT position before committing. For a free eligibility check for grant-funded installations, visit our solar panel grants page.
Earn more
Most homeowners register for the cheapest available Smart Export Guarantee tariff (currently Octopus Outgoing at 4.1p/kWh) or a mid-range flat-rate option. With a battery and the Levelise hub, the export strategy changes fundamentally:
Instead of exporting surplus immediately as it's generated (at whatever spot rate applies), Levelise stores the surplus and exports it during peak-price windows — typically early evening when grid demand spikes and variable tariff rates rise. On Octopus Intelligent Flux, peak export rates reach up to 32p/kWh during high-demand windows. The difference between 4.1p/kWh (immediate export) and 32p/kWh (Levelise-timed export) on a 1,000 kWh annual export volume is approximately £279/year — from a software decision alone, with no additional hardware.
Already have solar?
Yes — battery storage can be retrofitted to most existing solar PV systems in Lancashire. The feasibility and cost depend on your existing inverter:
Alliant surveys every retrofit at no charge. If your existing system is more than 8 years old or uses a string inverter nearing end of warranty, we typically recommend the full replacement approach — new hybrid inverter, new battery, Levelise hub — for maximum long-term value.
Important VAT note: standalone battery retrofits to existing solar systems are subject to standard-rate (20%) VAT. Only new solar+battery combined installations qualify for relief until March 2027.
See our related guides: Are solar panels with battery storage worth it? · How long do solar batteries last? · Tesla vs GivEnergy vs Fox ESS comparison
FAQs
A Fox ESS H3 inverter with 5.76kWh battery pack costs approximately £3,500–£4,500 installed — this is the system included in Alliant's standard solar packages. A Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh, integrated inverter) costs approximately £9,500–£10,500 installed as a standalone battery. Both qualify for when installed alongside new solar until 31 March 2027.
For most homeowners with solar panels, yes. Without a battery, typical self-consumption is around 35% — most surplus is exported at low SEG rates. A 5.76kWh Fox ESS battery lifts self-consumption to ~70%, and with the Levelise hub adding grid arbitrage and DFS income, estimated total annual value is £700–£900. Payback on the battery component is typically 8–12 years standalone, or 5.5–7 years as part of a combined solar+battery package from Alliant.
For a 3–4 bedroom home with a 4kW solar system, a 5.76kWh battery (Fox ESS, two ECS2900 modules) covers approximately 60–70% of overnight electricity demand. An 11kWh battery covers 80–90% and enables meaningful grid arbitrage. For whole-home backup or EV charging integration, the Tesla Powerwall 3 at 13.5kWh is the recommended option.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a UK government scheme requiring licensed electricity suppliers with over 150,000 domestic customers to pay solar panel owners for surplus electricity exported to the National Grid. Any MCS-registered solar installation qualifies. Rates range from 4.1p to 25p/kWh depending on tariff chosen, with variable tariffs via Octopus Intelligent Flux reaching 32p/kWh during peak export windows. The SEG replaced the Feed-in Tariff in January 2020.
The Levelise hub is a software optimisation layer included in every Alliant residential solar+battery installation. It adds: grid arbitrage (buy cheap overnight electricity, use instead of peak imports), smart SEG export timing (export at peak-price windows, not just when surplus arises), and National Grid Demand Flexibility Service income. Alliant customers using Levelise for 36+ months average £123/year in flexibility income alone — income a standard battery without Levelise cannot access.
Battery storage installed alongside new solar panels qualifies for (until March 2027) and is included in Warm Homes Local Grant funded installations for eligible households (EPC D or below, means-tested). Standalone battery retrofits to existing solar are subject to standard-rate 2. Warm Homes Plan loans (up to £12,000+) are available for combined installs.
GivEnergy Ltd entered administration on 9 April 2026 and ceased trading. The company cannot fulfil new hardware warranties directly. Customers with existing GivEnergy systems should contact their original installer for warranty matters — some warranty obligations may transfer to installers or be covered by insurance-backed workmanship warranties. Alliant does not recommend GivEnergy for new installations. For new Lancashire installs we recommend Tesla Powerwall 3 or Fox ESS.
Yes — Tesla Powerwall 3 can be AC-coupled to virtually any existing inverter. DC-coupled batteries (higher efficiency) require a compatible hybrid inverter, which may mean replacing your existing inverter. Alliant surveys every retrofit for free. Note that standalone battery retrofits carry standard-rate VAT — only combined new solar+battery installations get relief.
Your solar system exports surplus to the grid and you receive SEG payments. Without a battery, surplus exports happen during the day at prevailing spot rates. With a battery and the Levelise hub, stored energy is exported during peak-price windows — on Octopus Intelligent Flux, peak rates reach 32p/kWh versus 4.1p/kWh on a standard Octopus tariff. The difference on 1,000 kWh of annual exports is approximately £279/year from smarter timing alone. Your MCS certificate (issued by your MCS-registered installer) is required to register for any SEG tariff.
Battery storage alone does not improve your EPC rating — panels do. But solar+battery combined typically moves a home from EPC D to C or C to B, which improves mortgage eligibility and buyer appeal. A 2024 Swansea University study of 1.5 million transactions found solar adds 6.1–7.1% to property values — battery storage as part of a solar system is likely included in that uplift.
How we work
Alliant Energy is based at Unit 214 Northlight Industries, Pendle Road, Brierfield, Nelson BB9 5FL — and every battery storage installation is carried out by our in-house MCS-registered electrical engineers, not subcontracted. We hold MCS certification, TrustMark, NICEIC and NAPIT dual-body electrical accreditation, RECC registration, and ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 management systems.
All installations comply with BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations) and the relevant battery storage commissioning standards. After installation, your MCS-registered installer issues your MCS certificate — required for SEG tariff registration and confirmation. We configure the Levelise hub to your tariff, set your emergency reserve, and walk you through the monitoring app before we leave.
We cover Nelson, Burnley, Blackburn, Preston, Manchester, and 21 further towns across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire. See all North West locations.
Real projects with battery storage: Shepherd Distribution — 62kW Sunsynk battery rack, payback 2.9 years · Harrison Family Burnley terrace — 10kWh battery, near grid-independent Victorian terrace.
Three ways to get started
Get a tailored quote in one working day. No obligation. No hard sell. Speak to a renewable energy engineer — not a salesperson — at a time that suits you.
Accreditations
MCS certification isn't a box-ticking exercise — it qualifies your system for Smart Export Guarantee payments and government grants. Our installers are also NICEIC-approved and TrustMark-registered, and every install is fully insured.
