Thinking of getting solar panels for your home, or perhaps you already have them? Either way, you might ask yourself the question: “What happens to excess solar energy generated by solar panels?”
In the UK, we are known for our conversations about the unpredictable weather. We complain when it’s raining and are equally frustrated by the powerful heat of a summer’s day. For solar panel users, you may find that you have more electricity in some months and not enough in others. Whatever the weather, there’s plenty you can do to make solar panel renewable energy work for you.
If you really want to make the most of your solar panel investment, then you can take part in the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme. This thrifty scheme allows solar panel users to sell their surplus solar energy back to the National Grid and earn some extra cash.
In this blog, the renewable energy experts at Going Green explore what happens to excess solar energy production and how you can make the most of it in your home and beyond. Keep reading to learn more, or contact us today to find out how to improve your solar panel setup.
What is excess solar energy?
Excess solar energy is the extra electricity your solar panels generate that your home doesn’t need in that moment.
For example:
During the middle of the day, your solar panels may be producing plenty of solar power while you’re out at work or using very little electricity indoors. Even if you’re not using that energy, your solar PV system will keep generating it. And because your home’s electricity demands are low, some of that power becomes redundant.
So, what happens to your excess solar energy? Well, that depends on your setup.
You could:
- Store it in a solar battery
- Use it to charge devices or electric vehicles
- Sell it back to the National Grid
- Get a hybrid inverter to make your energy go further
But don’t let it go to waste…
Without battery storage, most of your unused electricity will automatically get exported back to the grid through your export meter. With the right setup, you can avoid this and keep more of your own electricity to use when you need it most.
Can solar panels store excess energy generated?
Solar panels generate electricity when the sun is shining, but they can’t store excess energy alone. Any solar electricity must be used straight away. If you’re looking to store unused solar energy until you need it most, like in the evening or during winter, your best bet is to get a battery storage system installed.
How is excess solar energy measured?
Excess electricity from solar panels is measured by comparing the amount of electricity your solar panels generate with the amount you use. There are many devices that can work this out for you, often supplied by your chosen utility company.
Can I get paid for excess electricity from solar panels?
If you sign up for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme, you can get paid for excess electricity from solar panels. This scheme enables you to divert any unused solar power back to the National Grid in exchange for cash.
What can you do with excess solar power generated?
Modern solar panel technology and programmes make it much easier to ensure that your unused solar energy doesn’t go to waste. Whether you choose to store it for later, send it back to the National Grid, or use it elsewhere, there are plenty of ways you can use excess electricity from your solar panels.
1) Home battery storage systems
Why not get a solar battery to store your extra energy and offset future electricity bills? With a solar battery storage installation, you can save additional energy generated during the day and use it during the night, throughout winter, or even as a backup in a power cut.
There are some excellent manufacturers out there, many of which we have experience working with:
- Tesla Powerwall
- SolarEdge
- Enphase
- MyEnergi
- Sigenergy
Get in touch to see how much you could save with a solar battery.
2) Export energy back to the grid using the Smart Export Guarantee
Selling excess solar energy is another great way to make use of the electricity you don’t need and put some cash back into your pocket. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme is a UK initiative that enables homeowners and businesses to get paid for sending unused energy back to the grid. If you meet the requirements, you can sign up for the SEG scheme through a participating energy supplier.
3) Utilising hybrid inverter systems
Hybrid inverters will really amp up your home’s energy efficiency, helping you get the most out of your solar investment. They work hand-in-hand with solar batteries like a central control unit to monitor the flow of energy coming in and out of your home.
With a hybrid inverter, you can save money on energy bills by using stored energy during high-cost periods or even sending it back to the grid when the rates are at their best.
4) Charging electric vehicles during peak generation
If you own an electric vehicle as well as solar panels, you could make your excess solar energy go further. Instead of sending it back to the grid, you can use it to charge your vehicle during peak solar energy generation hours (this is usually the middle of the day).
Doing this is a great way to lower your energy bills and charging costs, make better use of your solar panels, and increase energy independence.
Many modern EV chargers can even work alongside your solar system to automatically prioritise solar electricity whenever there’s surplus energy available. So rather than wasting unused solar power, you’re turning it into clean, low-cost fuel for your car.
What does excess solar energy look like in real life?
Every home and business uses energy differently. The good news is that modern solar systems can be designed around the way you live and work, so you can make the most of your solar panels instead of letting the energy go to waste.
Here’s a real-world example from one of our recent commercial solar projects:
How a business can set up efficient practices from the start
AVK, a busy commercial site that strives to “power tomorrow’s data”, came to Going Green Renewables to support their mission to lead the charge in sustainable solutions.
Their goals were to:
- Reduce their electricity bills
- Lower their carbon footprint
- Provide EV charging points for employees
A huge part of this project was installing commercial grade solar panels and multiple EV chargers. This allowed AVK to generate clean energy directly on-site. But instead of letting any excess solar power go unused, we took it one step further and installed a battery storage system for AVK to store excess solar energy to keep electricity prices low and support EV charging.
If your business includes large buildings, workshops, offices, or EV charging demands, this kind of setup can make a huge difference. It allows more of the solar energy generated on-site to be used productively, improving your return on investment, all while supporting a more sustainable future.
Read the full AVK case study here.
This setup can also work for homeowners too… just on a smaller scale.
How a family home can store solar energy for the evening
Think about your typical family home.
During the day, your solar panels may be generating plenty of electricity, but the house is often quiet because everyone is at work or school. This means any excess power could go to waste. But by installing a solar battery, that unused energy is stored for later.
So when everyone gets home and starts cooking dinner, watching TV, charging devices, using the heating, or doing the laundry, your home can run using the stored solar energy instead of buying more energy from the grid.
Over time, this can help you:
- Reduce electricity bills
- Improve your solar energy usage
- Become more energy independent
- Get a better return on your solar investment
What are the benefits of storing excess solar power?
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of storing surplus solar energy.
Reduce your carbon footprint
When you use renewable energy, you benefit not only yourself but the environment, too. By reducing your reliance on grid energy, which uses harmful fossil fuels, you reduce carbon emissions and help pave the way for a greener planet. Remember, every kilowatt-hour of solar energy you use is one less kilowatt-hour that comes from non-renewable sources.
Savings on your energy bills
Storing solar energy is also great for your pocket. Yes, they may come with a hefty upfront cost, but you’ll free yourself from relying on harmful and expensive energy bills. Installing solar panels with a battery allows you to store excess electricity when it is cheapest (usually at night when fewer people need it) and use it to power your home during peak hours, when rates are much higher.
Income or credits on exported energy
Solar panels are a great investment. With programmes like the Smart Export Guarantee, you can even get paid or receive credits for excess electricity you send back to the grid. When combining the average energy savings and SEG payments, you could save hundreds each year with the right solar setup.
What happens if solar panels produce more energy than is being used?
When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home needs, that unused electricity doesn’t just vanish into thin air. No, without battery storage, it’s automatically sent back to the National Grid via your export meter. If you’re savvy with it, you can benefit from selling solar power back to the grid through net metering or the Smart Export Guarantee scheme, which we briefly touched on earlier.
But if you do have a solar battery, you can store excess solar energy for later and use it in the evenings, on cloudy days, during power outages, or even in the middle of winter when sunlight hours are shorter.
Either way, you can make excess solar power work in your favour, whether it’s helping you strive for a greener future, reducing energy bills, or earning you a little extra income.
Are there any complications with having excess solar power?
Having more solar power is usually a good thing, but if you’re not making the most of it, then you could miss out on valuable savings. Without a battery, that extra electricity can still be sold back to the National Grid, but you won’t be able to store any for when you really need it. Plus, in some areas, your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) may limit how much you can export back to the grid.
At Going Green Renewables, we always carry out checks and get permissions in place before we start any installation. That way, you can be sure your system makes the most of every bit of clean energy it produces, without anything going to waste.
When batteries are full, where does the solar energy go?
If your solar battery is fully charged and your home still isn’t using all of the energy being generated, any leftover energy usually gets exported back to the National Grid. Your export meter tracks this exported electricity, and if you’re signed up to the Smart Export Guarantee scheme with certain energy suppliers, you could get paid for it.
In some setups, your system may also automatically reduce energy production slightly once your battery storage systems are full and your home doesn’t need more electricity. This is a great way to protect your system and keep it healthy.
Modern solar PV systems are designed to make the most of every bit of renewable energy generated, so you could easily install a hybrid inverter to optimise your energy or a battery to store it for later. With professional advice, you can create an ideal setup for your home and energy needs.
Looking for ways to store or export solar energy? Get in touch with Going Green
If you want to get the most out of your solar panel system by storing or exporting excess energy, we’re more than happy to help.
At Going Green, we offer homeowners and businesses a full range of solar solutions, including solar panel installations, battery storage systems, hybrid inverters, and more. We also provide ongoing maintenance and support to keep your renewable energy system up and running for years to come.
We are a small but well-formed team of technicians, installers, and renewable energy experts, and we treat every client individually. Our systems are carefully crafted to suit you and your property.
Contact us today to discover how you can make the most of excess solar power.
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