Yes, you can use a GivEnergy battery without having solar panels. While many customers pair a battery with solar generation, a standalone battery system can still offer significant financial benefits by taking advantage of time-of-use (TOU) energy tariffs.

How a Battery Works Without Solar

When used without solar, the battery charges directly from the grid. The aim is to buy electricity when it is cheap and use it when it is expensive. This process is known as load shifting and can reduce your energy bills significantly when paired with the right tariff.

Why Time-of-Use Tariffs Make This Effective

A time-of-use tariff offers different electricity prices depending on the time of day, such as:

• Off-peak (usually overnight): Low-cost electricity
• Peak periods (late afternoon/evening): Higher-cost electricity

With a TOU tariff, your GivEnergy battery can:

• Charge itself during cheap off-peak hours
• Power your home during peak-rate hours
• Reduce or eliminate peak-time grid imports

This allows many households to achieve meaningful savings even without generating solar energy.

Example Savings

The exact savings depend on your usage and tariff, but here is a simplified example:

• Off-peak rate: 10p/kWh
• Peak rate: 30p/kWh
• Battery capacity used daily: 10 kWh

Charging the battery overnight costs: £1.00
Using that stored power during peak hours avoids buying power costing: £3.00
Daily saving: £2.00

Over a year, this simple cycle could save approximately £700 based on typical usage patterns.

Who Benefits From a Battery Without Solar?

Standalone batteries work especially well if you:

• Use most electricity during peak-rate hours
• Have large appliances running in the morning/evening
• Are on a tariff with a long or cheap off-peak window
• Do not have a roof suitable for solar panels
• Own an EV and want to optimise charging costs

Limitations to Be Aware Of

• A battery cannot save money on a flat-rate tariff — TOU tariffs are essential.
• There is no solar generation to extend battery runtime.
• You must ensure the tariff’s off-peak window gives enough time to fully charge the battery.

Next Steps

To get the most from a battery-only setup, we recommend:

• Choosing a suitable time-of-use tariff
• Setting charge schedules in the GivEnergy Portal or App
• Monitoring your savings over time using the system dashboard

If you are unsure which tariff suits your home, your installer or energy provider can offer tailored advice.