Is a solar battery worth it? The numbers for 2026
Hybrid Solar team · 12 May 2026 · 1 min read
When storage pays off, how many kWh you need and how to assess the cost per cycle.
The criterion that matters: night-time consumption
If most of your consumption happens after sunset, a battery turns cheap surplus into real savings. If you mostly consume during the day, the payback is much slower.
Typical sizing
A family of four uses between 5 and 9 kWh overnight. Batteries of 5 to 10 kWh cover that period for most of the year.
Oversizing is a common mistake: a battery that is never fully discharged takes decades to pay for itself.
Cost per cycle
Divide the price of the battery by the number of guaranteed cycles and by its usable capacity. Below €0.10/kWh stored, the investment is usually competitive with the grid tariff.
