Check if your home qualifies for a free battery
Homeowners and private tenants can apply. It only takes a few minutes.
Everything you need to know about the Free Home Battery Scheme in one place. The short version: homeowners and private tenants can apply, the battery is installed at no cost, participating households can receive up to £500 per year towards their electricity bills, and the scheme owner owns, maintains, services and insures the battery.
About the scheme
Is the home battery really free?
Yes. For eligible households, the battery is supplied and installed through the scheme at no cost. The battery remains owned by the scheme owner, who is responsible for maintaining, servicing, insuring and, where required, replacing it.
What is the Free Home Battery Scheme?
A programme that installs smart, connected home batteries in private homes at no cost to eligible households. Participating households can receive up to £500 per year towards their electricity bills, subject to eligibility and scheme terms.
Why are free batteries being installed?
The programme is intended to create benefits at both household and electricity-system level. By deploying connected energy storage into homes, it aims to help reduce household energy costs, support the electricity grid and contribute towards greater energy security.
Who can apply
Who can apply?
The scheme is designed for private households. You can apply whether you own your home or rent it privately. Every home also needs a survey to confirm it is technically suitable.
Do I need to own my home?
No. The scheme is available to both homeowners and private tenants. If you rent privately, permission from your landlord will be required before installation can proceed.
Do I need solar panels?
No. Battery storage does not need solar panels — a battery can charge from the electricity network. Whether your home is suitable is confirmed at the survey.
Can I apply if I already have solar panels?
Yes — tell us in your application. How a battery would work alongside your existing system is considered during the survey.
What happens if my property isn’t suitable?
If the survey finds your property isn’t suitable, the installation won’t go ahead. You won’t have paid anything to apply or for the survey.
The battery
How does a home battery work?
A home battery stores electricity so it can be used later. Smart controls decide when it charges and discharges — typically charging when demand is lower and releasing energy when demand is higher.
How large is a home battery?
Home batteries are usually a single sealed unit, often wall-mounted. Their storage capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh).
Where can a battery be installed?
Home batteries are commonly installed in places such as a garage, on an outside wall or in a utility space. The right location for your home is agreed at the survey.
Can a battery be installed in a garage?
Garages are a common location for home batteries. Whether your garage is suitable is assessed at the survey.
Why does the battery need an internet or mobile connection?
The battery is a connected battery, managed as part of the programme alongside other homes. A connection lets it receive instructions about when to charge and discharge.
Survey and installation
What happens during the home survey?
A surveyor checks whether your property and the proposed battery location are suitable, looking at the electrical installation, connectivity, access, safety considerations and what the installation would involve.
Who installs the battery?
An approved installer completes the battery installation.
Will my electricity be switched off during installation?
Connecting equipment to your electrical installation usually needs the power to be turned off for part of the work.
Ready to see if your home qualifies?
Money
How much could I receive towards my electricity bills?
Participating households can receive up to £500 per year towards their electricity bills, subject to eligibility and scheme terms.
Are the savings guaranteed?
No. The amount is “up to” £500 per year and depends on eligibility and the scheme terms, so some households may receive less.
Ownership and maintenance
Who owns the battery — does it belong to me?
The battery remains owned by the scheme owner. It does not belong to the homeowner or tenant simply because it is installed at their property.
Who maintains the battery?
The scheme owner is responsible for maintaining and servicing the battery.
What happens if the battery needs replacing?
Where replacement is required under the programme, this is the responsibility of the scheme owner.
Do I need to insure the battery?
The scheme owner is responsible for insuring the battery.
What happens to the battery at the end of its life?
The scheme owner is responsible for the appropriate removal, safe disposal and/or recycling of the battery when required.
What happens if the battery develops a fault?
The scheme owner is responsible for maintaining and servicing the battery.
Applying
How do I apply?
Start the short online application on this page. You’ll answer a few questions about your home, your energy set-up and where a battery might go, give your contact details and choose a preferred survey date.
Still have a question? Start your application and add it in the notes — we’ll answer it when we contact you about your survey.