Increasing pressure to install home battery systems

"Run off our feet" might be too strong an expression, but at Zonnefabriek, we're definitely noticing a huge increase in demand for home batteries. Many people with solar panels are preparing for the post-net metering world, now that it's clear to everyone that this system will be phased out as of January 1, 2027.

We expect demand to continue to grow in the coming months and years, as predicted by industry association figures.

The home battery market could become just as hectic as the solar panel market was during the sharp rise in gas prices due to the war in Ukraine. While Zonnefabriek did good business at the time, it wasn't all smooth sailing: the waiting time between purchasing and installing systems increased dramatically due to a combination of high demand and delivery problems from manufacturers. Hopefully, things will be better this time!

Explosive growth in the battery market (BESS = Battery Energy Storage Systems) is predicted for the Netherlands. By 2029, there will be approximately 1.8 GWh of home battery capacity, or 180,000 10 kWh systems (source: Solar Power Europe).

"Hello Zonnefabriek, are you bankrupt?"

With such an intensifying market, we unfortunately sometimes encounter dubious sales practices. For example, we recently received a call from a customer asking if we had gone bankrupt. It turned out that another company trying to sell home batteries had told this customer we no longer existed, and that he should therefore switch to that company! Consumer program Radar has been warning against companies that see an opporunity for deceit in this hectic market. Don't let yourself be pressured! A battery system is a major investment that needs to last a long time. Only with the right information can you make a well-considered choice.

Radar warns about certain companies that pressure people by telephone to buy home batteries (source: Avrotros)

How do you make the right choice?

A home battery must meet several requirements to be worth the investment:

• First and foremost, the system must be of good quality so you can be sure it will last a long time.
• Of course, anything can break, but if something does, it's important that the manufacturer's warranty is valid. It's also important that the manufacturer is a financially sound company that has been around for a while and isn't likely to go bankrupt, because that would make their warranty worthless.
• You also need to be able to rely on the company that installs the products. Unfortunately, many companies don't answer the phone when problems arise. Especially if such a company has little experience with batteries, or has the installations carried out by various subcontractors, after-sales service can be poor.
• The battery system must work well with the existing solar panels. Combining PV inverters from one brand with a battery system from another can sometimes cause problems. In the worst-case scenario, different manufacturers and installers will point fingers at each other, and you, the customer, will be caught in the middle.
• It must be clear to you, the customer, what the batteries are doing and why. We have apps for everything on our phones these days, including batteries. It's important that the app tells you how much energy the batteries have at any given moment and whether they're charging or discharging. You should also be able to see if the battery is charging, for example, because there's a lot of surplus solar power, if the market price for electricity is low, or if there's money to be made on the market for imbalances.
• The capacity of your system must be properly matched to your solar panels and your energy consumption. A battery that's too small doesn't yield much, but a battery that's too large is also pointless. Some parties want you to believe that bigger is always better, but that's absolutely not true! Large battery systems are subject to strict installation regulations and have excess capacity that will yield much less after 2026.

System with SMA inverter and 10 kWh batteries plus emergency power outlets

At Zonnefabriek, we firmly believe in the importance of after-sales service because it builds long-term customer loyalty. Many of the people we sell home batteries to today have purchased solar panels from us in the past 16 years. They have come to know us as a reliable company, and we want to keep it that way for the next 16 years.

Zonnefabriek chooses strong brands like SMA and SunPower because we, in turn, have come to know them as reliable partners. This gives us the assurance that the products we install are robust and durable, and that we can rely on a knowledgeable partner if problems arise. We recently launched a special offer with SMA whereby customers can exchange their PV inverter for a hybrid version free of charge when purchasing home batteries: this long-term partnership leads to additional benefits for our customers.

The time for home batteries is now. Don't wait too long to explore the market, but certainly don't let yourself be pressured into making hasty decisions. Our advisors will happily work with you to determine whether a home battery is right for you, and if so, which one. If you think you're ready, or simply want to learn more about the options, click the button for a free, no-obligation consultation.