Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about our services.

Can I live completely off-grid with a home battery and solar panels?

Full off-grid living is legally and practically difficult in the Netherlands. A grid connection is required by law for homes. Nevertheless, there are technically possible solutions for people who want maximum independence. Think of systems with large battery capacity, smart energy storage and possibly an emergency generator as backup for periods with little sun, such as in winter.

For most households it makes more sense to stay connected to the grid as a safety net. However, with a properly sized system, you can significantly increase your self-sufficiency to about 70-80% on an annual basis.

At SunCharged, we design systems that maximize your independence, while maintaining grid security.

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The cost of a home battery varies widely and depends entirely on your situation and needs. There are compact plug-and-play batteries that you plug directly into the wall socket, as well as complete systems with large storage capacity, advanced inverters and even off-grid capabilities. The complexity of the installation also plays a role in the total price.

At SunCharged, we look at your energy consumption, house type and future plans with you. Based on that, we create a custom quote, so you can be sure you're getting what's right for you.

With a dynamic energy contract and a home battery, you always benefit from the lowest energy rate of the day. Exactly how much you save depends on several factors such as your energy consumption, solar production, the capacity of your battery and current power prices. Especially with large price differences in the energy market, a smart battery can make all the difference. By charging when power is cheap and discharging when rates are high, you maximize your solar power as well as market prices. At SunCharged, we are happy to help you understand your personal savings potential.

Although the net metering scheme remains in effect until 2027, a home battery can already be profitable if you have a dynamic energy contract or want to maximize self-consumption.
Additionally, you'll be prepared for the phasing out of the net metering scheme and benefit from price stability.
We're happy to advise you on the best timing for your specific situation.

A home battery stores excess solar power that you don't use immediately.
When your panels produce less or no electricity (for example, in the evening or during cloudy weather), you first use the stored energy from your battery before drawing power from the grid.
This increases your self-consumption of solar energy to up to 70-80% and reduces your dependence on the electricity grid.

At SunCharged, we select only high-quality home batteries from reputable manufacturers that are designed for long life. Manufacturers often provide a warranty based on charge and discharge cycles - around 6,000 cycles is common today, which equates to 15 years or more with normal use.

The exact lifespan depends on the battery type, usage pattern and number of cycles. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries typically offer the longest life. Even after the warranty period expires, most batteries will still function, although the storage capacity does decrease over time.

Full off-grid living is legally and practically difficult in the Netherlands. A grid connection is required by law for homes. Nevertheless, there are technically possible solutions for people who want maximum independence. Think of systems with large battery capacity, smart energy storage and possibly an emergency generator as backup for periods with little sun, such as in winter.

For most households it makes more sense to stay connected to the grid as a safety net. However, with a properly sized system, you can significantly increase your self-sufficiency to about 70-80% on an annual basis.

At SunCharged, we design systems that maximize your independence, while maintaining grid security.

For an average Dutch household (3,500 kWh/year) a 5 kWh battery is usually sufficient.

The ideal capacity depends on your daily power consumption, usage pattern, the power of your solar panels and the functionalities you want to use.
At SunCharged we analyze your specific situation to determine the perfect battery size that fits your energy needs, desires and budget, without unnecessarily investing in overcapacity.

If your battery is fully charged and you're generating more solar energy than you're using, the excess power is automatically fed back into the electricity grid.
Until 2027, you'll still benefit from the full net metering scheme.
After that, you'll receive a feed-in tariff from your energy supplier.
With a smart energy management system, you can also choose to run certain appliances extra when there's a surplus.

In 2025, there is still no national subsidy for home batteries, but there are local initiatives and pilot projects in various municipalities.
Additionally, you can benefit from VAT refunds if you have a dynamic energy contract and your battery can trade on the energy market.
At SunCharged, we closely monitor all subsidy opportunities and advise you on the schemes you can use.

Advantages: a home battery increases your self-consumption of solar energy by up to 80%, lowers your energy bill and makes you less dependent on the grid. In addition, it provides protection against price fluctuations, especially when combined with dynamic energy tariffs.

Disadvantages: the initial investment is relatively high, and you need a suitable place to safely install the battery - preferably indoors or in a well-ventilated location.

At SunCharged, we're happy to help you determine whether a home battery is a smart choice in your situation.

Absolutely!
A home battery combined with a dynamic energy contract is an excellent strategy.
You can charge your battery during hours with low electricity prices and discharge when prices are high.
This can significantly increase your savings, up to €500-600 per year.
At SunCharged, we advise on smart energy management systems that automatically respond to price fluctuations, allowing you to maximize the benefits of both your battery and dynamic rates.

A modern home battery takes up approximately the space of a small cabinet or washing machine (30-100 liters).
Most models have a wall mount and protrude about 20-30 cm from the wall.
We work with you to find the ideal location in your home, such as a garage, utility room, or technical room.
At SunCharged, we consider not only technical aspects but also aesthetics, so that the battery fits nicely in your home.

In most cases, a permit is not required for a home battery.
However, for apartments or monumental buildings, permission from the VvE or municipality may be required.
At SunCharged, we assist you with all necessary documentation and can contact your VvE or municipality if necessary to ensure a smooth process.
We ensure that your installation fully complies with all local regulations and safety standards.

Absolutely.
When your battery is fully charged and you produce more electricity than you consume, the excess energy is fed back into the grid.
For this, you receive a feed-in tariff from your energy supplier.
Until 2027, you will still benefit from the full net metering scheme.
A smart energy management system can help optimize the balance between own use, storage, and feed-in for maximum financial benefit.

This is not standard. In a normal installation, your home battery shuts down during a power outage. This is not only because of safety, but also because the power could otherwise flow into the public grid through your smart meter. To still maintain power during an outage, a closed system must be created in the home. This can be done with a backup function or an off-grid capability, which keeps your battery working completely autonomously. At SunCharged, we are happy to advise on these solutions and help you choose what suits your situation and budget.

Modern home batteries offer between 5,000 and 10,000 full charge and discharge cycles, depending on the type and quality.
With daily use, this means a lifespan of 13 to 27 years.
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries perform best in this regard.
At SunCharged, we select batteries with the highest cyclic lifespan and excellent warranty terms, so you can use your energy storage system worry-free for years to come.

Yes, there is an important difference: DC-coupled systems connect the battery directly to the solar panels before the inverter, which is 3-5% more efficient but requires a compatible hybrid inverter.
AC-coupled systems place the battery on the alternating current side after the inverter, which is easier to install and more flexible with existing solar panels.
At SunCharged, we advise on which coupling is best suited to your situation, taking into account your existing installation and future expansion plans.

Yes, with Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technology it is in principle possible to use your electric car as a home battery. To do this, you need a suitable car (such as a Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq 5 or KIA EV6) as well as a bi-directional charging station.

In practice, this technology is still under development, and regulations and certification also play an important role. Many parties, including car manufacturers and grid operators, are working hard on this. SunCharged follows these developments closely and will certainly facilitate V2H solutions in the future, as soon as this is technically and legally feasible.

For a standard home battery installation, your grid operator does not need to be directly involved.
Only when feeding back above 3x25A (17.3 kW) do you need to report this to your grid operator, such as Liander or Enexis.
At SunCharged, we take care of all technical aspects of the installation and assist you if necessary with communication to your grid operator.
We ensure that your system complies with all grid codes and safety regulations.

A home battery contributes positively to the environment by increasing your self-consumption of solar energy (up to 80%) and reducing the load on the electricity grid.
This reduces the need for fossil fuel backup power plants during peak moments.
Although battery production is energy-intensive, this 'ecological debt' is more than made up for during the battery's lifetime.
At SunCharged, we only work with manufacturers that use sustainable production processes and offer good recycling programs for used batteries.

Trading on the EPEX market means being smart about your energy consumption and storage: you use power or charge your battery when the price is low, and you consume less or feed back to the grid when the price is high. This works in conjunction with a dynamic energy tariff, where the price of power changes every hour. With a smart energy system, this happens automatically. This provides financial benefits and helps keep the energy grid in balance.

The Bliq Energy Manager is a smart device that gives insight into your energy use, generation, and charging behavior. It controls devices like your charger or battery based on solar production and dynamic pricing to lower your energy costs.

Trading in the imbalance market means helping to keep the power grid in balance by being flexible with your energy consumption or storage. The power grid must be in balance at all times: there may not be too much or too little power.

If, for example, you temporarily take off less or more power or feed it back at a time when the grid needs it, you can receive compensation for this. With smart software and a suitable energy system, this happens automatically and you can therefore earn money by balancing the grid.