Battery storage has moved from a premium add-on to a central part of how many homeowners in Devon think about their energy setup. The economics have shifted, the technology has matured, and the practical benefits, particularly in rural areas where grid reliability is not always consistent, have become genuinely compelling.
Electrix is a certified Tesla Powerwall installer and has been installing battery storage systems across the South West for a number of years. We have seen the conversations around storage change considerably. A few years ago, the question was usually ‘is it worth it yet?’ Now it is more often ‘what do I need to know to choose the right system?’

How the Tesla Powerwall Works

The Powerwall is a wall-mounted battery unit with 13.5 kWh of usable storage capacity. It captures surplus solar generation during the day and stores it for use in the evening, or it can be configured to charge from the grid during off-peak periods when electricity tariffs are lower.
One of the Powerwall’s distinctive features is its whole-home backup capability. If the grid goes down, the Powerwall can automatically island the house and continue supplying power from its stored charge. For homes in rural Devon where power cuts, though relatively infrequent, do happen, this is a meaningful practical benefit.

The Case With Solar

The combination of solar PV and battery storage is where the financial case becomes strongest. Without storage, surplus solar generation that is not being used in the home at the moment of production is exported to the grid at the export tariff rate, which is typically much lower than the import rate. Battery storage captures that surplus, shifting it to evening hours when consumption is higher and the value of avoiding grid imports is greatest.
Electrix designs solar and storage systems together, sizing the battery relative to the panel array and the household’s consumption profile. A well-matched system can significantly increase solar self-consumption, reducing grid dependency and improving payback.

The Case Without Solar

Battery storage without solar also makes sense in some situations, particularly for households on time-of-use tariffs who can charge the battery at cheaper overnight rates and draw from it during peak periods. The economics are more marginal than with solar, but the backup capability and the tariff arbitrage opportunity are both genuine.

What Installation Involves

A Powerwall installation requires a certified installer, and Electrix holds that certification. The installation involves mounting the unit (usually on an external wall or in a garage), connecting it to the solar system and consumer unit, and commissioning it through the Tesla app. Most installations are completed within a day.
If you are considering battery storage, either alongside a new solar installation or as a retrofit to an existing system, contact Electrix for a survey and quotation. We cover Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, and our design team will give you an honest assessment of what storage can realistically deliver for your property.