Thermal battery or home battery: which suits your home?
A home battery stores electricity for anything in your home. A thermal battery stores heat, only for heating and hot water, but heat is often a home's biggest energy need.
Side by side
| Home battery | Thermal battery (Batbubble) | |
|---|---|---|
| Stores | Electricity | Heat, in water |
| Can supply | Any electrical use: lights, appliances, heat pump, EV | Space heating and hot water only |
| Charges from | Solar and the grid | Solar, the grid and a compatible heat pump |
| Capacity depends on | Battery size in kWh | Tank size and temperature range |
| Space | Compact, often wall-mounted | A 1,000 L or 2,000 L tank needs floor space |
| Power cut | Can supply backup power, if set up for it | Not a backup power supply |
| Price reference | Get quotes; varies by size and brand | €4,500 (1,000 L) or €6,000 (2,000 L) planned unit price |
A home battery is the better choice when
- Most of your evening use is appliances, lighting or an EV
- You want backup power in a power cut
- You have no water-based heating
- You have little floor space
A thermal battery makes more sense when
- Heating and hot water are your largest energy use
- You have a heat pump or electric heating with radiators or underfloor heating
- You export a lot of solar or use a dynamic tariff
- You have room for a large tank
Comparing cost per kWh stored
For a battery, divide the installed price by its usable capacity. For a thermal battery, capacity depends on the temperature range, so work it out first with the storage calculator.
Also compare what each kWh replaces: electricity from a battery can run anything, while heat from a thermal battery replaces heat your heat pump or heater would otherwise make.
Questions about batteries and heat storage
Can I have both a home battery and a thermal battery?
Yes. A battery can cover evening electricity use while a thermal battery covers heating and hot water.
Which stores more energy for the money?
It depends on the products and, for a thermal battery, on its temperature range. Compare the euros per kWh stored using real quotes and the storage calculator.
Does a thermal battery work in a power cut?
The stored heat stays in the tank, but heating pumps and controls need electricity. A thermal battery is not a backup power supply.
Be among the first to get Batbubble.
Batbubble is in development. Join the waiting list for development and availability updates. It is not a purchase or reservation.