Home Battery Savings Calculator for Scotland
Quick answerA home battery saves money by charging on a cheap overnight rate, or from your solar panels, and powering your home at the peak rate instead. On Intelligent Octopus Go, a 10kWh battery in a typical Scottish home saves roughly £500–£700 a year. Battery-only systems usually pay back in about 8–14 years.
Last updated: 30 October 2026 · Reviewed by the Scottish Energy Efficiency team
Choose your region, battery size, whether you have solar, your yearly electricity use and your tariff. The calculator shows a yearly saving range and a payback range, and every step of the sum, so you can check it against your own bills.
Work out your battery savings
Estimated yearly saving
£508–£617
Estimated payback
8.9–13.8 years
How we worked it out
- Energy shifted each day: the smaller of your 10kWh battery or 70% of your daily use (3,500 ÷ 365 × 0.7) = 6.7kWh
- Daily saving: 6.7kWh × (37.65p − 7.60p) × 90% efficiency = £1.82
- Over 280–340 full-use days a year = £508–£617
- Payback: typical installed price for 10kWh of £5,500–£7,000 (0% VAT, checked October 2026) ÷ yearly saving
Rates are used as entered, excluding VAT; with 5% VAT on household electricity your real saving is about 5% higher. This ignores export income and future price changes.
- Battery only typically pays back in about 8–14 years.
- Solar and battery on a good tariff typically pays back in about 5–9 years.
- Home batteries usually last 10–15 years.
Get a quote for a 10kWh battery in North Scotland
Four quick steps. We will arrange a survey and a written, no-obligation quote.
No obligation · We install through MCS-certified partners · Scottish homes only
Your details are used only to arrange your quote with our installation partner for your area.
How does the battery savings calculator work?
It works out how much electricity your battery can move from the peak rate to the cheap rate each day, multiplies that by the price gap and allows 10% for charging losses. It then counts 280–340 days of full use a year and divides typical installed prices by the saving to give payback.
How long does a home battery take to pay back in Scotland?
A battery-only system on a cheap overnight tariff typically pays back in about 8–14 years. Solar and a battery together on a good tariff typically pay back in about 5–9 years. Home batteries usually last 10–15 years, so the right size and tariff matter a lot to whether you come out ahead.
Why are North and South Scotland rates different?
Electricity prices include network charges that differ by region. North Scotland covers areas such as Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness and the Highlands, while South Scotland covers Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Borders. On Intelligent Octopus Go the day rate is 37.65p in North Scotland and 36.37p in South Scotland, excluding VAT.
What does the calculator leave out?
It leaves out export income, standing charges, future price changes and battery wear over time, and it uses rates excluding VAT. Real savings depend on when you use electricity, how your battery is set up and your exact tariff. A survey looks at your actual usage before you commit to a battery size.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my yearly electricity use?
It is on your annual statement or in your supplier’s app, usually shown as kWh used in the last 12 months.
Which tariff gives the biggest saving?
The bigger the gap between the cheap and peak rate, the more a battery saves. Compare the rates in your region before switching.
Is a bigger battery always better?
Only if you use the extra storage. If your daily use is lower than the battery size, the extra capacity adds cost but little saving.
Can I spread the cost?
Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status.