Battery Storage Integration

AC-coupled and DC-coupled batteries on new builds: what they add, and how to size one.

About this service

A battery stores daytime solar generation for use in the evening, so more of the array's output is used in the home rather than exported. Part L 2026 does not require a battery. Common brands on new builds include GivEnergy, Tesla Powerwall, SunSynk and SolaX; a hybrid inverter makes it simpler to add a battery later if it is not fitted at build stage.

Who it's for

Self-builders
Premium volume plots
Off-grid and rural new builds

How it fits into a new-build programme

Battery Storage Integration is specified at design stage, entered into the SAP 10.3 calculation, installed during construction and documented at handover. When you compare quotes, check the installer's MCS certification for this technology, the length of the workmanship warranty and who backs it, and what the handover pack will include.

40% of ground floor area

PV / ground floor area

Mar 2027

FHS in force

75%

CO₂ vs 2013 baseline

£4,350 per dwelling

Per-plot premium (2025 prices, FHS Impact Assessment)

For developers and housebuilders

Battery storage integration on volume new-build programmes

On a multi-plot programme, settle four things at procurement: the per-plot price and how it moves with inflation; whether the array is modelled in the SAP 10.3 calculation for every house type; what your structural warranty provider needs to see for roof-integrated PV; and who issues the MCS certificate at handover, since buyers need it to claim Smart Export Guarantee payments.

Developer guide →

For self-builders and architects

Battery storage integration for one-off custom builds

On a one-off build the array is easiest to settle at RIBA Stage 2 or 3, while the roof geometry is still open. Your SAP assessor models the system for the Part L submission, your building control body signs it off, and PV installed as part of constructing a new dwelling is zero-rated for VAT under HMRC Notice 708.

Self-build guide →

How this fits into the FHS compliance pathway

Every FHS-compliant new build passes three regulatory gates. Battery storage integration sits mainly in the second, design-stage Part L compliance, but it affects building control sign-off and the handover documents too:

1
Planning permission Solar PV designed into a new dwelling is normally covered by the dwelling's own planning permission. Conservation areas, Article 4 directions and plots within the curtilage of a listed building need extra planning evidence, usually prepared by the architect or planning agent.
2
Building control: Part L compliance SAP 10.3 is the compliance calculation at FHS launch. The dwelling's emission and primary energy rates must meet their targets, with the PV array, heat pump, fabric U-values and air permeability all entered. The SAP assessor prepares the design-stage and as-built calculations that building control reviews.
3
Completion: certificates and handover The MCS certificate (needed for Smart Export Guarantee payments), the Energy Performance Certificate and the homeowner's handover documents. If your structural warranty provider has requirements for roof-integrated PV, confirm them before the roof goes on.

For a fuller walkthrough of the compliance process, see the Part L 2026 guide and the FHS PV calculator, which sizes a compliant array from your ground floor area.

Frequently asked questions

Is a battery required under the Future Homes Standard?

No. Part L 2026 does not require a battery. A dwelling has to meet its emission and primary energy targets; a battery is an optional way to use more of the PV output on site.

What size battery suits a new build?

5 to 10 kWh is a common range for new homes. The right size depends on evening demand, the size of the array and the electricity tariff.

Which batteries are common on new builds?

GivEnergy, Tesla Powerwall, SunSynk and SolaX are all widely installed. Check compatibility with the inverter before choosing.