Who is a plug-and-play battery for?

A plug-and-play battery plugs into a normal wall socket, with no certified installer and no drilling into the meter cupboard (the "meterkast" in Dutch homes). The EcoFlow Stream series is a well-known example. You're up and running within an hour and can start storing solar power straight away, or top up with cheap electricity during the day.

What should you look out for?

The honest catch: the capacity is a good deal smaller than that of a fixed home battery system. For a full household with a heat pump and an electric car, this is no substitute for a proper installation. As a supplement, for a flat, or as an easy way to start, it's a fine choice.

What does a plug-and-play battery cost?

Indicatively, prices range between €600 and €1,200, depending on capacity and whether small solar panels or accessories are included. That's excluding installation, which you usually don't need. Prices vary by version, so treat this as a guideline rather than a fixed price.

Quick guide: is this right for your situation?

If you live in a flat with a balcony and 2 to 4 solar panels, a plug-and-play battery of 1 to 2 kWh is often enough to cover part of your evening consumption. It won't make you fully energy independent, but it does noticeably cut what you draw from the grid at peak times.

If your annual consumption is around 2,500 kWh with no heat pump or car, and you want an easy start without an installer, a set of 2 units gives you around 4 to 6 kWh in total, comfortably enough for an average evening.

If you're at an annual consumption of 4,500 kWh or more, with a heat pump or electric car on the horizon, plug-and-play quickly hits its ceiling. In that case, look at the full home batteries, which suit 5 kWh and up and connect to your home installation instead of a wall socket.

Plug-and-play or fixed system: the difference

What do we take care of?

We'll advise whether plug-and-play is enough for your situation or a fixed system makes more sense. If you do want to scale up to a larger installation, we arrange certified installation to the Dutch NEN 1010 standard and, if you like, a dynamic energy contract through our partner, with no lock-in.

Battery and solar panels separately, or together as a set?

Part of the range also comes as a set with small solar panels included, handy if you don't own a single panel yet and want to start in one go. If you already have solar panels on your roof or balcony railing, the battery on its own will do and you save on the set price. If in doubt, check what your current setup already produces, because buying an extra panel when your roof is already full makes little sense.

An honest catch here: the small solar panels in a plug-and-play set generate considerably less than a regular rooftop installation. So don't count on the same yield per panel as a professional solar panel installation; the added value is mainly the convenience of getting a working set in one purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Can I really connect a plug-and-play battery myself?

Yes, you plug the unit into a normal wall socket. No certified installer involved, unlike a fixed home battery system.

Is this enough for my whole house?

Usually not. The capacity is meant as a supplement or for lower consumption, not as a replacement for a full home battery in a large household.

Can I combine several of them?

With some models, yes. Check per model whether expansion is possible and up to what maximum.

Does this also work without solar panels?

Yes, you can also charge the battery from the wall socket when electricity is cheap, for example with a dynamic energy contract.

Do I need to register a plug-and-play battery with my grid operator?

For most small plug-and-play systems it's not compulsory, but the rules vary by grid operator and power rating. Check beforehand to avoid surprises.

What does a plug-and-play battery cost roughly?

Indicatively between €600 and €1,200 per unit, depending on capacity and accessories. Prices vary by version, so this is a guide, not a fixed price.

When is a fixed system still the better choice over plug-and-play?

Once your annual consumption rises above 4,000 to 4,500 kWh, or a heat pump and an electric car join the mix. At that point plug-and-play capacity is too limited and you end up with one of the fixed home batteries from 5 kWh upwards.