Home battery systems not cost-effective for solar storage in Finland, study finds

Home battery systems designed to store solar energy are not financially viable for Finnish households, according to new research by the University of Turku and Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Even with significant fluctuations in electricity prices, the high upfront costs and gradual degradation of batteries offset any savings on electricity bills, the study concludes. Advanced algorithms using optimization or machine learning to time charging and discharging cycles also failed to generate enough savings to justify the battery’s price.

While solar power adoption has grown in Finland, many households have considered adding batteries to rooftop panel systems. However, the research—based on real electricity pricing and battery wear—shows these investments do not yet pay for themselves over their lifespan, said Lauri Karttunen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Turku.

“Even if a battery saves hundreds of euros annually, its purchase and installation costs remain too high to recoup within its operational life,” Karttunen stated in the university’s release.