04. Reflecting on Solar & Storage Live 2026
Solar & Storage Live 2026 was another great opportunity for us at AlphaESS UK to catch up with customers, meet new businesses and discuss the developments shaping the UK battery storage market.
The Growing Demand for Commercial Battery Storage
One of the main topics we discussed was what is driving demand for C&I battery storage.
In my view, there are three key factors:
Economics
Volatile energy prices, alongside falling battery manufacturing costs, are improving the business case.
Functionality
Batteries can help businesses manage their energy requirements, increase available site power and potentially avoid costly grid upgrades.
Additional Revenue
Flexibility providers and aggregators are creating opportunities for businesses to generate revenue from their battery systems.
We're seeing particularly strong interest from sectors such as agriculture, care homes and other businesses with high energy consumption.
Sites with existing solar PV are also well positioned to benefit, particularly where surplus generation is being exported at relatively low rates rather than stored and used on-site.
Another growing opportunity is grid-constrained sites, where battery storage can provide additional power without the expense and delays associated with upgrading grid connections.
Making Battery Storage More Commercially Viable
While batteries have traditionally been installed alongside solar PV, we're now seeing more interest in standalone BESS projects. The ability to shift energy usage away from peak tariffs, combined with opportunities to generate revenue through flexibility markets, is making these projects increasingly attractive.
We've seen examples of standalone BESS projects achieving payback periods of around three years, something that would have been almost unheard of just a few years ago.
However, the long-term performance of the system remains critical. Choosing a bankable manufacturer with a proven track record, reliable warranties and strong technical support is essential.
One of the biggest opportunities for the industry is the development of longer-term, predictable revenue contracts for flexibility and optimisation. AlphaESS UK’s partners Capture Energy are already helping to make this possible, giving businesses greater confidence when investing in battery storage.
Introducing the New AlphaESS TB150
One of our main highlights from the show was introducing the new AlphaESS TB150, a 150 kW / 313 kWh all-in-one commercial battery energy storage system.
Battery longevity is becoming an increasingly important part of the investment case, particularly for commercial projects where long-term returns are essential.
The TB150 offers a 12,000-cycle, 70% State of Health (SoH) warranty, compared with the more typical 8,000 cycles seen across the market.
This gives us a real point of difference, helping improve confidence in long-term system performance and the overall investment case for commercial BESS. It was great to have the system on display and speak directly with installers and customers about its capabilities.
Announcing Our Partnership with Axle Energy
Another important highlight was announcing our new partnership with Axle Energy. This collaboration will allow eligible AlphaESS residential battery customers to participate in flexibility markets through Axle Energy's Virtual Power Plant (VPP).
By supporting the grid during periods of high demand, customers can unlock additional revenue opportunities from their batteries, alongside the savings already available through solar self-consumption and time-of-use tariffs.
It's another positive step towards making battery storage more financially attractive for homeowners.
Looking Ahead
Overall, Solar & Storage Live was a positive event for the team, with some great conversations with existing customers, new businesses and partners, including Capture Energy, Immersa, Waxman Energy, Midsummer, City Plumbing, Heatable, Solar Maintenance Solutions, West Coast Electricals, Eco Sheffield, Full Power Installations, Equans and many more so apologies if I have missed calling you out.
One thing that stood out was the growing demand for support beyond just battery supply. More customers are looking for help with feasibility, design, delivery and optimisation, which is an area we're continuing to develop.
One takeaway for us was the importance of stand location! We had several customers struggling to find us this year, so that's something we'll certainly consider for future events.
A big thank you to everyone who came to see us, and to our customers and partners for their continued support.
Mark Hale
Managing Director, AlphaESS UK
