I’m getting a bit tired of hearing how transitioning to green energy costs more money. The truth? That’s just not the case. We’ve been living proof of this for over a decade.
Back in 2012, we installed a 50 kW solar panel system on our roof. By 2017, it had already paid for itself – and since then, it’s been a steady source of revenue, not just savings. Now, we’re taking the next logical step by adding battery storage. But we’re not splashing out on expensive new systems. Instead, we bought a used Model 3 car battery off eBay for £2,000 – an 85 kWh battery that still has 75 kWh of usable life left. To put that in perspective: a Tesla Powerwall costs £15,000 for just 15 kWh. By repurposing car batteries, we’re getting five times the storage for a fraction of the price.
Each year, the UK buys about 350,000 electric vehicles – and those batteries are just sitting there waiting for a second life. Converting them into storage arrays doesn’t just solve our energy storage problem; it also stops perfectly good batteries from being prematurely recycled.
We’re also expanding our solar array by another 22 kW. All in, we’re investing £30,000 in this next phase. But the payoff? We’re set to reduce our grid electricity use to just 5% of our total. Our energy bills, which fluctuate between £1,500 and £4,000 per month, will drop to nearly nothing – or even earn us money when we export excess power back to the grid. Our payback period? Less than a year.
The best part? Our entire team drives full electric cars – and we charge them directly from our warehouse’s solar panels. This means our fuel costs are zero too. Clean, local power for our vehicles and our operations. No reliance on fossil fuels or grid fluctuations. We’re not just cutting costs; we’re future-proofing our entire business.
If we were starting this project from scratch today – panels and storage included – it would cost about £66,000, which is still cheaper than our 2012 system was alone!
It’s easy to see that investing in solar and repurposing old EV batteries is a complete no-brainer financially. The environmental benefits? Just a happy bonus. We’re on track to become the first trading estate in the UK with 100% on-site energy generation – and honestly, it wasn’t that difficult or expensive.
So why aren’t more companies doing this? The technology is there. The payback is fast. The environmental and social impact is massive. If you’re a business owner, there’s no excuse for not investing in clean energy. It’s not just about saving the planet. It’s about taking control of your costs, becoming more resilient, and making the smart choice.
Key Takeaway:
✅ Clean energy pays for itself faster than you think
✅ Reusing EV batteries slashes costs and waste
✅ Zero fuel costs when you power your electric cars from your own solar array
✅ It’s easier and cheaper than ever to be energy independent
Let’s challenge the status quo. Doing the right thing isn’t just good for the environment – it’s smart business. Let’s make it the new normal.