Rising Energy Prices: Protect Yourself with a Home Battery

Energy prices in the Netherlands: a structural trend

The average electricity price in the Netherlands has risen over the past ten years from approximately €0.18/kWh in 2015 to an average of €0.32/kWh in 2026 — an increase of 78%. The energy crisis of 2022 demonstrated how quickly tariffs can double. Although the market has stabilised, all structural factors point in one direction: electricity costs will continue to rise.

The causes are diverse: the European CO2 tax (ETS) is becoming more expensive, the energy transition requires enormous grid investments that are passed on to consumers, and growing demand for electricity from heat pumps and electric cars is driving up prices. A home battery is one of the few instruments with which consumers can structurally protect themselves.

Historical electricity price development 2015–2026

The table below shows the average supply tariffs (all-in incl. taxes) for small consumers in the Netherlands:

The trend is clear: even outside crisis years, the electricity price rises by an average of 3–5% per year. With a 10 kWh home battery and 10 solar panels, you reduce your grid consumption by an average of 2,500–3,500 kWh per year. At a price of €0.32/kWh, that is a direct saving of €800–€1,120 per year — and that saving grows in line with the electricity price.

How a home battery protects you

A home battery protects you against higher electricity costs in three ways:

Less grid consumption = lower electricity bill

By storing your solar power during the day and using it in the evening, you reduce your grid purchases by 60–80%. Every kilowatt-hour you use yourself doesn't have to be bought at the market price of the moment.

Arbitrage on dynamic tariffs

With a dynamic energy contract, you pay a different price per hour for electricity. A smart battery system charges when the price is low (often at night or when there is plenty of wind supply) and uses that cheap electricity when the price is high. This can yield an extra €200–€400 per year on top of the regular savings.

Protection against future price increases

A home battery purchased today will last 15–25 years. During that period, you can expect electricity costs to continue rising. The savings you calculate today grow each year in line with the energy price. With an increase of 4% per year, the cumulative savings over 20 years are more than 2.5 times the first year's savings.

Calculate your protection: how much do you save?

Use these rules of thumb for a quick calculation of your personal protection:

• Current annual consumption (kWh): check your energy bill or smart meter
• Self-consumption percentage with battery: typically 70–85% with a properly sized system
• Current electricity price (€/kWh): add up supply costs, energy tax and VAT
• Expected annual price increase: use 3–5% as a conservative estimate
• Investment costs including installation: compare this with the cumulative savings over 10–15 years

Conclusion: invest now, save for years

A home battery is not just a technical purchase, but a financial insurance against rising energy prices. The sooner you invest, the more years you benefit from protection. And unlike a pension product, a home battery starts delivering returns immediately — from the very first day you switch it on.

Curious about your personal savings? At Home Energy Solutions, we calculate for free what a home battery will deliver for your specific situation, including a projection for the next 10 years.