UK homeowner questions 18% reserve setting on 16.1 kWh Fogstar home battery
By Eve
A UK homeowner has raised concerns after discovering their installer set an 18% minimum state of charge on a Fogstar Energy ECO 48V 16.1 kWh battery, holding nearly 2.9 kWh in reserve, despite online sources suggesting the system can operate as low as 5%. Other users on Reddit's r/SolarUK reported similar batteries configured to 11% or 9% minimums, with the difference potentially affecting savings for households using batteries to store solar power or exploit variable rate metering. The query highlights confusion over optimal battery management settings for residential energy storage systems.
Why it matters
For installers and battery suppliers, the case underscores the need for clear guidance on minimum state of charge settings, as conservative configurations can reduce usable capacity by up to 1 kWh or more, directly affecting customer savings and satisfaction. As home battery installations grow, standardised commissioning practices will become increasingly important for the residential storage market.
Source
- Original title
- “UK homeowner finds nearly a fifth of home battery capacity is being held in reserve”
- Published
- 29 October 2026
- Updated
- 30 October 2026
In this story
- Topic
- Grid & Energy
- Place
- United Kingdom
- Tag
- Fogstar
Related news
Massachusetts advances 700 MW Trimount battery near Boston, the largest storage project in New England
Massachusetts is progressing the 700 MW Trimount battery project just outside Boston, according to The Cool Down, citing Canary Media. A 200 MW facility near the Rhode Island border is already under construction, and another developer in a neighbouring town has secured $850 million for a 250 MW project. The state targets 5 GW of storage online by 2030 and a further 5 GW by 2035, against California's 23 GW of installed capacity.
Why it matters
Large batteries that charge when power is cheaper and discharge at peak could ease grid constraints and soften peak pricing in a state with some of the highest electricity prices in the US. For CPOs and charging developers in Massachusetts, a growing storage pipeline and an aggressive procurement policy signal where grid capacity and pricing dynamics may shift.
Up to 48 million US homes may need electrical upgrades as smart panels offer a possible alternative
Up to 48 million US households could require electrical upgrades as residents adopt electric cars, stoves and water heaters, according to a report from The Cool Down citing an EcoBits YouTube video hosted by Justin Pack. The video's caption put the potential cost of those upgrades at $100 billion, though it did not say how much an individual homeowner could save with a smart panel. Smart panels monitor household electricity use and adjust loads automatically before a breaker trips, with older homes flagged as a particular concern.
Why it matters
Home electrical capacity is a potential barrier to residential charger installs, and load managing panels could cut the need for costly service upgrades. Installers and CPOs offering home charging should note the cost figures are an estimate from a video caption and individual savings were not stated.
Co-located battery storage now accounts for over 16% of new US utility-scale solar capacity added this year
According to data reported to EIA by operators, over 16% of new utility-scale solar capacity added so far this year (as of September 2026) is co-located with operable battery storage, compared with 2% in 2017. Plans for solar additions due online in the last three months of the year suggest the share could reach 19% for the year, and plans submitted for 2027 and 2028 show it rising to more than 30%. Co-location lets operators send solar output to the grid or the battery depending on wholesale prices, which tend to fall when solar output is high and rise as it drops.
Why it matters
Growing solar and storage pairing points to more grid-connected sites with on-site batteries and price-responsive dispatch, which may shape how CPOs and developers approach site power, grid connection and storage partnerships. Procurement teams should note that the figures come from EIA reporting on US utility-scale plants, so they signal a wider market direction rather than EV-charging-specific demand.