Equipment Guide · Inverters & LFP Storage
A practical engineering overview of the Fox ESS string inverters, H-series hybrid inverters and EP6 / EP12 lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries we install across Birmingham, Solihull and the West Midlands - with indicative add-on prices and real local case studies.
At Solar City, we do not make sweeping “best brand on the market” claims. Every roof and household load profile is different. Across our domestic and commercial work, we install six established solar and battery brands: Fox ESS, Aiko, EcoFlow, Sigenergy, Trina, LONGi.
In our instant online design tool and day-to-day West Midlands installations, Fox ESS is our core string and hybrid inverter platform paired with AIKO solar panels, while Sigenergy provides an alternative all-in-one stackable option. Because our own MCS-certified (NIC-1542) electricians commission and maintain the systems we fit, we choose hardware with reliable UK distribution, clear app monitoring and sensible expansion paths.
If you want solar-only on day one, our design tool selects a Fox ESS string inverter matched to your panel count. If you want a battery now - or want the inverter ready for a battery later - upgrading to a Fox ESS H-series hybrid inverter (+£405 in the design tool) gives you DC-coupled battery terminals and CT clamp load tracking.
Both the EP6 and EP12 use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 / LFP) cell chemistry and IP65 weather-rated enclosures. A single EP6 (~5.2 kWh usable) suits modest evening baseloads, while an EP12 (~10.4 kWh usable) or two EP6 units cover heavier evening cooking, laundry and time-of-use tariff shifting.
Every installation includes online portal and smartphone app monitoring. You can view live solar generation, house demand, battery state of charge and grid export, and set scheduled overnight charging windows for off-peak tariffs (read our export and time-of-use tariff comparison guide).
Below are the exact Fox ESS hybrid and battery add-on prices from our public design tool, alongside worked examples for 10-panel and 13-panel systems. For the full 6 to 16 panel solar-only table, see our Birmingham solar panel cost guide.
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
| Fox ESS component or worked system | Usable storage | Indicative cash price / adder |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade from Fox ESS string inverter to Fox H-series hybrid inverter | Hybrid inverter upgrade | +£405 |
| Fox ESS EP6 battery module add-on | ~5.2 kWh usable | +£945 |
| Fox ESS EP12 battery module add-on | ~10.4 kWh usable | +£2,160 |
| 10 panels (4.65 kWp) + Fox H-series hybrid + Fox EP6 x1 (~5.2 kWh usable) | Complete solar + hybrid + battery | £6,435 |
| 10 panels (4.65 kWp) + Fox H-series hybrid + Fox EP12 x1 (~10.4 kWh usable) | Complete solar + hybrid + battery | £7,650 |
| 13 panels (6.05 kWp) + Fox H-series hybrid + Fox EP6 x2 (~10.4 kWh usable) | Complete solar + hybrid + battery | £8,280 |
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
You do not have to rely on brochure photos. Inspect these published Solar City installations across Solihull, Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire featuring Fox ESS hybrid inverters and batteries:
See all published jobs on our case studies page or read more about our battery storage service.
In our instant design tool, you can toggle directly between Fox ESS and Sigenergy to see how both options look on your roof:
| Decision factor | Fox ESS H-series + EP6 / EP12 | Sigenergy SigenStor all-in-one |
|---|---|---|
| Physical layout | Separate wall-mounted hybrid inverter plus slim EP6 or EP12 battery pack(s) - flexible when wall space is split or height is restricted | Integrated floor-standing stack combining the SigenStor EC energy controller and 6.0 kWh or 9.04 kWh battery modules in one column |
| Panel pairing in our design tool | Paired with 465W AIKO Neostar 2S all-black panels | Paired with 495W AIKO all-black panels |
| Indicative entry price with storage | 10 panels (4.65 kWp) + Fox hybrid + EP6 (~5.2 kWh usable): £6,435 (or £7,650 with EP12 ~10.4 kWh) | 8 panels (3.96 kWp, 495W AIKO) + SigenStor EC 3.6 kW + 6.0 kWh battery: £7,402.50 8 panels (3.96 kWp, 495W AIKO) + SigenStor EC 3.6 kW + 9.04 kWh battery: £7,942.50 16 panels (7.92 kWp, 495W AIKO) + SigenStor EC 8.0 kW + 9.04 kWh battery: £10,980 |
| Best suited for | Homeowners wanting strong value per usable kWh and shortest payback on a 3 to 5 bedroom West Midlands home | Homeowners wanting a single architectural stack and higher per-panel wattage where budget allows |
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Direct answers about Fox ESS EP6 and EP12 batteries, pricing and West Midlands installations.
Open our free instant design tool to switch between solar-only, Fox ESS EP6/EP12 and Sigenergy SigenStor with live indicative cash pricing, or call 0121 707 9991.