As electricity bills continue to pressure households, many Pakistanis are looking for ways to reduce power costs without spending heavily on rooftop solar panels. Solar systems can help reduce bills, but they require a large upfront investment, proper roof space, installation work, and, in many cases, battery backup. This makes them difficult for renters, apartment residents, and families who cannot afford a complete solar setup.

As electricity bills continue to pressure households, many Pakistanis are looking for ways to reduce power costs without spending heavily on rooftop solar panels.

Solar systems can help reduce bills, but they require a large upfront investment, proper roof space, installation work, and, in many cases, battery backup. This makes them difficult for renters, apartment residents, and families who cannot afford a complete solar setup.

A new type of home battery system could offer another option in the future. Instead of generating electricity through solar panels, it stores cheaper off-peak electricity and uses it later during expensive peak hours.

The Windfall Battery is a plug-and-play home battery designed for renters and apartment users.

It does not depend on solar panels. Instead, it charges from the grid when electricity is cheaper and sends that stored power back into the home when electricity prices are higher.

The device plugs into a standard wall socket and connects with the home’s electricity supply. The app controls when energy is stored and when it is released.

A product like this could be useful in Pakistan because many households face high electricity bills but cannot install solar panels.

Apartment residents often do not have access to a private rooftop. Renters may also avoid solar because they do not own the property or do not want to invest in a permanent installation.

For such users, a compact battery that stores cheaper electricity for later use could offer a simpler way to manage power costs.

The main idea is simple. The battery charges during off-peak hours, when electricity is cheaper, and powers some household use during peak hours, when electricity is more expensive.

This could help users shift part of their electricity consumption away from expensive billing periods.

It would not replace a full solar system, but it could reduce dependence on peak-hour grid electricity.

Rob Hallifax, co-founder of Windfall Energy, said most home energy storage products are still designed for houses and homeowners.

That gap led to the idea of a smaller and more accessible battery for people living in flats or rented accommodation.

The Windfall Battery is designed for users who may not have access to solar panels or permanent home installation options.

The unit measures 54cm in height and 48cm in width. It weighs under 30kg and connects to home Wi-Fi to monitor energy prices and decide the best times to charge automatically.

Bluetooth is used for quick initial setup through a phone. The battery also includes a USB-C port, allowing users to charge smaller devices directly from it.

Windfall has designed the battery to look less like a technical appliance and more like a piece of furniture.

Hallifax said the aim was to make it something users would not mind keeping in a living space, especially in smaller flats where it may remain visible.

The design was developed with input from a designer who has experience at IKEA and Joseph Joseph, giving the product a clean and minimalist look.

Plug-in energy storage products like the Windfall Battery are not yet fully regulated in the UK.

Current wiring regulations mean a similar product technically requires hardwiring by an electrician, similar to installing a cooker.

However, the situation may change. Hallifax said the government is actively studying plug-and-play energy systems as part of wider carbon reduction work.

Discussions are also taking place with groups such as the Microgeneration Certification Scheme to make these products easier to access.

Hallifax suggested the rules could change within the next year.

For Pakistan, the idea is promising but still depends on local availability, pricing, safety approvals, and electricity tariff compatibility.

If such products become available locally at an affordable price, they could give renters and apartment residents a way to reduce peak-hour electricity use without investing in solar panels. For now, the Windfall Battery is available on a pre-order basis.

The first batch has already sold out, and the next batch has not yet been finalised. Interested buyers can join the waitlist through the company’s website to secure a place in the queue.

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