Homeowner Blog

The majority of our domestic solar PV systems are retrofits - panels installed on top of an existing roof. If you’re curious to see how the process works, read on to get a look behind the scenes of one of our recent installs.

The rollout of smart meters is an important part of the energy revolution and transition to a clean electricity network. But if you’re generating your own electricity, how do smart meters and solar panels interact? Can you have smart meters with solar PV? You can - and it may make your life even easier.

The electric revolution is here.

Most manufacturers are now releasing battery-powered versions of their popular vehicles. The UK’s first electric forecourt is opening in November. And the government plans to announce that the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles will be brought forward to 2030, leading many more people to look into purchasing their first EV.

But with a plethora of makes, models and different types of EVs being advertised, where do you start? Let’s break down the jargon.

We are often asked about installing solar panels on residential flat roofs. Sadly, most of the time it’s not practical - at least for retrofits. For extensions, new builds and commercial flat roofs, solar PV is still worth considering.

Let’s delve into the reasons behind this.

We’re often asked by our customers which is the best electricity tariff, especially when they’re investing in their own renewable energy systems. There are lots of energy suppliers, with prices varying by location and various contract commitments. But there are particular types of tariffs that we’d recommend looking at, depending on your circumstances:

As part of his summer mini budget, the Chancellor announced the Green Homes Grant back in July. Now the details have been released, revealing which technologies will be included to help homeowners make their properties more energy efficient. We can confirm that solar PV will not be included in the grant.

Recently the Solar Trade Association (STA) published a report modelling the impact of solar PV, battery storage and smart home controls on the UK’s electricity supply and demand. In particular it examines how these technologies can help balance the grid as it becomes ever more complex and under pressure.

We’re going to dig into how solar PV can integrate with smart homes to reduce or even eliminate peak demand.

As EVs become a part of daily life for more and more of us, the humble chargepoint is no longer just a plug socket. It’s the brains behind intelligent, economic charging. It’s a device that has to stand up to use day in, day out. It’s a feature of the look and feel of our homes.

One chargepoint excels in all these regards and is a cut above the rest in the design stakes - the Andersen A2. And we’re delighted to announce that Spirit is now an Andersen approved installer.

Solar panels perform best when they are clean. Any dirt or growth on the modules can block out sunlight and have a substantial impact on power output. Perhaps the hardest form of soiling to remove is lichen on solar panels.

But why does it grow on solar arrays and how can we deal with it?

Some of our clients are surprised to learn that there can be limits on the number of solar panels they can get on their roof, beyond the obvious physical and cost limitations. In fact, for solar PV systems over a certain size, grid permission is needed before installation can go ahead.

In this post, we’ll explore how many solar panels you’re allowed to install without prior permission, and how we can help you determine the maximum possible allowance for your property.