Homeowner Blog

Choosing the right time-of-use tariff can transform a solar-and-battery setup from a novelty into a genuine money-saving powerhouse. An energy tariff determines how much you pay for every unit of electricity you import, and what you receive for every kilowatt-hour you export. While most standard plans charge a flat rate, Octopus Energy’s smart tariffs use time-of-use pricing to reward off-peak consumption and peak exports, perfect for households with solar panels, home batteries, EVs or even heat pumps. Though rates vary regionally (London tends to be about 10 % higher than Yorkshire), the principles we explore here apply across the UK.

Pictured -
Archie Helas, Technical Designer, Spirit Energy
Tok Charles, Technical Designer, Spirit Energy
Greg Jackson, CEO, Octopus Energy

Spirit Energy has just been crowned Octopus Energy’s Customer‑Focused Installer - and we couldn’t be more thrilled! On 4 April 2025, CEO Greg Jackson presented us with this prestigious accolade, recognising our passion for putting customers at the heart of everything we do.

Maximise your return and reduce your energy bills faster

When considering solar and battery storage, one of the most common motivations is the financial return. A well-designed system can pay for itself in just a few years and continue saving you thousands over its lifetime. But not all systems are created equal, and the choices you make during the design and installation stages will determine just how fast you break even.

Here are the ten most important factors that can improve your solar payback period - and save you more in the long run.

Tesla’s long-awaited DC expansion packs have now arrived, and at Spirit Energy we’re proud to offer them as an affordable way to boost your Powerwall 3 system. Priced at around £5200 per unit, these DC expansion packs provide additional battery storage without the need to install another full Powerwall 3. In this blog, we’ll explain what these expansion packs are, their key features, installation options, and how they can benefit your home energy storage setup.

When most people think of solar panels, they picture arrays neatly fitted on a roof or sprawling across a field. However, there’s another equally innovative option that’s been gaining traction – wall mounted solar panels. At Spirit Energy, we’ve successfully installed several wall mounted systems, including a recent project in Buckinghamshire where 18 panels were strategically split between south and west facing walls.

Covered in this blog:

• How wall mounted panels work
• Performance compared to conventional pitched roof systems
• Planning considerations
• Costs
• When they might be the right choice for your home
  

The Sigenergy SigenStor, by offering groundbreaking innovations in scalability, smart control, off-grid capabilities, and integrated EV charging, redefines what homeowners can expect from energy storage solutions. Unlike many existing systems that offer rigid configurations and somewhat limited flexibility, the SigenStor brings a new level of adaptability and forward-thinking design to the market.

Today marks the last day that coal will be in the UK’s energy mix since the first plant was commissioned in 1882. But how did we get to this point? What does this mean for the UK’s energy mix, and how will the UK replace such a reliable energy source?

Spirit attended Solar and Storage Convention in Birmingham recently, several notable developments in the UK solar market were highlighted. One of the most exciting of these was the introduction of a new flagship residential solar module from AIKO.

AIKO has made a significant impact on the UK panel market this year with the NeoStar 2, which quickly became very popular with our customers as a solar panel that offers excellent value for its price. The NeoStar 2 is an all-black 455 W solar panel with an efficiency of 22.8% at approximately £70 per unit. The top panel in this range is a 470 W module, which is not all-black but offers an increased efficiency of 23.5%. In just two to three years, this product has enabled AIKO to capture an enormous 10% market share in the UK solar market.

With the recent release of Tesla's Powerwall 3, homeowners looking to invest in a home battery system might find themselves comparing it to GivEnergy's All in One system. Both are top contenders in the residential energy storage market, but how do they stack up against each other? Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the key features, benefits, and considerations for each to help you decide which is the best fit for your home.

When Tesla paid us a visit prior to the launch of the Powerwall 3, they mentioned that Tesla Electric would soon be coming to the UK, and it’s on track for 2025. This exciting development promises to change how we manage our energy with features targeting a similar audience to Octopus Energy’s, which is to say home energy enthusiasts, along with providing big benefits for Tesla customers.