Homeowner Blog

Britain will see its deepest solar eclipse in decades this evening, with as much as 96% of the sun blocked by the moon in parts of the country, the closest the UK has come to totality since the total eclipse over Cornwall in 1999. The dip lasts around two hours and will barely register on a typical home solar system's annual output, since the effect behaves much like a passing bank of thick cloud. It matters far more to the national grid than to your roof, which is why Octopus Energy is running a UK wide power down session between 6pm and 8pm tonight.

The battery is usually the single most expensive part of a solar and battery installation, and the right size depends on one thing: your average daytime electricity usage once overnight and EV charging are stripped out. As a rule, undersize if you're unsure how your usage will change, since storage can be added later but never removed. Oversize only for a genuine power cut reserve or a confirmed future load like a heat pump. 

The installed price gap between the Tesla Powerwall 3, Sigenenergy SigenStor, and Fox Evo is under 4% when measured on cost per usable kilowatt-hour of storage. Spirit Energy has installed all three, including the first Powerwall 3 commissioned in the UK, and the honest conclusion is that price alone should not drive this decision.

China's Ministry of Finance announced on 9 January 2026 that the country would scrap export VAT rebates across a long list of products from 1 April. Solar panels lost the rebate entirely. Battery products had theirs cut from 9% to 6%, with the rest scheduled to disappear on 1 January 2027.

TL;DR GivEnergy was, for a long time, one of the most recognisable names in UK home battery storage. So when news broke in early April 2026 that the company had filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators, it sent a shockwave through the industry.

“I can’t buy solar, I won’t be in this building long enough to see the returns.”  

TL;DR

Winter is when a home battery should deliver the biggest savings because electricity is often priciest and solar generation is lowest. But cold temperatures can limit charging and power if a battery cannot manage its own temperature. Look for strong thermal management, outdoor-ready weatherproofing with a suitable IP rating, and an installer who sets your system up to reliably off-peak charge.

The Warm Homes Plan is the UK government’s largest ever programme aimed at upgrading existing homes to make them cheaper to run, more energy efficient, and less reliant on fossil fuels.

As the year draws to a close, it is a good moment to reflect on the breadth of solar projects delivered by Spirit Energy over the last twelve months. From large scale commercial rooftops to highly engineered residential systems, this year captures the full range of what modern solar looks like in practice.

If you are searching for a solar installer in Reading or across Berkshire, you want an installer that understands the technology, the regulations, and the real return on investment for your home. You also want an installer with a track record. Spirit Energy has installed thousands of solar panels across Reading, Wokingham, Earley, Caversham, Tilehurst, and wider Berkshire. Our installations range from small domestic rooftops to some of the region’s largest commercial solar projects.