Homeowner Blog

Deciding to install solar panels and a battery is one of the smartest investments you can make for your home. Done right, it can cut energy bills, provide independence from the grid, and add value to your property. But if it’s done wrong, the outcome can be costly and disappointing. Solar is not something you can just order online and have working out of the box. Careful planning and expert design are essential to getting the best long-term return.

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.

With home battery storage becoming an essential part of energy independence, the Tesla Powerwall 3 and Sigenergy SigenStor stand out as two of the best options in the UK. Both offer solar integration, backup power, and scalability, but which one is right for your home?

This detailed comparison breaks down the key differences between these two advanced battery systems to help you make an informed choice.

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.

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.

When you install a solar and/or battery system with an inverter output over 3.68 kW, you will need to apply for and gain permission from your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

So, there's less than a week to go until the 2024 election. While Labour are predicted to gain the biggest majority for any party since 1920 and issues of immigration and cost of living are dominating the agenda, we look in more depth at the net zero commitments of each of the parties and the impact their policies may have on the solar industry.

This is the only photo that we have of the Powerwall 3, taken when one of our technicians visited Tesla at the ExCel in London.