Homeowner Blog

South-facing solar panels produce more electricity per panel than east or west-facing ones, but east-west systems often produce more electricity overall, and the daily generation profile can be a better match for how most households actually use power. Whether south-facing is "better" depends on what kind of roof you have and what you are trying to achieve.  For many homes, the most useful answer is that neither orientation is best used exclusively. 

Why electricity bills keep rising in the UK

Electricity bills in the UK continue to rise because the market is still heavily influenced by global energy prices, particularly gas. Even though we generate a growing share of electricity from renewables, gas often sets the wholesale price of electricity. When global supply is disrupted or demand increases, prices rise across the board. This has been seen repeatedly in recent years, and it means households remain exposed to factors completely outside their control. As long as the UK relies on gas as a core part of its energy mix, price volatility is likely to remain.

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

The Feed in Tariff encouraged hundreds of thousands of UK homeowners to install solar panels between 2010 and 2019. Many of these systems are still running today and earning very generous FiT rates. Because the incentives were so strong, the most common questions we hear are:

When Sam installed a solar and battery system last year, he had the same questions that most homeowners do. Would solar really generate enough energy to make a difference? Would the investment pay off? And was it risky to be one of the first people in the UK to install a Tesla Powerwall 3?

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
  

You'll have probably heard on the news the announcement that the Ofgem energy price cap has been lowered once again, going from 24.5p per kWh to 22.36p per kWh, but does this mean energy prices are going to continue to go down and what does this mean for those considering an investment in solar panels?

Solar panels produce electricity from the sun’s rays, which means there is no greenhouse gas emissions or pollution, unlike with burning coal, natural gas or any other fossil fuels. This can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and help with the fight against global warming.