Homeowner Blog

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.

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?

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.

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. 

For some, investing in solar panels in the unsettled climate of the British Isles might seem counterintuitive, but it is still a worthwhile investment. However, weather does impact the performance of solar panels, read on to find out how a solar panel system in the UK will perform come rain or shine.

If your buy-to-let flat were empty, it would be your absolute priority to get a tenant in – because once it’s occupied, it’s effortless passive income. Your roof is the same, it has the potential to be turned into an energy-generating business. Every day that it’s not got solar on, you’re losing money on expensive electricity bills, and you’re missing out on making additional money from selling your solar generation back to the grid.  

Why do we have to apply for permission to connect to the grid?

When you install a solar/battery system larger than 3.68kW per phase, you must submit an application, usually G99, for permission to connect the system from your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Most solar installers will do this application on your behalf, usually after you’ve settled on a final system design. 

Solar panels for most homeowners are a large investment. The solar market has changed drastically since the shock to energy prices in 2022 and an increasing number of companies are offering free solar panel installation. This is often a marketing ploy to entice you to sign up and give them your precious data; but of course without a grain of truth they would not be allowed to advertise such offers. With marketing tactics among solar panel installers heating up as the market gets tougher and brokers being increasingly aggressive, here is a rundown on what to bear in mind when enticed by such an offer. 

If you're out and about in Wales or Scotland later this evening, you might notice that rare phenomenon, a solar eclipse! Albeit not a total one - but what impact might such an occurrence have on your solar panel system?

One of the many advantages to installing a solar system in your home is not just cheaper energy bills but the value it can add to your house price. While bearing in mind concepts such as payback period and sustainability, it's also important to understand that a solar system is not a sunk cost, it is a physical addition to your property that has intrinsic value. However, the ways in which solar adds value can be poorly understood even by real estate agents, and the estimates on how much they can increase your property's value can vary quite a bit.