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.

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.

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.

Key Headline Details

• Local Solar Specialists: Offer bespoke system design, deep technical expertise, and personalised aftercare.
• National Installers: Provide competitive pricing, faster installations, and established brand recognition.
• Key Considerations: Solar is a 25 year investment, with significant potential returns. Compare reputation, design flexibility, installation quality, cost, and aftercare.
  

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.