Homeowner Blog

The right solar panel for a UK home depends on your roof, not on a ranked list.
A standard pitched tiled roof calls for maximum efficiency per square metre; a shaded roof needs back-contact cell technology that handles partial shade without losing a third of its output; a small roof may need a high-voltage panel just to turn the inverter on in winter. Spirit Energy's design team specifies panels based on roof type and constraints first, and across more than 6,000 installations across England, that approach is what separates a well-performing system from an average one.

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:
Yes, you can install solar panels on a flat roof. Modern ballasted mounting systems are non-penetrative, so there is no drilling through your roof membrane. Panels are tilted at around 10 degrees and can face south or be mounted east/west depending on your roof shape. No planning permission is needed for most properties. A south-facing system in southern England generates around 900 kWh per kWp per year. Costs start at roughly £1,200 to £1,800 per kWp for domestic systems.

TL;DR
Solar is not just about lowering your electricity bill. It is a long-term hedge that reduces your household’s exposure to unpredictable energy prices, similar to holding gold for protection rather than speculation.

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

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.

TL;DR
In 2025 Great Britain reached a new milestone in clean energy. Provisional figures show that renewable electricity generation from wind, solar, biomass and hydro hit unprecedented levels, with total output surpassing 127 terawatt hours. This was more than in any prior year, underscoring the rapid growth of renewables in the national energy mix. Wind continued to be the largest single renewable source, generating over 85 terawatt hours, while solar electricity rose sharply, increasing by nearly a third compared to 2024.

TL;DR
Choosing the best solar panels is one of the most important decisions you will make when installing solar. The panel you choose directly affects how much electricity your system generates, how long it lasts, and how quickly it pays for itself. In short, it has a material impact on the lifetime return from your roof.

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.