Solar & Energy Saving Blog
Straight answers on what solar, batteries, heat pumps and EV chargers actually cost and save, plus practical ways to cut your energy bill either way. Pick a topic below.
Top post
15 energy saving tips that work
No-cost and low-cost changes that cut your bill, with or without solar.
Solar & battery
Solar panels and batteries compared
How real panel and battery models stack up on specs, and what actually decides which battery pairs with which panel setup.
What comes after TOPCon?
Back-contact panels are already the step up. Perovskite-silicon tandem panels are the one after that, and you can't buy one yet.
Your solar export rate may have quietly dropped
Octopus and British Gas both cut export tariffs in 2026. How to check whether your own SEG rate is still worth keeping.
Why solar panel prices are climbing again
China scrapped its VAT export rebate on solar products in April 2026. What that means for UK panel prices, and whether it's worth acting on now.
Standing charges are changing
Ofgem's new tariff pilot, and why the trade-off could suit solar and battery households more than most.
Plug-in solar is legal, but check before you buy
Most kits on sale today still aren't on the compliance register. What to look up before you buy one.
What the new price cap means for solar
Ofgem's October rise to £1,723 explained, and what it does to solar and battery payback.
Do solar panels still pay off in 2026?
What's changed for solar economics this year, and where the payback numbers actually land.
Is a home battery worth adding?
When a battery add-on pays for itself, and when it's a weaker bet than solar alone.
Solar panel cleaning & maintenance
How often panels really need cleaning, and what protects your output and warranty.
Why solar is one of the smartest upgrades you can make
Lower bills, energy independence, a smaller footprint and a home that's better placed for the future.
Solar panels for landlords
Where solar helps a rental property's EPC rating and returns, and where it doesn't.
The Smart Export Guarantee explained
How much you can earn selling unused solar generation back to the grid.
Plug-in solar: what changes on 27 August 2026
What the new rules actually allow, and how it compares to a full rooftop system.
Is my solar installer MCS certified?
What MCS certification actually means, and the exact steps to check any UK installer's status yourself.
DNO approval: G98 vs G99 explained
The grid-connection paperwork step that can quietly add months to an install, and who's supposed to handle it.
String vs hybrid vs microinverters
What each type actually costs on top of a basic setup, and which one suits your roof.
Home battery brands compared
Capacity, chemistry, cycle life and warranty across Tesla, Puredrive, SolaX, sonnen and Enphase.
How much power do solar panels lose each year?
What normal degradation looks like, what your performance warranty promises, and what actually cuts output faster.
Why electricity prices are going negative at midday
What it means for your SEG payment, your export tariff, and whether a battery pays off faster now.
Boiler & heat pump
Why boiler manufacturers might discount heat pumps
The scheme that fines manufacturers for missing heat pump sales targets, and why it might move your quote.
Solar panels and heat pumps together
How much of a heat pump's running cost solar can realistically offset.
Gas boiler vs heat pump: which is better?
A head-to-head UK comparison on cost, efficiency and lifespan, and which one suits your home.
Types of heat pump explained
Air-to-water, air-to-air, ground and water source compared, and which government grant applies to each.
EV
Home EV charger installation cost in 2026
What a standard install runs, what pushes the price up, and who still qualifies for a grant.
Charging an EV from solar
What you actually save charging at home from your own panels versus the grid or public chargers.
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