Solar Energy Concepts

DIY Solar for UK Homes. Real guides from a real install.

Step-by-step practical guides, component lessons, and hard-earned fixes from a real UK DIY solar setup.

7.15kWpinstalled 6,072kWhgenerated 2025 £1,668/yrmodelled value

Latest field notes

My Components

Deye makes the OEM platform behind Sunsynk, but that does not prove these exact models share the same hardware – confirm warranty, support and certification for the exact unit and seller.
The Sunsynk 5kW ECCO was listed at £855 ex VAT (hardware-only, at the time of writing); the compared Deye SUN-5K-SG03LP1-EU needs its UK price and sales channel confirmed.
Firmware and the G98/G99 listing matter more than the factory: confirm the exact model suffix, certificate and firmware before you connect.
Choose Sunsynk for the UK support channel; choose Deye only when it is meaningfully cheaper and the seller documents support, warranty and certification.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

My Components

Fogstar vs GivEnergy battery: Fogstar is the safer new DIY buy: GivEnergy Ltd is in administration and its administrator says further hardware warranties and support will not be honoured.
These are different battery types: Fogstar is a 15.36kWh modular rack needing a compatible inverter; the GivEnergy All in One is a 13.5kWh AC-coupled unit.
Fogstar was listed at £2,499.99 ex VAT, hardware-only, at the time of writing: but the inverter, installation, VAT and associated equipment still need pricing separately.
The GivEnergy All in One only makes sense with a written third-party remedy: identifying who will provide warranty, repairs, support and spare parts.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

Energy Utilisation

Octopus Go vs Intelligent Octopus Go comes down to control: Go gives a fixed 00:30-05:30 cheap window; Intelligent Go schedules a compatible car or charger.
Both tariffs can charge a home battery overnight: the fixed off-peak window is the dependable planning point for household charging.
Extra Intelligent Go slots are for scheduled EV charging: they do not automatically make the whole home cheap outside the standard window.
Choose Go for control without a compatible-charger requirement: choose Intelligent Go for compatible equipment and hands-off EV charging.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

My Components

Tesla Powerwall vs GivEnergy All-in-One: Powerwall 3 is the supported premium choice for a new purchase, while the administrator says GivEnergy Ltd will not honour further hardware warranties, user support or software support.
Both store 13.5 kWh: Powerwall 3 includes a solar inverter and can be configured up to 11.04 kW AC; the GivEnergy AIO is a 6 kW AC-coupled battery.
Administration changes the decision: residual GivEnergy stock needs a written remedy covering warranty, repairs, support, firmware and spare parts.
A hardware price is not an installed quote: compare Gateway, backup equipment, VAT, delivery, labour and DNO work before choosing on price.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

My Components

Solis vs Sunsynk hybrid inverter: Sunsynk is the clearer DIY choice when you want known UK retail stock, a published price and a 48V battery specification.
Sunsynk has the easier buying route: the 5kW ECCO was shown in UK retail stock, while Solis S6 buying is usually through an installer or distributor.
Do not assume Solis battery compatibility: confirm the exact S6 suffix, battery datasheet and approved pairing before ordering any equipment.
G98 or G99 approval is model-specific: check the exact inverter suffix on the current list before your DNO application or notification.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

Fundamentals

Mainstream N-Type panels cost roughly £62-79 ex VAT in mid-July 2026: current JA Solar, Jinko and LONGi listings sit around 12.9-15.8p per watt.
A 4kW system costs £6,000-8,000 installed, or £1,500-1,800 in DIY parts: the official 2025/26 installed median fell to £1,780 per kW, a real-terms record low.
Installed systems pay 0% VAT, DIY buyers pay 20%: the zero rate only applies when one company supplies and fits, and it runs until 31 March 2027.
Most repeat panel prices held through the first half of July: 12 of 13 exact matches were unchanged; one premium REC panel rose 13.1%.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

Fundamentals

Use the calculator to estimate how much you can save with a battery.
Yes, it’s worth it. A 16.1kWh battery on Octopus Go pays for itself in 3.2 years: no solar panels needed.
Save £5,200–£7,700+ over 16 years using cheap overnight electricity and discharging during peak hours.
System cost ~£3,300 (battery + inverter + electrician). 0% VAT until March 2027.
From 15 April 2026: BS 7671 Amendment 4 is in force, adding the first dedicated UK wiring rules for home battery storage.
Best tariff: Octopus Go (7.5p overnight → ~28.5p peak = 21p spread). Start with battery, add solar later.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

Energy Utilisation

Air-to-air heat pumps suit smaller or open-plan UK homes: they provide efficient space heating and cooling, but not hot water.
Indicative installed costs start near £1,900: Energy Saving Trust estimates about £3,700 for a three-bedroom semi-detached home.
Savings depend on what the heat pump replaces: the case is strongest against direct electric heating and less certain against mains gas.
Room coverage decides whether the system works well: closed rooms may need separate indoor units, while noise, drainage and planning also need checking.
Solar helps most with daytime cooling and mild-weather heating: winter heating demand does not align well with UK solar generation.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →

Fundamentals

Use the calculator below to compare tilt, direction and 10-year ROI for your roof. It covers every UK region; the optimal angle barely changes across a postcode area.
The textbook optimum is 35-40° facing south, but east-west and even vertical setups beat it for many real households.
Flat roofs win summer, steep walls win winter. Match the angle to when you actually use power.

Updated 13 Jul 2026 Read Entry →