Articles

Reviews, comparisons, and explainers on home solar, batteries, EV chargers, and heat pumps. AI-drafted and reviewed by Sepehr before publication. No sponsored content, no paid placements.

Reviews & Comparisons

Fox ESS H3 vs GivEnergy All-in-One: The Value Battery Comparison

Two of the most-quoted batteries in the £4,500–£6,000 range. Same core specs on paper; meaningfully different in practice.

5 min read

Zappi v2.1 vs Ohme ePod: Two Very Different Takes on Smart EV Charging

One is built for solar households; the other is built for tariff-smart grid charging. Choosing the wrong one is an expensive mistake.

5 min read

Best EV Charger for Solar Panels UK 2026: Solar Divert Explained

Which home EV chargers can use surplus solar generation to charge your car for free — and which ones just claim to.

5 min read

Smart Export Guarantee 2026: How to Get the Best Rate for Your Surplus Solar

The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for surplus solar you send back to the grid, but rates vary from under 1p to over 15p per kWh depending on supplier and tariff. Here is how to maximise what you earn.

3 min read

GivEnergy All-in-One vs Tesla Powerwall 3: Which Makes More Sense?

A direct comparison of the two most commonly quoted home batteries in the UK — same criteria, different trade-offs.

6 min read

Best Home Battery Storage UK 2026: Ranked by What Actually Matters

A buying guide built on usable capacity, round-trip efficiency, warranty terms, and real installed cost — not manufacturer marketing.

7 min read

LFP Home Batteries: Why Battery Chemistry Is the Most Important Spec Nobody Talks About

The shift from NMC to LFP chemistry in home batteries is the single biggest change in the market over the past three years. Here is what it means in practice — and why the cycle life figure on the spec sheet deserves more attention than headline capacity.

3 min read

Solar Panel Cost UK 2026: What You Should Actually Pay

What an average UK residential solar install costs in 2026, what drives the price, and the red flags that suggest a quote is inflated.

6 min read

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need? A UK Sizing Guide

Working backwards from your electricity bill and roof to the right system size — without the vague installer estimates.

6 min read

TOPCon vs PERC Solar Panels: What the Spec Sheet Actually Tells You

TOPCon has overtaken PERC as the dominant solar panel technology in 2025–2026. Here is what that actually means for efficiency, degradation, and whether the premium is justified for a UK install.

3 min read

Do Solar Panels Work in Winter in the UK? What to Actually Expect

The honest answer to how much solar output drops in winter, what drives the drop, and whether it changes the payback calculation.

5 min read

UK Solar Grants and VAT Relief in 2026: The Schemes Actually Worth Knowing About

From 0% VAT to the Smart Export Guarantee, there are real financial incentives for UK solar in 2026. Here is what is actually available, who qualifies, and what the catches are.

3 min read

Guides & Explainers

Home Assistant Solar Integration: Complete UK Guide (Automations, Hardware, Dashboard)

Connect your UK solar or battery system to Home Assistant — which hardware to buy, how to set up each inverter brand, and a full automations playbook including Octopus overnight charging, solar divert, and EV surplus charging.

12 min read