The homeowner research library
Clear-eyed guides to solar panels, heat pumps and home energy. Real numbers, policy explained, and the detail that matters before you commit.
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The archive
Showing 13–24 of 55
September 2026: Ofgem confirms Q4 cap up 4% to £1,723/yr as gas hits 7.97p. BUS £9,000 grant for oil homes. Heat pumps now beat gas on the spark gap.
Do I need to tell my DNO about plug in solar? Yes. UK law mandates a G98 notification within 28 days and caps homes at one 800W system. Learn the rules.
Researching plug in solar panels for flats UK? Discover why vertical balcony mounting slashes real-world output by 50% and pushes payback to 10 years.
Can I add a plug in solar panel to existing solar? Adding an 800W kit to a 3kW rooftop array breaches the G98 3.68kW limit and triggers a G99 DNO bill. Read why.
Does plug in solar smart export guarantee you payments? Discover why DIY balcony kits earn £0 for exported power and how MCS certified solar yields higher ROI.
Want plug-in solar panels with battery storage? UK law bans them on ring mains - plugging one in voids your home insurance and risks fire. Here is the legal fix.
Discover why the 0% battery storage vat exemption 2027 deadline means waiting to retrofit a solar battery could cost you an extra 20% in taxes. Get the facts.
Can you charge ev from home battery storage? Discover the 15x scale mismatch, DC-AC-DC conversion losses, and why a smart 7p/kWh tariff is the smarter fix.
Discover why hoarding solar is a myth. Uncover the Octopus Flux export rates 2026 and learn how battery storage arbitrage can earn you hundreds a year.
August 2026: Gas bills up 27.7% as Q3 cap bites at 7.33p/kWh. BUS hits £9,000 for oil homes from 21 July. UK solar passes 2 million installs. Heat pumps now cheaper to run than gas at the 3.56 spark gap. Warm Homes Loan Scheme launches September.
Looking to add battery to existing solar system hardware? Discover why keeping your current inverter with AC-coupling saves thousands over a costly DC hybrid upgrade.
Discover why your solar battery power cut uk expectations are wrong. Learn how anti-islanding laws force a 200ms shutdown, and why EPS backup hardware is vital.
Independent-minded guidance
Written by Mark Anthony Haines, with over a decade in UK renewable energy. We work from published policy, industry data and real-world performance, and explain the assumptions behind the numbers.
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