Research / Topic
Make sense of home batteries, smart tariffs, backup power and the economics of storing energy.
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A good place to start
A battery is only as valuable as the tariff and household demand around it. Compare storage costs, grid charging, export options and backup power without relying on best-case projections.
What size solar battery do I need? A 4 kWp array cannot answer that. Compare usable capacity, evening demand, winter surplus and power before choosing a quote.
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Full 2026 solar and battery pricing from £5,000 for a 3.5 kWp solar-only array to £17,500 for a 6.5 kWp system with 13.5 kWh storage. The 31 March 2027 0% VAT deadline, SEG rates from 3p to 30p per kWh, and why self-consumption jumps from 30% to 85% with a battery.
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.
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.
Compare solar diverters vs batteries for UK homes. Learn how a £400 immersion controller turns your hot water tank into an 11 kWh thermal store with a 2-year ROI.
A 10 kWh battery on Octopus Go saves £450–£755 per year through overnight arbitrage. Full 2026 guide: which batteries to buy, installed costs, 0% VAT deadline (March 2027), honest 6–9 year payback numbers, and why GivEnergy's April 2026 administration matters.
Tesla has secured its UK electricity supply licence. Discover how Tesla Electric UK and the Powerwall 3 Virtual Power Plant will slash your energy bills in 2026 — and why the £750 rebate window is closing fast.
A Bristol home's real January electricity bill with a Tesla Powerwall 3. Import/export data, Octopus Flux earnings, and what winter solar actually delivers.
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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