Hi everyone,

There’s a lot of noise in the market at the moment.

Energy prices are moving, the government is pushing solar on new homes, there’s talk of grants, batteries, smart tariffs… and somewhere in the middle of all that is the simple question:

“Does solar actually make sense?”

If you’ve been looking into solar recently, it probably feels something like this…

Our job is to cut through that noise and help you make a decision that actually makes sense for your home.

First things first — does the maths actually work?

Short answer: yes — but only when it’s done properly.

Electricity prices in the UK have increased significantly over the past few years. While they’ve eased slightly more recently, they’re still well above where they were before the energy crisis.

Source – Ofgem

Source – House of Commons Library

At the same time, a recent article in The Times — “Does the solar maths work?” — looked at real UK households and highlighted three key shifts:

• Energy prices have risen
• Solar and battery costs have come down
• Batteries now allow you to store and use your own energy

In one example, a household reduced their electricity bill to around £180 per year using solar and battery storage.

That’s obviously at the more extreme end — but it shows what’s possible when everything is working together properly.

If you’d like to read the full article: click here

The key takeaway: the maths works — but it depends on design, usage, and how the system is set up.

 

Why energy prices feel so unpredictable

This is the bit that often gets missed.

Energy prices aren’t just about the UK — they’re global.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen:

• The war in Ukraine drive gas prices up across Europe
• Ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting global supply
• Wholesale energy markets directly influencing UK electricity prices

Source – Ofgem

The UK is still heavily linked to global gas markets — which means events happening thousands of miles away can impact what we all pay at home.

What this means in simple terms; We don’t control the price of energy — we only control how much we rely on it.

A real example from one of our clients, David, in Guildford

Rather than theory, here’s a real example from one of our clients.

David recently installed solar and battery storage with us and has been tracking everything through his energy app.

Before solar

£341.82 per month

After installing solar panels (no battery yet)

£178.12 per month

That’s nearly a 50% reduction from solar alone.

After adding battery storage

£96.96 per month

That’s over 70% savings per month with a battery added

What this shows

Solar gets you part of the way — battery and usage get you the rest.

• Solar reduced his reliance on the grid
• The battery allowed him to use more of what he generated
• Combined, it significantly lowered his bills

  And importantly: These are real numbers — not projections.
  What about plug-in solar panels and small battery systems?
  You may have seen more recently that there’s a push towards simpler, lower-cost options — such as plug-in solar panels and small battery systems that can be purchased online or in shops.

  These are sometimes referred to as:

• plug-in solar systems
• balcony solar
• portable battery units

  So the obvious question is: “Are these worth it?”
  The honest answer: They can be useful — but they’re not a replacement for a full system.

  Where they can work

• Flats or properties where roof installs aren’t possible
• Renters who can’t make permanent changes
• People wanting to start small

  They can help:

• Offset a bit of daytime usage
• Power smaller appliances
• Give you a feel for your energy usage

  Where they fall short

• Output is limited
• They won’t cover meaningful household demand
• Payback can be longer than expected
• They don’t integrate with your whole home

They’re a starting point — not a long-term solution.

A quick note on compliance

In the UK, electrical work — including solar installations — is subject to building regulations and safety standards.

While plug-in systems are designed to be simple, it’s still important to ensure:

• They are used safely and in line with manufacturer guidance
• Your home electrics are suitable
• Any permanent or higher-capacity systems are installed by a qualified professional

If in doubt, it’s always worth getting advice before plugging anything into your home system.

Our view

We’re supportive of anything that helps people move towards cleaner energy.

But if your goal is to properly reduce your bills and reliance on the grid:

A well-designed solar and battery system will always outperform a plug-in solution.

“Think of plug-in solar as a helpful starting point — and a full system as the long-term solution.”

FAQs — What people are asking right now

“I already have solar — what should I be doing now?”

• Add a battery
• Review your tariff
• Use more energy during the day
• Expand if needed

Solar isn’t “install and forget” anymore — it’s something you can optimise.

“What grants or government support are actually available?”

This is where most of the confusion comes from — so here’s the clear picture:

0% VAT (main incentive)

• Solar and battery installations currently have 0% VAT

• Runs until 31 March 2027
  GOV.UK

  Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

• You get paid for exporting unused electricity
  Ofgem 

  ECO4 Scheme (ending March 2026)

• For lower-income households
  Can part-fund or fully fund solar
  Ofgem

  Warm Homes Plan (what’s coming)

• Government programme to upgrade homes

• Expected to include funding and low-interest loans
  GOV.UK
  

  The reality
  For most homeowners today:

• There are no universal cash grants
• Support comes through:
  • tax savings
  • export payments
  • future financing

Myth vs Reality

“Solar doesn’t work in the UK”
→ It works on daylight, not heat

“You need a south-facing roof”
→ East/west can still perform very well

“Solar will eliminate my bill”
→ It reduces reliance — not eliminates it

“Batteries aren’t worth it”
→ They’re becoming increasingly valuable

“If I wait, it’ll get cheaper”
→ Incentives like 0% VAT are time-limited

How we work

We’re local, we’re hands-on, and we keep things simple.

We work closely with our clients — most of our projects come through word of mouth — and that only happens when people trust what we do.

We’re not here to:

• • oversell
  • overpromise
  • or rush decisions

We’re here to:

• design systems around how you actually live

• give you honest numbers

• support you long after installation

Final thought

The biggest shift we’re seeing is this:

Solar isn’t just about saving money anymore — it’s about control.

David’s results aren’t unusual — but they do show what’s possible when things are done properly.

If you already have solar, you’re ahead.
If you’re considering it, you’re still early.

And if you’re unsure — that’s completely fair.

We’re always here if you want to talk it through.

Kind regards,

Andre & the Over To Solar Team