Solar, explained simply
Honest guides on solar, batteries, Octopus tariffs and saving money — written from a real Cardiff home, in plain English. No jargon, no sales pitch.
Axle Energy VPP — I get paid £1/kWh just for having a battery
On top of solar savings and Octopus Agile, I earn extra money through Axle Energy's Virtual Power Plant — exporting from my Fox ESS battery during grid stress events at £1/kWh.
How to set up Predbat — the complete guide for Fox ESS and Octopus Agile
Predbat is the Home Assistant add-on that automatically plans your battery charging and discharging based on Octopus Agile prices and solar forecasts. Here's how to get it running.
How I design a home solar system — the process I use for every project
From roof survey to string sizing, battery spec to tariff choice — here's the full process I use when designing a solar system for a UK home.
What is Home Assistant Yellow — and do you need one for solar?
Home Assistant Yellow is a dedicated piece of hardware for running your smart home. Here's what it is, what it does, and whether it's worth it for a solar + battery setup.
Project 2: Adding west-facing panels for free evening power
My south-facing panels fade by mid-afternoon. So I'm adding west-facing panels to catch the evening sun — extending my free solar later into the day and topping the battery up before the overnight charge. Here's how it works and what it's worth.
Solar panels in Cardiff — is it actually worth it in 2026?
I installed solar in Whitchurch and tracked every penny for 17 months. Here are the real numbers — not an installer's estimate.
Why I switched to Octopus Agile (and how Predbat changed everything)
Standard tariffs made no sense once I had a battery. Agile + Predbat means the house charges when prices go negative and avoids every expensive peak.
Fox ESS battery — an honest review after 17 months
I've been running a Fox ESS 10.3kWh battery with Predbat and Octopus Agile for over a year. Here's what I actually think.