Smart Tariff Calculator UK

The number of smart electricity tariffs available in the UK has expanded rapidly over the last couple of years. What was once a relatively simple market has become increasingly complicated, particularly for households with an electric vehicle, heat pump or electric heating.

There are now dedicated EV tariffs with cheap overnight electricity, heat pump tariffs designed around heating demand, dynamic tariffs like Agile where prices change every half hour, and a growing range of time-of-use tariffs designed to encourage households to shift electricity usage away from peak demand periods.

For many homeowners, these tariffs can reduce electricity bills significantly. But identifying the right tariff is becoming much harder.

Most comparison websites still rely on generic “average household” assumptions which often fail to reflect how modern electric homes actually use electricity. A household charging an EV overnight behaves very differently from a gas-heated home with low evening demand. The same is true for homes running heat pumps or electric heating systems.

That is exactly why we built the Smart Tariff Calculator

Why most tariff comparison tools struggle

Traditional tariff comparison tools were designed for a much simpler energy market. They generally work reasonably well for homes with predictable electricity usage and gas central heating, but they become far less accurate once large electrical loads are introduced.

Electric vehicles, heat pumps and electric heating systems all change not just how much electricity a household uses, but when it uses it. That distinction matters because smart tariffs are heavily dependent on timing.

A household that can shift large amounts of electricity consumption into cheap overnight periods may benefit enormously from one tariff, while another household with similar annual consumption but different behaviour could end up paying more.

This is one of the major limitations of many mainstream comparison sites. They often compare tariffs using estimated annual usage totals without properly modelling the timing of electricity demand.

A smart tariff calculator based on your actual usage

The Smart Home Energy Tariff Checker takes a more detailed approach.

Instead of relying entirely on estimates, it can work from your actual smart meter data if you are with Octopus Energy, helping build a much more realistic picture of how your household consumes electricity throughout the day and across the year.

If you are not an Octopus customer, the tool can also estimate your annual electricity consumption from uploaded bills, or work directly from your known annual usage figures if you already have them available.

The aim is to move away from generic assumptions and towards modelling how your own home actually behaves to gain more accurate savings estimates.

Designed specifically for EVs, heat pumps and electric heating

One of the biggest differences with the calculator is that it does not simply ask for your annual electricity consumption and stop there. Different technologies create very different electricity demand patterns, so the calculator asks additional questions depending on your setup.

For EV owners, it’s really hard to compare Intelligent Octopus Go vs E.ON Next Drive directly without a lot more details and some pretty complicated math. So our smart tariff calculator considers your cars’ efficiency, annual mileage, charger type and charging behaviour. Since EV charging can often be shifted into cheap-rate periods, understanding how and when you charge can make a major difference to tariff recommendations.

For heat pump households, the calculator attempts to account for heating demand and how electricity usage changes seasonally, especially during winter when consumption often rises sharply.

Homes with electric heating systems also behave very differently depending on the type of heating installed and how it is used. Storage heaters, direct electric heating and underfloor systems all create different usage profiles which can dramatically affect which tariff works best.

Comparing tariffs properly — including Agile

One of the hardest tariffs to compare accurately is Octopus Energy Agile. Because Agile prices change every half hour, simply looking at average rates tells you very little about what your actual annual bill might be.

The calculator therefore maps an entire year of half-hourly Agile pricing data against your actual usage (or estimated usage profile depending on your inputs) in order to model exact potential savings.

This matters because some households can benefit significantly from Agile pricing while others may find more predictable fixed time-of-use tariffs work better for their usage patterns. Without modelling actual behaviour, it is very difficult to compare these tariffs meaningfully.

Confidence scores and editable assumptions

Another problem with many comparison tools is that they present their results as though they are perfectly precise, even though all tariff modelling involves assumptions. Our Smart Tariff Calculator includes a confidence score alongside the results and explains the assumptions used to generate the recommendations.

It also allows you to edit the inputs directly from the results page so you can refine the calculations further.

For example, you may decide to adjust annual mileage, charging times, heating behaviour or electricity usage estimates. As the inputs become more accurate, the recommendations become more tailored to your real-world situation.

Why smart tariff comparison matters more than ever

Time-of-use tariffs have become far more common over the last 18 months and the number of specialist tariffs aimed at EVs and electric heating continues to grow. That is good news for households willing to shift electricity demand into cheaper periods, but it also means choosing the wrong tariff can now be more expensive than before.

A tariff that appears cheap based on headline rates may not actually suit your household at all once real usage patterns are taken into account. For homes with EVs, heat pumps or electric heating, proper tariff comparison is becoming increasingly important.

Solar and battery support is in development

The calculator does not currently model solar PV or home battery systems.

This is because once solar generation and battery storage are introduced, the calculations become significantly more complicated. The system must account for self-consumption, export tariffs, battery charging behaviour, discharge timing and seasonal solar generation patterns.

Support for solar PV and battery systems is currently in development.

Try the Smart Tariff Calculator UK

If you want to compare smart tariffs using real usage data rather than generic averages, you can try the calculator here: Smart Tariff Calculator

It is designed to help UK homeowners with EVs, heat pumps and electric heating compare tariffs more realistically — including complex time-of-use and Agile-style pricing structures.

The post Smart Tariff Calculator UK: Compare EV, Heat Pump & Electric Heating Tariffs Properly appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

If you own an electric vehicle and you’re still on a standard electricity tariff, there’s a good chance you’re paying more than you need to for charging.

Over the last couple of years, energy suppliers have launched a wave of specialist EV tariffs with cheaper overnight electricity rates designed around when electric cars are usually plugged in. Two of the best-known are:

• Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go
• E.ON Next’s Next Drive

At first glance they can look quite similar: both offer cheaper electricity overnight so you can charge your EV for less. But once you look more closely, the differences become more important — especially if you charge frequently, work from home, have solar panels, a battery, or eventually plan to add a heat pump.

The problem is that most comparison websites still compare tariffs using “average household” electricity usage profiles, which often bear little resemblance to how EV households actually use power.

That means the “cheapest” tariff on a comparison site may not actually be the cheapest for you.

Why EV tariffs can save so much money

Traditional electricity tariffs charge the same unit rate all day. Time-of-use (ToU) tariffs work differently. Electricity becomes cheaper at certain times — usually overnight when national demand is lower.

For EV drivers, that matters because charging an electric car can easily become one of the biggest electricity uses in the home. If you can move most of that charging into cheap-rate periods, the savings can be substantial.

Depending on mileage and charging habits, some EV owners save hundreds of pounds per year simply by switching to an EV tariff and charging overnight.

How Intelligent Octopus Go works

Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go is one of the most advanced EV tariffs currently available in the UK.

Like a standard EV tariff, it offers a cheap overnight charging window. But the “Intelligent” part comes from the fact that Octopus can directly control compatible EVs or chargers and automatically schedule charging when electricity is cheapest.

Instead of simply giving you a fixed cheap period overnight, the system can intelligently spread charging around lower-demand periods.

In practice, this means:

• Your car can automatically charge at the cheapest times
• Charging is optimised without needing manual scheduling
• Some households can benefit from additional low-cost charging slots outside the standard overnight window

For many EV owners, the convenience is a major selling point. You plug in the car and let the system handle the rest. However, compatibility matters. Intelligent Octopus Go only works with supported vehicles and chargers.

Octopus claim the following savings are available on the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, compared to their standard fixed tariff:

How E.ON Next Drive works

E.ON Next’s Next Drive tariff takes a more traditional approach. You get a fixed cheap overnight charging window each night, during which electricity costs less. The structure is simpler and easier to understand:

• Cheap electricity is available during set overnight hours
• You manually schedule your car or charger to use those hours
• No intelligent smart charging integration is required

For many households, this simplicity is actually attractive. You don’t need to worry about compatibility with a particular charger or vehicle ecosystem. If your EV or charger can schedule charging overnight, you can usually make use of the tariff.

Intelligent charging vs fixed charging windows – Intelligent Octopus Go vs E.ON Next Drive

One of the biggest differences between Intelligent Octopus Go vs E.ON Next Drive is flexibility.

Intelligent Octopus Go

The tariff is designed around smart optimisation and its advantages include:

• Automated charging schedules
• Potential access to additional low-cost charging periods
• Less manual management
• Better integration with smart energy systems

Possible downsides:

• Vehicle/charger compatibility requirements
• More complex setup
• Less predictable charging windows

E.ON Next Drive

The tariff focuses on simplicity and predictability. and its advantages include:

• Fixed cheap-rate periods
• Easier to understand
• Works with most scheduled EV charging setups
• No advanced integrations needed

Possible downsides:

• Less flexibility
• Fewer opportunities to optimise around changing electricity demand
• May not suit households wanting advanced smart energy automation

Intelligent Octopus Go vs E.ON Next Drive – Which tariff is actually cheaper?

This is where things get complicated. There is no universal answer when you compare Intelligent Octopus Go vs E.ON Next Drive generically. Octopus’ overnight cheap rate is currently 8p/kWh and E.ON’s is 9p/kWh but the cheapest tariff for you also depends on:

• How many miles you drive
• When you charge
• Whether you work from home
• Your daytime electricity usage
• Whether you have solar panels
• Whether you have a home battery
• Your regional electricity pricing
• Your EV charging efficiency
• How much electricity you can shift overnight

This is where most comparison websites struggle. Many major comparison sites still estimate energy usage using broad “average household” assumptions. But EV households are rarely average. A household driving 15,000 miles per year and charging overnight behaves very differently from a non-EV household.

A better way to compare EV tariffs

At Smart Home Energy, we built an EV tariff comparison tool specifically because standard comparison methods often don’t work well for EV households. Our EV Time-of-Use Tariff Checker uses your actual smart meter data (for Octopus customers), real bills, or your exact kWh usage. It collects details about your car type and annual mileage so it can model your usage against all the smart tariffs currently available, including EV tariffs and dynamic tariffs like Agile to show you whether you’d actually save money — or potentially pay more by switching.

Instead of using generic “average household” assumptions, it looks at how you use electricity. That gives a much more realistic comparison for EV owners.

Should you switch to an EV tariff?

If you own an EV and regularly charge at home, it is definitely worth checking. Even households already on an EV tariff are sometimes surprised to find another tariff would work better for their actual usage pattern.

And many EV owners still have no idea how much difference time-of-use pricing can make. The key point is that the best tariff is highly personal. What works brilliantly for one EV household may be poor value for another.

Try the EV Tariff Checker

If you want to compare Intelligent Octopus Go vs E.ON Next Drive properly — using your own electricity usage rather than generic assumptions — you can run your numbers through our calculator here: EV Time-of-Use Tariff Checker. Let us know if you see significant savings.

The post Intelligent Octopus Go vs E.ON Next Drive appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

• 1–2 solar panels (usually up to ~800W)
• A microinverter
• A cable that plugs into a regular socket in your home

Once connected, the system feeds electricity straight into your home, reducing how much you draw from the grid during the day.

How does plug in solar work?

Plug in solar works by generating electricity from sunlight in DC and converts it into usable AC power via a microinverter. That power is then used instantly by appliances in your home, thereby reducing your electricity bill automatically. There’s no need for complex rewiring — your home simply uses the solar energy first before pulling from the grid.

Is plug in solar legal in the UK?

As of April 2026, plug in kits are not yet fully permitted under existing UK wiring rules, but that is about to change. The UK government has confirmed plans to enable plug-in systems by updating regulations. Specifically:

• The government is working with the Energy Networks Association, DNOs and Ofgem to update the G98 distribution code and wiring regulations BS 7671
• This will allow UK households to connect <800W plug-in solar panels directly to domestic mains sockets
• Systems will not require an electrician
• New tailored safety standards will be introduced

In addition:

• BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026) to the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations is scheduled for publication on 15 April 2026
• Often referred to as the “Orange Book,” it includes updates on:
  • battery storage
  • ICT earthing
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE)
• There will be a six-month transition period, with the previous version withdrawn on 15 October 2026

In practical terms, this means plug in systems should become widely available in the UK during 2026 with broader adoption following shortly after. Fill in the form below to be kept updated.

How much can plug in solar save you?

A typical plug in system of 800W should save a typical household around £80–£150 per year on electricity bills, depending on usage patterns, energy prices and how well the panels are oriented towards the sun. Because the systems will be relatively low-cost, if you’re paying £0.26/kWh, systems could pay back in 5-8 years making plug in solar very attractive to suitable homes in the UK.

Will you need an electrician?

No. When the regulations are updated (see below) an electrician will not be required for compliant plug-in systems under 800W. Systems will be designed for safe, DIY installation

Is plug in solar worth it in the UK?

For many households — especially renters or those without suitable roofs — plug in solar offers a low-cost entry into solar energy, a non-permanent installation (so you can take it with you if you move home), immediate bill savings – and a payback period of 5-8 years. Panels will continue to generate energy for at least 20 years providing significant savings over their lifetime.

Under Renters’ Rights Act 2025, tenants can request energy improvements and landlords cannot refuse unreasonably, so plug in solar should be suitable for people that live in rented properties. As regulations update and awareness grows, plug in solar is expected to become one of the simplest and fastest-growing ways to adopt solar energy in the UK because of the attractive savings.

When will the plug in kits be available in the UK?

With regulatory updates landing in April 2026 and transitioning through October 2026, plug in solar is expected to be available in mid or late 2026. Fill in the form below to be kept updated.

What is the best orientation for the solar panels?

Orientation has a big impact on how much electricity your plug in solar system generates.

• South-facing is ideal in the UK for maximum output
• East or west-facing can still work well, especially if your usage is morning or evening-heavy
• North-facing is generally not recommended

For balcony setups, perfect positioning isn’t always possible — but even suboptimal angles can still deliver meaningful savings. A slight tilt (around 20–40°) and avoiding shade are often more important than exact direction.

What fixtures and fittings do you need for plug in solar kits?

Most plug in kits will come with the core components, but mounting and setup hardware can vary depending on where you install them. Typical kits will include solar panels, a microinverter and a plug-in cable. Additional fixtures you may need:

• Balcony rail mounts
• Wall brackets
• Ground frames (for gardens or patios)

The key is stability and safety — panels must be securely fixed and able to withstand wind, especially in exposed locations like balconies.

Can you combine plug in solar with batteries?

Yes — and this is where things get more interesting. A battery allows you to store excess daytime energy and use it later in the evening or at night, which can increase your overall savings. However, basic plug in systems do not include batteries by default and adding storage increases cost significantly

There are now emerging “plug-and-play” battery systems that integrate directly with solar kits and energy monitors, making this much simpler than traditional solar + storage setups. For many users, starting without a battery and adding one later is the most cost-effective approach.

Plug in solar represents a major shift in how people access solar energy — moving from complex installations to simple, affordable systems that almost anyone can use. As UK regulations catch up with Europe, it’s likely to become a mainstream home energy solution in the very near future.

Be first to know when the UK regulations are published

Fill in the form below to be updated as soon as the plug in solar regulations for the UK are published.

Check out the video below for more details from our friend at Speak to the Geek

The post What is plug in solar appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

The Cost of Inaction

According to research commissioned by the Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo), energy theft is costing UK consumers an estimated £457 million to £760 million per year. That equates to as much as £28 added to every household’s energy bill — every single year.

But the cost isn’t just financial. It’s human.

“Meter tampering leads to one death every 10 days in Great Britain,”
— Ofgem, June 2025 decision letter

The risks include electrocution, house fires, gas explosions, and severe burns — consequences not only for those committing the crime, but also for innocent neighbours, tenants, and emergency responders.

Energy Theft – The Crisis That Was Allowed to Fester

Despite being aware of these dangers, Ofgem left it to energy suppliers to investigate and prevent theft — a strategy that clearly failed. In Ofgem’s own words:

“Suppliers find it difficult to engage and secure police support… and the cost of investigating more complex instances of theft is a disincentive.”

In the vacuum left by weak enforcement, criminal enterprises flourished. Organised groups began offering meter tampering as a service, enabling cannabis farms, cryptocurrency mining, and other illicit operations. Tutorials on how to steal energy without getting caught are widely available on social media — a direct result of the lack of deterrence.

“There is little fear of prosecution.”
— Ofgem

Perpetrators often escape detection simply by switching energy suppliers. Ofgem concedes that “once the consumer switches supplier, the investigation of the theft stops” — a loophole that has effectively protected repeat offenders for years.

Enter the Energy Theft Unit

The newly established ETU, operated by the City of London Police, will finally bring coordinated enforcement to the table. The unit will be staffed with specialist officers and data analysts and is expected to:

• Investigate cross-supplier theft cases
• Support prosecutions
• Monitor social media for criminal promotion
• Coordinate intelligence industry-wide

The linked Referral Assessment Service (RAS) will act as a filter, forwarding only high-quality cases to the ETU.

The unit’s annual cost will be £1.6 million, rising to £2 million with the RAS included. Ofgem claims that even a 0.33% reduction in theft would make the project cost-effective. That’s a very low bar — and a telling one.

A Long-Overdue Step in the Right Direction

While the ETU is a positive step, it’s also a stark reminder of the damage caused by regulatory neglect. Energy suppliers have been calling for support for years. The public has paid the price — in pounds, in property damage, and in lives.

Ofgem itself now admits the system was broken:

“There is no coordinated action to address cross-supplier instances of energy theft… suppliers currently have no obligation to report energy theft as a crime.”
— Ofgem

The creation of the ETU raises several questions:

• Why did it take until 2025 to act?
• Why were suppliers left without enforcement support?
• Why were consumers expected to absorb the cost?

The Energy Theft Unit could reduce crime, save lives, and lower costs — but this should have happened years ago. Consumers deserve more than a fix — they deserve accountability.

Sign up for the Smart Home Energy Newsletter.

The post Energy Theft Is Costing UK Consumers Up to £28 a Year — and Lives Too appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

What is the UK Energy Price Cap?

The energy price cap is a limit set by Ofgem (the energy regulator) on the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity. It also caps daily standing charges (the fixed amount you pay to have access to energy). It is NOT a cap on your total bill—what you pay depends on how much energy you use.

Why Does the UK Energy Price Cap Exist?

It was introduced to stop energy companies from overcharging customers on default (standard variable) tariffs. Instead of letting prices skyrocket unchecked, Ofgem reviews the cap every three months to reflect market conditions.

Why Is the UK Energy Price Cap Confusing?

A common misconception is that the price cap limits your total bill. In reality, it only sets maximum rates for unit prices (per kWh) and standing charges. The “total bill” figures you often see in headlines assume a typical household’s usage, but your actual bill depends entirely on how much energy you consume.

Ofgem often makes annoucements like this, which are entirely unhelpful to 99.9% of people:

From today, 1 October 2024, the energy price cap for a typical household that uses gas and electricity and pays by Direct Debit will go up from £1,568 to £1,717 per year. This is an increase of around 10% which adds around £12 a month to an average bill.

Who is this “typical household”? And how much energy do they consume? What type of house do they live in? And how is it heated and powered and insulated? Without knowing any of this it is impossible to tell how the yearly payment figures relate to our own situations.

Building on Ofgems unhelpful annoucements the media often picks up these figures and presents them as if they apply to everyone, which leads to even more confusion. But the truth is your bill will always be based on your own energy usage, not a fixed total.

UK Energy Price Cap Rates

The UK energy price cap changes based on wholesale energy costs and should really have been communicated using pence per kilowatt hour figures from the outset, as in the table below, which shows how the rate have changed over time:

The rates represent the maximum you can be charged, so your bill depends on your actual energy consumption, but your supplier cannot charge more than the capped rates.

How to Save Money on Your Electricity Bill

Now that we know how the price cap works, how can households actually cut costs?

1. Consider Fixed Energy Deals – Are They Worth It?

• Fixed tariffs lock in a unit price for a set period, shielding you from price hikes.
• They can be cheaper than the price cap, but only if wholesale prices are stable or falling.
• Right now, many fixed deals are hovering around the cap level, so always compare before committing.
• Check what you could save via Switchcraft, one of the simplest comparison tools.

2. Is Octopus Agile a Smart Choice?

• Octopus Agile is a dynamic tariff where electricity prices change hourly based on wholesale costs.
• If you can shift your energy use to off-peak times (e.g., charging an EV or running appliances at night), it can save you a lot of money.
• However, if prices spike and you use energy during periods of high demand, your bill could rise, so it’s best for people who can be flexible with their energy use.
• Read more about how smart tarrifs can save you money and explore Octopus Agile.

3. Simple Ways to Cut Energy Costs

We’ve published our Top 10 energy saving tips, which provide full details of ways to cut costs, but some key steps to take include:

• Improving home efficiency: Smart thermostats, LED bulbs, and proper insulation can make a big difference.
• Using appliances wisely: Wash clothes at lower temperatures, avoid standby mode, and air-dry instead of using a tumble dryer.
• Monitoring your usage: A smart meter helps track what you’re spending in real time.

Bottom Line

The energy price cap offers some protection, but it won’t always mean the cheapest bills. If you’re looking to save, compare fixed deals, consider smart tariffs like Octopus Agile, and be mindful of your energy use. Small changes can lead to big savings!

The post UK Energy Price Cap Explained (Properly) appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

As more UK homeowners embrace solar energy, the demand for batteries for solar power storage is on the rise. Batteries enable you to make the most of your solar panels, storing excess energy generated during sunny hours for use at night or on cloudy days. Here’s a review of some of the best batteries for solar energy available in the UK, each offering unique benefits to suit different needs.

Five of the best batteries for solar power storage

1. Tesla Powerwall 2

Capacity: 13.5 kWh
Efficiency: 90% round-trip efficiency
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: High-capacity storage and smart home integration

The Tesla Powerwall 2 is one of the most popular and powerful home batteries available. With its large 13.5 kWh capacity, the Powerwall can cover nearly a full day of electricity needs for the average UK household. It also integrates seamlessly with Tesla’s app, allowing you to monitor energy usage, control charging times, and even detect power outages in real time. The Powerwall is designed to work efficiently with solar panels, and its 10-year warranty ensures reliability. Though on the premium end of the price range, it’s an ideal choice for those looking for a high-capacity, smart solution.

Find out more and get a quote via the Tesla website.

2. LG Chem RESU

Capacity: 9.8 kWh
Efficiency: 94.5%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Flexible capacity and compact design

The LG Chem RESU is a compact and versatile battery available in various sizes, with the 9.8 kWh version being ideal for UK homeowners. Known for its reliability and efficiency, the LG Chem RESU has a slim design that allows it to fit easily in garages or utility rooms. With its high round-trip efficiency, it ensures minimal energy loss, which translates to more stored energy for you. The RESU’s modular design is compatible with different inverters, making it easy to integrate into existing solar setups. It’s a strong contender for those looking for efficient, flexible storage in a more compact size.

Find out more and get a quote via the LG website.

3. Huawei LUNA2000

Capacity: Modular, starting at 5 kWh up to 15 kWh
Efficiency: 97%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Modular design for scalable storage needs

The Huawei LUNA2000 is a versatile, modular solar battery system that offers scalable storage, starting with a 5 kWh unit that can be expanded up to 15 kWh. This flexibility is ideal for those who may want to start with a smaller capacity and expand later. The LUNA2000 boasts an impressive 97% efficiency, ensuring that almost all of your generated solar power is usable. The system also integrates with Huawei’s FusionSolar app, allowing users to monitor and control their energy use. It’s a great choice for households looking for a scalable and future-proof storage solution.

Find out more and get a quote via the Huawei website.

4. Sonnen Eco

Capacity: 2.5 kWh – 15 kWh, modular
Efficiency: 89%–94%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Eco-conscious users and community energy sharing

Sonnen is known for its sustainability-focused design and its contribution to energy-sharing communities. The Sonnen Eco is a modular battery available in various capacities up to 15 kWh, making it suitable for households with both modest and larger storage needs. This system also allows users to participate in energy-sharing networks, meaning you can share excess energy with other Sonnen users, creating a local energy-sharing ecosystem. It’s a solid option for those looking to combine eco-friendly practices with innovative storage technology.

Find out more and get a quote via the Sonnen website.

5. Enphase Encharge 10

Capacity: 10.5 kWh
Efficiency: 96%
Warranty: 10 years
Best For: Reliable storage with microinverter compatibility

The Enphase Encharge 10 battery is designed to work seamlessly with Enphase microinverters, providing a highly reliable system that works well even in partial shading or in homes with complex roofing structures. With a 10.5 kWh capacity and 96% efficiency, this battery is well-suited to moderate-to-high household electricity needs. Enphase’s monitoring app allows for easy management of energy storage, while the Encharge 10’s durability makes it a strong choice for those focused on long-term investment in energy independence.

Find out more and get a quote via the Enphase website.

Summary – Best batteries for solar power storage

Each of these batteries brings something unique to the table. For homeowners looking for maximum capacity, the Tesla Powerwall 2 is the top choice. For those prioritizing flexibility and scalability, Huawei LUNA2000 and Sonnen Eco offer modular systems that can grow with your needs. Finally, LG Chem RESU and Enphase Encharge 10 are ideal for those looking for compact design and inverter compatibility.

Final Thoughts

Solar batteries are an investment that provides energy independence, cost savings, and environmental benefits. Choosing the right battery for your solar PV system can transform how you use and store solar energy, giving you more control over your energy and helping to reduce reliance on the grid.

If you can’t afford a solar battery check out the range of solar power diverters available, which can help maximise your savings from solar energy at a far lower price point.

The post Best batteries for solar power storage​ appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

Not every home is suitable for solar – and people that live in flats without roof space are not able to install solar panels. But now, thanks to Ripple Energy, anyone can invest in wind or solar projects to reduce their electricity bills.

How does Ripple Energy work?

1. Visit Ripple Energy to get a quote for your home
2. Decide how much of your electricity you want to buy from Ripple, which will determine how much of the solar park you own, the cost of your investment and your predicted savings
3. Create your Ripple account, choose whether to pay all at once or via monthly installments and make your initial payment to become a co-owner of the solar park
4. Ripple build the solar farm and sell the electricity which is generated to your supplier via a Power Purchase Agreement – i.e. at a fixed, low price (in comparison to the standard wholesale price of electricity)
5. Your energy company passes on the savings to you as a discount on your bill
6. The savings continue for the 40 year life of the solar park and you can track how much energy your share of the solar park has generated through the Ripple Members’ dashboard

You will need to be with, or switch to, one of Ripple’s supply partners, which are E-on and Octopus, but since Octopus currently offer some of the cheapest smart tariffs – and a £50 credit for switching – that’s not a problem.

How much can you save via Ripple Energy?

It’s hard to say exactly how much you will save over the lifetime of your investment because savings are dependent on wholesale electricity prices, which vary over time. Your savings will be the difference between the price Ripple sells the energy to your supplier and the market price.

Ripple’s savings calculator assumes an average member saving of just 6.1p/kWh. But this rate will vary each year according to the price Ripple secures for the PPAs they negotiate with the energy suppliers and the market price of electricity.

Their standard quote, for a home consuming 2,900kWhs of electricity per year, for which they recommend you buy 2,958 Watts of the solar park, is £3,044 which should produce roughly 100% of the electricity you consume, saving you a £288 in the first year (once the solar park is completed in 2025) and £6,816 over the 40 year lifespan of the project. This equates to a 17 year payback. These figures are based on the assumptions of the “extended high” pathway from the latest BEIS figures which are fairly conservative in our opinion. 

Ripple has already built 2 wind farms which are co-owned in the same way and the savings have far exceeded their estimates – mainly because electricity prices shot up last year, so the savings rose too. For example, someone who invested £323.37 in the Graig Fartha in 2021 to cover just 10% of their bill would have saved £60 in the first year and £180 in 2022, implying total payback in year 3 and 22 more years of savings (the wind farm contracts only run for 25 years). So that’s an amazing payback period – and very significant savings.

However, as mentioned above, whilst savings will be high in years when the wholesale price of electricity is high, in years when the electricity price is lower the level of savings would be lower too. If you select the ‘low’ estimate for future energy prices on Ripple’s payback calculator the estimated payback period extends to 29 years, which still implies 11 years of savings at ~1.7% pa which is still worthwhile, especially if you also want to help reduce carbon emissions.

Whichever way you look at it you will save money over the duration of the project – and you don’t need to worry about moving house because you can transfer your savings to your new home, or dying because in the event of your death your shares can be inherited by someone else.

If energy prices continue to rise, which seems highly likely as we transition to net zero and the UK needs double, or even triple the amount of electricity we currently consume by 2050 the return on investment from investing in Ripple would be significant.

If wholesale prices remained high and the Ripple Energy savings rate was ~15p you could be looking at a 12% return per annum.

Why else should you invest?

Aside from the financial savings, which we think will exceed Ripple’s estimates, investing in solar and wind parks is an obvious way to do more to reduce UK carbon emissions. Investing your money will help brings these renewable energy sources online quicker, will create green jobs and will also help prove that this groundbreaking model works. Perhaps then the government might start to take notice and approve the Local Electricity Bill to make it easier for other community energy projects to sell the energy they generate to local consumers at a fair price.

Is Ripple Energy a good investment:

Ripple Energy is trailblazing a new model for the public ownership of renewable energy assets which offers significant savings over the long term, as well as supporting carbon reduction. Just a few hundred pounds will cover ~10% of your consumption and will help stabilise your electricity bill over the long term making it a good investment.

Further details:

There is a lot of innovation behind the scenes to make Ripple’s projects viable. They have an extensive FAQ section which answers a lot of questions but as part of our Ripple Energy review Smart Home Energy contacted Ripple directly to dig into some of the details which aren’t covered in the FAQ, which our more analytical readers might be wondering about:

To start with we wanted to know how their model accommodates the reduction in energy production as the PV degrades over time because in year 25 the panels will be producing much less than in year 1. Ripple replied:

“Yes the figures provided take into account a small amount of degradation and reflect the yield we expect to see over the lifespan of the project.”

We also asked, why are they aiming to pay back part of the share capital each year? And why does this happen at different rates for wind and solar farms? (For wind farms, this will tend to be 5% per year, and 3% for solar parks) Ripple replied:

“The share capital is gradually repaid to ensure the value of share capital broadly reflects the actual value of the solar park (which gradually reduces over its lifetime). The value of the share withdrawals forms part of member savings. Solar and wind are different because the lifespans of the projects are different.”

This makes a lot of sense, because presumably it will then be easier to wind down the co-ops at the end of the projects.

We also asked if any other supply partners are likely to come on board other than E-On and Octopus? Ripple replied:

“Yes we are looking to bring on other suppliers.”

Not great detail there! But promising…

What are the project’s predicted operating costs? Ripple replied:

“2p/kWh”

This is good to hear because it is a reasonable amount for running a solar farm so we can assume the operating costs are easily covered in their model and there should not be any nasty surprises for investors.

Does it make any difference if a customer is on a TOU, or dynamic tariff? Ripple replied:

“No, they can be on any tariff with our supply partners – their savings are simply based on how much their share of the project generates.”

Good news here too!

Are there more Ripple projects (wind or solar) in the pipeline? Ripple replied:

“Yes. We are looking at both wind and solar for future projects and are hoping to launch another one this year.”

This is also good news as well which means more savings for potential investors and more UK carbon reductions.

Ripple Energy review – final thoughts:

Overall, we are very impressed by what Ripple Energy is doing and are confident to recommend them as a safe investment.

You might also be interested in our post Are solar panels worth it in the UK? and our reviews of energy monitors, the best smart radiator valves and how the best smart plugs can help you monitor and reduce energy.

The post Ripple Energy review appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

The brief explosion of community energy schemes – community-owned and run renewable energy generation projects – driven by the Feed-in Tariff has now dwindled to a trickle. This is despite renewable technologies being cheaper than ever and is largely the result of the prohibitive costs small-scale generators face in accessing markets to sell the electricity they produce.

The potential for community energy to benefit local economies is being blocked by unfair regulations and hugely disproportionate costs. 

Power For People have drafted the Local Electricity Bill and are campaigning for it to be made law. This would give small-scale renewable energy a massive boost by empowering communities to sell their energy directly to local people.

Together with leading industry experts, Power To People have developed two proposals for legislation to support community energy schemes, these are:

1. A Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme: a right for sites that generate low carbon electricity with a capacity below 5 megawatts to export their electricity to an existing larger electricity supplier on fair terms (Amendment Number 134).
2. A Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Services Scheme: a requirement on existing larger suppliers to work with community schemes to sell the power they generate to local customers. Existing suppliers can charge a fee for doing this, but that fee must be reasonable (Amendment Number 135).

After a successful vote in the House of Lords a few weeks ago, the campaign is making progress. The vote means that the legislation is now in the Government’s Energy Bill as clauses 272 and 273. The Energy Bill next moves to the House of Commons but we need to make sure the clauses stay in the bill.

If you think the UK would benefit from more community energy schemes please add your voice to the debate by writing to your MP and asking them to attend the Energy Bill’s Second Reading on 9th May and speak in favour of clauses 272 and 273 that enable community renewable energy.

A one-line email would be enough – the most important thing is that they hear from you.

Click here to write to your MP

The problem is well recognised, with 318 MPs from all parties backing the Local Electricity Bill, aimed at helping community groups sell the electricity they generate to local customers. The Bill is also supported by over 110 principal councils and over 80 national organisations including the National Trust, the Church of England, CPRE, the Energy Saving Trust, the RSPB, WWF, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

The community energy sector could grow by 12-20 times by 2030, powering 2.2 million homes and saving 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. If achieved, this would take community-owned and run renewable energy generation to 10% of UK electricity generation (around 6,000 megawatts).

Ripple Energy are trailblazing a new model for community ownership of solar and wind farms – see our Ripple Energy review – but we still need the Local Electricity Bill to open up the community energy sector.

The post Add your support for Community Energy projects appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

Midea identified a market demand for an all-in-one, compact, and green air source heat pump that minimizes both running costs and space whilst providing heat, cooling and hot water. As he explained, most homes today are installed with several independent systems, with an air conditioner for the summer, floor heating for the winter, and a gas boiler for all-year water heating, which are inefficient, cost too much to run and maintain, and take up a lot of home space. Instead they’ve created a combined air conditioning water and space heating which runs from an air source heat pump.

Combined air conditioning water and space heating

“Midea has created something completely different: we have integrated all the above systems into a multi-spilt solution that supports up to four indoor air conditioning units, capable of cooling and heating the space, and a water heating module, all connected to a single outdoor unit with heat recovery technology.

In summer, free domestic hot water is available when the air-conditioner is running, as its energy can be recovered and reused for water heating. The system comes in two options for households with different priorities. The model equipped with a hydro unit is designed for users who need both the space heating and hot water supply at no additional cost, while one the with a coil water tank allows for fast air cooling and heating while providing hot water the whole year.” said Paolo.

“Environmentally friendly, versatile, and easy to install, the new all-in-one system is a game changer that will push Midea to the forefront of residential split system development. Midea is excited to offer this revolutionary system to our global customers, and we are confident that it will set a new standard for the industry,” he added.

In an introduction video Matteo Nunziati and Paolo Lorini discussed interesting topics like sustainability, aesthetics and energy saving.

The post Midea introduces combined air conditioning, water and space heating pump appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

The North East-based company has been awarded more than £630,000 from Energy Entrepreneurs Fund through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), to aid the expansion of its community of UK households that power its virtual power plant. This enables both homes and energy companies to reduce the costs and carbon footprint of peak time home energy use.

The EEF is a competitive funding scheme to support innovation in the areas of energy efficiency, power generation, as well as heat and electricity storage.

This grant funding is for single and collaborative projects for UK businesses, with emphasis on small and medium enterprises. The aim is to accelerate the development and commercialisation of technologies, products and processes, which decarbonise the UK energy sector.

equiwatt virtual power plant

equiwatt’s technology enables households to connect appliances and electric vehicles to its energy management system using its free smartphone app and existing smart technology including smart meters.

equiwatt’s technology is creating a growing network of connected homes, that collectively act together to help create a more efficient and flexible energy system.
When demand on the grid is high, users are notified to take part in energy saving events, called ‘equivents’ during which they switch off or avoid the use of high energy use devices.

Households are rewarded for their participation with points according to their energy and CO2 savings, which can then be redeemed for e-gift vouchers from the likes of Amazon, John Lewis and Asda.

equiwatt is also an approved supplier to the National Grid’s Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) trial and is the UK’s first independent, energy company agnostic service to offer automated, household wide participation for DFS events. Any households with a smart meter can take part, even if their energy supplier isn’t signed up to the DFS scheme, making it freely accessible to millions across the UK.

Dr Johnson Fernandes, CEO of equiwatt, said:

“We are proud to receive this funding, which will accelerate our work to help create a more flexible and efficient UK energy system for all. The concept of a residential virtual power plant had previously been hindered by a lack of consumer engagement and high operational costs; however we are developing a scalable solution, which has already proven to be effective during the National Grid’s DFS trial, through the use of the smart technology that already exists in people’s homes.

“With this funding we can further grow our community and demonstrate that our model is commercially viable at large scales. When integrated into energy companies’ operations, we can help many thousands of people reduce their energy bills and support our collective ambitions to live in a net zero world.”

“We look forward to working with the new Department of Energy Security and Net Zero as we develop our technology to allow households to make a direct contribution to better manage the supply of energy from the demand side.”

UK Energy Minister Graham Stuart said:

“This funding will see the next generation of energy pioneers drive forward cheap and sustainable low-carbon technologies. This will not only deliver green jobs and lower the costs of energy to businesses but also foster world-leading solutions to net zero and economic growth.”

The government also recently announced £16 million funding from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) part of which should help save EV owners up to £1000 a year.

Click here to view original web page at www.businessupnorth.co.uk

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