Spirit Energy

Our Renewable Energy Blogs

We have three blogs at Spirit, covering renewable energy from a homeowner, commercial and contractor perspective. Keep up-to-date with all the latest developments in solar PV, battery storage and EV charging.

Recent posts

Is Solar Worth it in 2024?

Posted by Charlie McGibbon on 07 Mar 2024

So, you're considering adding solar panels to your home, but you're still unsure if you really want to make the investment. Perhaps you're concerned about the upfront cost and whether it's truly worth it, or if the money could be better invested elsewhere. Well, in this post, we break down whether solar is still worth it in 2024.

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Spirit Energy Given Tesla Premium Installer Status for 2024

Posted by Charlie McGibbon on 23 Feb 2024

Spirit Energy has been given Premium Installer status in the UK for 2024, cementing our place in the upper percentiles of Tesla Powerwall installers once again and making us a top choice to help put you on the path to sustainable energy.

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Why Service Solar Panel Systems?

Posted by Charlie McGibbon on 09 Feb 2024

Solar panels are a long term investment and it's prudent to keep the system in good working order. Like a car needs an MOT, or a boiler an annual service, a much larger investment the size of a solar array is definitely worth checking periodically to ensure everything is ticking over. There are several reasons for doing this, read on for why you should get your panels serviced and cleaned regularly.

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Can I install Solar Panels on an Old Roof?

Posted by Luke Pemberton on 30 Jan 2024

To find out what constraints having an older roof puts on your potential solar installation, we asked Tok Charles, a Technical Designer here at Spirit some questions that anyone might have.

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Solar PV for Charities to Qualify for 0% VAT

Posted by Charlie McGibbon on 26 Jan 2024

Buried by the headline announcement of 0% VAT on battery only domestic installations came a welcome bit of news for charities looking to invest in solar to reduce their energy bills, that is the announcement that charities now qualify for 0% VAT on solar panel installations where the building in question is used solely for charitable purposes. This will come into effect from the 1st February 2024.

This means that not only must the building be owned by the charity but it must be used solely for charitable purposes. There is a bit of leeway here, for example church and village halls that can be rented out but are still owned by the charity, this was already written into VAT rules that there is leeway of 5% in the term "solely", so as long as the building is used 95% for charitable purposes, the VAT waiver still applies. This expands the definition to include places like village and church halls that can occasionally be rented out, so long as the primary use is a charitable one.

The announcement also covers battery installations, so if your charity already has solar PV installed and would like to take advantage of this change to retrofit a battery, now is a very good time to get in contact.

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High Power Solar Panels

Posted by George Riley on 18 May 2022

In the space of just a few years, the average panel we install on domestic projects has shot up from around 315W to at least 375W, with more and more residential modules breaking the 400W barrier.

This is down to a few factors, such as the widespread adoption of new, more efficient technologies, bigger cells and bigger modules:

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Solar Panel Grants for Businesses of up to £5,000

Posted by George Riley on 21 Apr 2022

In these uncertain times, there’s a renewed focus on jettisoning expensive fossil fuels and strengthening the UK’s energy independence. By investing in the right technology, companies can support this trend and reduce their energy bills.

Low Carbon Workspaces wants to aid businesses in this transition and is offering grants of up to £5,000 to invest in carbon-saving upgrades. This could be a grant for solar panels, battery storage, insulation or lighting.

Grants are available for SMEs based in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire, ranging from £1,000 - £5,000 to cover up to a third of the cost of energy improvements. The scheme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

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Tier 1 Solar Panels: Are They Worth It?

Posted by George Riley on 07 Apr 2022

When researching solar PV, you may have come across the phrase ‘tier 1 solar panels’. It’s used as a selling point by some manufacturers and installers to demonstrate the reliability of their products. But is that really the case?

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New Build Solar Panels: Tips for Installing PV on New Houses

Posted by George Riley on 10 Mar 2022

Why aren’t new houses built with solar panels? It’s a common question whenever we chat to people about PV. And we share the frustration - solar panels can be more cost effective and visually appealing when built in from the outset, not to mention cutting future owners’ bills from the moment they move in.

So let’s try to uncover why new build solar panels aren’t standard, along with the reasons why they ought to be and best practices for doing so.

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