Blog on solar energy, storage and monitoring
Short, practical articles that answer the questions we hear most often before a decision. Each one links to the solution page where you can find out more.
How does a photovoltaic system work?
From the panel to the socket: the components of a home photovoltaic system and the path the energy takes.
Which battery is right for a home?
Six questions that help you choose a battery for your photovoltaic system before you start comparing figures.
How much does a photovoltaic system produce?
How annual output is estimated and what changes it: orientation, shading, season and equipment.
What is a hybrid inverter?
What a hybrid inverter does, when it makes sense and what to check before you choose one.
Can I use photovoltaic panels in winter?
Winter output is lower, but not non-existent. What matters and how to size the system correctly.
Photovoltaic panels vs solar thermal panels
One produces electricity, the other produces heat. How to choose between them, or combine them.
Is a wind turbine worth it for a home?
The answer depends almost entirely on the wind where you are. What to check before placing any order.
How to monitor your energy consumption from your phone
The first steps to seeing where the energy in your home goes, with or without panels.
Looking for a reading path? See the guides.
How we write these articles
The articles start from the questions people ask us in conversation, not from a list of search terms. We explain the principle, then what affects the result in practice and, where relevant, what cannot be achieved.
We use ranges, not exact figures, when the result depends on conditions. An annual output or a battery capacity that is right for one house can be wrong for another, and a figure taken out of context is misleading.
When an article touches on a specific solution, we link to its page, where the subject is covered in depth. If you prefer a reading path in a set order, see the guides.