Solar Knowledge
Learn solar, with Sol
Guides, tips and news on solar generation, sun hours and getting the most from your PV system — written in plain English.
What Are Plug-In Solar Panels? The UK Guide for 2026
Plug-in solar panels are now coming to UK shops. They cost around £400, plug into a standard socket, and pay for themselves in about 4 years. No electrician. No roof work. Here's everything you need to know.
Sun Hours Is Now on iPhone — Free on the iOS App Store
Sun Hours is now available on iPhone. The same personalised solar generation forecast — postcode, best-day kWh, 7-day hourly curve — free on iOS. No account, no subscription, no tracking.
UK Solar Breaks All-Time Annual Record: 269,000 Installations in 2025
The UK completed 269,000 solar installations in 2025 — the highest annual total ever, 37% more than the year before. 9 of the 10 strongest months on record happened in the last year. New government data explains what is driving it and what comes next.
The Best Reddit Communities for Solar Panel Owners in the UK
Where UK solar owners actually go for honest advice — from first-time plug-in buyers to experienced rooftop system owners. The best subreddits, what each one is good for, and the tools the community recommends.
Do Solar Panels Add Value to Your Home? (And Why Plug-In Solar Changes the Maths)
Honest take on whether solar panels boost your home's value in the UK — and why plug-in solar is a smarter first move than you might think. Free ROI calculator included.
The Countries That Lead on Plug-In Solar — And What Sun Hours They Actually Get
Germany has 4 million balcony solar units. The UK has barely started. Yet both countries get roughly the same sun hours. Here's the global data — and what it means for British plug-in solar.
The Best Solar PV Forecast App for UK Plug-In Solar Owners — No Subscription, Ever
If you have plug-in solar panels and want a daily kWh forecast without a subscription or an app that drowns you in ads you cannot close, here is exactly what to look for — and why setup should take two questions, not twenty.
We Just Broke the UK Solar Daily Record. Again.
On 17 May 2026, Great Britain generated 89.74 GWh from solar in a single day — smashing the previous record of 87.6 GWh set on 1 April 2025. Here's what happened, why it matters, and what your panels contributed.
24/7 Solar Power Is Real Now. Here's What It Means for Your Plug-In Panels.
Battery costs just fell 27% in a year. The world's energy agency says 24/7 solar is no longer a pipe dream. Here's the plain-English version — and why UK plug-in solar owners should care.
When Are Solar Panels Most Effective? The Quickest Way to Check (It Takes 8 Seconds)
New plug-in solar panels? The single most useful thing you can do is check when they're at their peak — today, your postcode, your setup. Here's how to find out in about the time it takes to read this sentence.
Two Questions. Two Minutes. How to Find Your Plug-In Solar kWh and Set Up the Sun Hours App.
The Sun Hours solar forecast app needs two things: your postcode and your system's best-ever daily kWh. Here's the fastest way to find that number for every common UK plug-in solar setup — Hoymiles, Deye, Envertech, Marstek, APS — plus a NASA-powered fallback if you have no data yet.
China Installed More Solar in 2024 Than the Whole World Did in 2022. Here's What Britain Should Take From That.
China added 329 GW of solar in 2024 alone — equivalent to the entire GB solar fleet every 32 days. Britain just set an all-time record of 15,420 MW. Here's what the gap tells us, why it matters less than people think, and what the UK should do next.
You Can Now Build a Plug-In Solar Setup for £260 — All From City Plumbing
A 465W plug-in solar setup for £260, all from one retailer. Here's the exact parts list, what's legal right now, and what's still coming in July 2026.
SolarUK Is Live: See How Much Solar GB Is Generating Right Now
We just launched SolarUK — a free live dashboard showing GB solar generation in megawatts, updated every 5 minutes. NASA postcode calculator. UK peak sun hours by city. All-time GB solar records. And the honest answer to whether England and Great Britain are actually good places for solar panels.
Your Slow Cooker? Yes. Your Air Fryer? Not Quite. What Plug-In Solar Actually Powers.
An 800W plug-in solar panel can run your fridge, WiFi router, slow cooker, and laptop all day — but it can't tackle an air fryer or kettle alone. Here's the honest guide to what these mini solar devices can and can't do for your electricity bill.
Gas Hit 1.2%. Solar Hit 37%. And Some Bills Went Negative.
On 22 April 2026 Britain's solar panels generated a record 14,426 MW — 37% of the entire GB grid — while gas collapsed to just 420 MW, a new all-time low. Octopus Agile users were paid to use electricity. Here's what happened.
Which UK Supermarkets Will Sell Plug-In Solar Panels — And When?
Lidl and Iceland are confirmed UK government retail partners for plug-in and plug-and-play solar panels. Here's where you'll be able to buy them in shops, when, how much they'll cost — and where to buy right now online.
Just Bought Plug-In Solar Panels? Download This First.
You've got your plug-in solar panels installed. Now what? This is the one app that tells you exactly when your panels are performing — and when to cash in on them. No setup faff. Free.
Best Apps for Campervan Owners in 2026
The essential app stack for UK campervan owners in 2026 — from finding wild camping spots and monitoring your 12V battery to forecasting your portable solar panels at any pitch, anywhere in the world.
Best Apps for Solar UK Users in 2026
Got solar panels in the UK? These five apps help you forecast generation, maximise your smart tariff, charge your EV on free solar power, and get more from every sunny hour.
I Just Wanted to Know When My Solar Panels Were Going to Do Something
Every solar PV forecast app I tried asked me things I didn't know. Sun Hours asked two questions, took 8 seconds, and told me exactly when to turn the dishwasher on. Here's what it actually does.
Travel Mode: Accurate Solar Forecasts for Your Portable Panels, Anywhere
Sun Hours now has Travel Mode — set your current location and get accurate kWh forecasts for your portable solar panels wherever you are. Perfect for campervans, camping trips, and off-grid adventures.
Is Plug-In Solar Legal in the UK? The Clear 2026 Answer
BS 7671 Amendment 4 is live. The BSI product standard arrives July 2026. Here's exactly what's legal right now, what you must do, and what to watch for — in plain English.
Britain's Solar Revolution: UK Hits 2 Million Solar Installations (2026)
In March 2026, the UK completed 27,000 solar installations in a single month — the most since 2012 — pushing total installations past 2 million for the first time. Here's what the numbers mean, why energy security is driving it, and how to track your own panels.
Balcony Solar Panels in the USA: Best Deals, State-by-State Guide & Global Comparison (2026)
Balcony solar — the plug-and-play panels that cut your electricity bill with zero installation — is exploding in Europe and finally arriving in the US. Here's where to buy, how much you'll save, and which states lead the way.
Plug-In Solar Panels vs Rooftop Solar: Which Is Right for You? (UK 2026)
Plug-in solar panels are coming to UK shops in 2026. We break down the real costs, savings, and payback periods — and tell you exactly which type suits your home, your budget, and your situation.
GB Solar Smashes 15 GW: Four Records in 25 Days
Britain's solar panels broke four national records in April 2026 — culminating in 15.158 GW at midday on 23 April, powering 42% of the entire GB grid from sunlight alone. Here's the full story, with data.
Solar PV Forecast Apps: Why I Ditched the Complicated One and Never Looked Back
If you've ever tried a solar PV forecast app that felt like filing a tax return, you're not alone. One frustrated solar panel owner's honest take — and what a better experience actually looks like.
Solar Panel Output Calculator: See Exactly What Your Panels Generate, Hour by Hour
Enter your UK postcode and get today's peak sun hours plus a full hour-by-hour solar irradiance curve — free, instant, no account needed. Then take it further with a personalised kWh forecast in the Sun Hours app.
GB Solar Hits 14.4GW — A New UK Record (And Summer Hasn't Even Started)
Britain's solar panels just set a new national generation record of 14.4GW in a single moment. Here's what that number means, why spring is the record season, and why this summer could see the UK's first zero-carbon electricity hours.
Run the Dishwasher When the Sun Shines: How Solar Owners Can Save More This Summer
Britain's grid operator is about to nudge households to use appliances when wind and solar are booming. If you've got solar panels and know when they're generating, you're already ahead. Here's how to time it perfectly.
Special Launch Offer: Get Sun Hours Ad-Free (First 100 Users)
We're celebrating the launch of Sun Hours! Be one of the first 100 users to claim a special code for an ad-free experience and direct email support.
Energy Independence: Using Solar to Protect Yourself from Rising Prices
With energy prices remaining volatile, solar self-sufficiency is more than just an environmental choice — it's a financial one.
Is Solar Worth It in the UK? A 2026 Guide for the Solar Curious
Thinking about solar panels but not sure where to start? We break down the costs, the savings, and the simple way to track your future generation.
Introducing Sun Hours: The Simplest Way to See What Your Solar Panels Will Produce
Enter your postcode, tell Sol your best solar day, and get a personalised 7-day generation forecast — no engineer, no complicated setup. Meet the app built for real solar homeowners.
Best Time of Year for Solar Panels in the UK
May to August delivers 60–70% of the UK's annual solar energy. Here's a month-by-month guide to UK solar generation and what it means for battery storage and energy bills.
Solar Panel Output: How to Estimate Your Annual kWh Generation
Learn the formula solar installers use to estimate kWh output — peak sun hours × panel wattage × system efficiency — with worked examples for UK homes.
How Many Sun Hours Does the UK Get? A Region-by-Region Guide
From Cornwall's 1,600+ annual peak sun hours to Scotland's 1,200, discover what peak sun hours really mean for your solar panel kWh output across the UK.