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.
It’s Official: Plug-In Solar Becomes Legal in the UK on 27 August 2026
SI 2026/848 is made: certified plug-in solar kits up to 800 W can legally use a standard UK socket from 27 August 2026. What qualifies and what to do.
Your Plug-In Kit Doesn't Come With a Forecast. We Fixed That.
No export payments means timing is the whole return. The features that turn a plug-in kit into real savings — timers, planners and Sol's forecast.
What's Actually Going On With Plug-In Solar in the UK Right Now?
The full story of plug-in and balcony solar in the UK: the PSSR barrier, the DESNZ consultation and the road to legality — updated for 2026.
Predicting Sun Hours in the UK: The 8-Second Check (and When You Need Something More)
What a sun hour is and how to forecast yours: the 8-second postcode check vs site-specific API forecasting — and when each is right.
The Omega Heatwave and Your Solar Panels
June 2026's Omega block: 16+ hour days vs the heat penalty. What the heatwave meant for UK solar output, with typical rooftop numbers.
Best Apps for Narrowboat Owners in 2026
The apps worth having aboard in 2026: Canals.UK, Float logbook, Victron Connect, what3words — and Sun Hours Travel Mode for solar at every mooring.
Solar Panels Worth It? Our Take on the MSE Guide
The MSE/Martin Lewis solar guide, reviewed: real payback by city, SEG rates from 1p–25p/kWh, and the plug-in option for renters.
Sun Hours 1.5: Solar Wars, Solar Insights, and Now in German & Spanish
Sun Hours 1.5 ships a retuned weather model, the Solar Wars county leaderboard, weekly Sol insights and full German and Spanish translation.
Solar Wars — The UK County Solar Leaderboard Is Now Live
Solar Wars is live: claim your county, sync your daily kWh and compete on the UK solar leaderboard. How it works and how to join.
What Are Plug-In Solar Panels? The UK Guide for 2026
Plug-in solar explained for the UK: how kits work, £70–£110/yr savings, ~4-year payback, who they suit — renters, flats, small gardens.
Sun Hours Is Now on iPhone — Free on the iOS App Store
Sun Hours lands on iOS: the same two-question setup and personalised 7-day solar forecast as Android — free, no account, no subscription.
UK Solar Breaks All-Time Annual Record: 269,000 Installations in 2025
2025 was the UK's biggest solar year yet: 269,000 installations and 37% year-on-year growth. What drove it and what 2026 looks like.
The Best Reddit Communities for Solar Panel Owners in the UK
r/SolarUK, r/solar, r/DIYsolar and more — what each is good for, common questions, and the tools redditors recommend.
Do Solar Panels Add Value to Your Home? (And Why Plug-In Solar Changes the Maths)
The honest answer on solar and house value — and why annual bill savings are the reliable return. With ROI calculator.
The Countries That Lead on Plug-In Solar — And What Sun Hours They Actually Get
Germany has 4M balcony kits; the UK ~50,000. Sun hours don't predict adoption — policy and prices do. The country-by-country data.
The Best Solar PV Forecast App for UK Plug-In Solar Owners — Free, No Account Needed
The best PV forecast app for Hoymiles, Deye, Marstek and Envertech owners: two-question setup, no subscription, UK-wide.
We Just Broke the UK Solar Daily Record. Again.
GB set a new single-day solar generation record in May 2026 — the fourth national record in weeks. The numbers behind the run.
24/7 Solar Power Is Real Now. Here's What It Means for Your Plug-In Panels.
Can you run on solar around the clock? What battery storage means for plug-in panel owners, and the realistic numbers for UK homes.
When Are Solar Panels Most Effective? The Quickest Way to Check (It Takes 8 Seconds)
Peak generation hours for UK solar panels by season — and the 8-second postcode check that shows your best hours today.
Two Questions. Two Minutes. How to Find Your Plug-In Solar kWh and Set Up the Sun Hours App.
Step-by-step: find your best-ever daily kWh in Hoymiles, Deye, Envertech, Marstek or APS apps — or estimate it with NASA data. Sun Hours does the rest.
China Installed More Solar in 2024 Than the Whole World Did in 2022. Here's What Britain Should Take From That.
China installed 329 GW of solar in 2024 — more than the world managed in 2022. What that scale means for GB's 15 GW record spring.
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
Watch GB solar generation live — 5-minute updates from Sheffield Solar PV_Live, DNO regions, records and a NASA postcode calculator. Free, no signup.
Your Slow Cooker? Yes. Your Air Fryer? Not Quite. What Plug-In Solar Actually Powers.
What an 800W plug-in solar kit can actually run: fridge and slow cooker yes, kettle and air fryer no. Appliance-by-appliance UK guide.
Gas Hit 1.2%. Solar Hit 37%. And Some Bills Went Negative.
22 April 2026: gas fell to a record-low 420 MW while solar covered 37% of GB demand and Agile prices went negative. What happened and why it matters.
Which UK Supermarkets Will Sell Plug-In Solar Panels — And When?
Which UK shops sell plug-in solar in 2026 — Lidl, Iceland, City Plumbing and online options — plus what to check before you buy.
Just Bought Plug-In Solar Panels? Download This First.
Panels up and generating — now what? The first steps for new UK plug-in solar owners, and why a forecast beats staring at the inverter app.
Best Apps for Campervan Owners in 2026
The 2026 campervan app kit: routing, weather, park-ups — and Sun Hours Travel Mode for solar forecasts wherever you pitch up.
Best Apps for Solar UK Users in 2026
The apps every UK solar owner should try in 2026 — what to look for in a forecast app and how Sun Hours' two-question setup compares.
I Just Wanted to Know When My Solar Panels Were Going to Do Something
Why a two-question setup beats complicated inverter apps: the personal story behind Sun Hours' postcode + best-day approach.
Travel Mode: Accurate Solar Forecasts for Your Portable Panels, Anywhere
Portable panels, campervans, camping: Travel Mode gives accurate solar forecasts for any location — switch back to home in one tap.
Is Plug-In Solar Legal in the UK? The Clear 2026 Answer
Is plug-in solar legal in the UK? The 2026 rules: G98, PAS 63100, DNO notification — now superseded by SI 2026/848; see our 27 August legality guide.
Britain's Solar Revolution: UK Hits 2 Million Solar Installations (2026)
The UK passed 2 million solar installations in March 2026 — a record 27,000 in one month. The numbers behind the surge.
Balcony Solar Panels in the USA: Best Deals, State-by-State Guide & Global Comparison (2026)
Balcony solar USA guide: where it's legal, NEC rules, best deals — and how the US compares with the UK and Germany's 4 million units.
Plug-In Solar Panels vs Rooftop Solar: Which Is Right for You? (UK 2026)
Plug-in or rooftop? Cost, output, payback and who each suits — the honest UK comparison for 2026.
GB Solar Smashes 15 GW: Four Records in 25 Days
Four GB solar records in 25 days: the spring 2026 run that took peak generation past 15 GW. What happened and why.
Solar PV Forecast Apps: Why I Ditched the Complicated One and Never Looked Back
Daily solar forecasting should be simple. Why lightweight forecast apps beat inverter dashboards for everyday use.
Solar Panel Output Calculator: See Exactly What Your Panels Generate, Hour by Hour
Estimate solar output hour by hour and learn to read the Sun Hours hourly chart — free UK calculator, no signup.
GB Solar Hits 14.4GW — A New UK Record (And Summer Hasn't Even Started)
GB solar hit 14.4 GW in April 2026 — the first national record of a record-breaking spring. The data behind the peak.
Run the Dishwasher When the Sun Shines: How Solar Owners Can Save More This Summer
How to time appliances with your solar generation — and stack smart tariffs on top — to maximise savings in 2026.
Special Launch Offer: Get Sun Hours Ad-Free (First 100 Users)
Our first-100 launch offer has ended, but you can still get Sun Hours Pro free — see our current Reddit, X & TikTok giveaway.
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
What Sun Hours is, how best-day kWh calibration works, and why you'll never need an inverter login or account.
Best Time of Year for Solar Panels in the UK
Best and worst months for UK solar: seasonal output, spring vs winter, and what to expect from your panels each month.
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.