Winter is one of the best times to invest in solar. Here’s why…

Immediately after installation, your panels will start generating electricity. So you'll start saving on your energy bills, and topping up your battery if you have one. However it can take up to 4 weeks before you’ll be ready to sell the excess energy you generate back to the grid. After installation, we’ll need to wait for your district network operator to register the details of your export meter, and you won’t be able to sell energy on an export tariff until this is sorted.

If your panels are installed in winter, by spring and summer you’ll be set up and ready to generate, in time for the sunniest days. As well as being completely familiar with your system and the best ways to use it to maximise your savings.

Solar PV panels work by converting light particles into electrons, so as long as it’s daytime outside, they should still generate roughly a quarter of the electricity produced in the summer, even on the gloomiest of days. It’s also worth knowing that a bit of rain can actually be handy, as a way of washing away any dust or dirt that could be blocking important sunlight.

The stronger the sunlight, the more energy can be generated, so the highest energy yield is usually around midday on a clear day, and the longer the day, the more energy you’ll produce. However even on the shortest days, you’ll still be able to generate enough power to help pay for your energy usage.

Winter can be an expensive time for energy usage. So there’s no better time to start taking advantage of the UK’s best export rates with our dedicated solar & battery energy tariffs, Octopus Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux.

With Flux, you’ll have the option to top up your battery with super cheap electricity from 2am - 5am (when grid energy is greenest). Then between 4pm - 7pm, if there’s any left over, you can sell energy back to the grid for almost double the price you paid during the off-peak period (per kWh). By exporting green energy during peak times, you’re also contributing to the amount of green electrons in the grid, reducing the need for coal power stations to be turned on when demand is high. A huge win-win for both you and the environment.

Alternatively, the cheap energy you use to top up your battery at night can work hand-in-hand with your solar panels to power your home during darker daytimes, helping to lower the cost of your winter energy usage.

Getting solar and battery power installed at home is one of the best things you can do for the environment at home. According to the Energy Savings Trust, A typical home solar PV system could save around one tonne of carbon per year, depending on where you live in the UK.

We’re now seeing signs of global warming all too often across the globe, and it can be easy to feel powerless and disengaged. By turning your home into a mini green power station, you can regain that power by doing something that makes a difference, all whilst future proofing your home at the same time.