Global energy demand growth slowed in 2025 – but electricity use is still surging, and solar just hit a major milestone, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). According to the IEA’s newly released 2026 Global Energy Review, overall energy demand rose 1.3% last year. That’s slightly below the previous decade’s average and well
Energy bills in the UK are still expected to rise in the coming months, putting more pressure on household budgets despite the shaky ceasefire in the Gulf. Meanwhile, use of solar power is growing across the UK, achieving 22 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity from nearly 2 million installations, by February 2026. In March,
Solar panels are designed to be low‑maintenance, but for some homeowners researching the best solar panels, they come with an unexpected side effect: birds. The small gap between roof‑mounted panels and the tiles beneath can create a warm, sheltered space that’s ideal for nesting. Over time, that can lead to noise, debris and, in
Ministers push faster solar installs and low‑interest loans, offering free setups for low-income households and bill relief for all. Shoppers and homeowners are rushing to consider solar as ministers push to fast‑track grants and loans from the Warm Homes Plan; low‑income households could get free solar and battery installs, while others may access low‑interest
Iran war drives demand for solar panels, heat pumps and EVs, with energy bills expected to rise 18% from July British households are turning to green home energy upgrades in record numbers to try to keep bills down as the Iran crisis sends global oil and gas prices soaring, data from leading energy suppliers
New electrical standards coming into force on 15 April 2026 will change how home battery systems are installed across the UK. The update to the building regulation BS 7671, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the British Standards Institution (BSI), introduces tighter rules on where batteries can safely be located.
Almost everyone positions home solar panel systems with home batteries as backup grid power insurance – and while that can be vitally important in a whole host of “what if” scenarios, keeping the lights on is the LEAST interesting thing your home battery can do. Home backup battery. It’s written right there on the
GivEnergy’s troubles continue as the UK’s ESA chimes in on the separate company GivEnergy Software Ltd, and battery warranty. Largely as expected, UK residential battery supplier GivEnergy Ltd has has entered administration, according to a notice published in the London Gazette on 10 April, with Christopher Brooksbank of CB Business Recovery Ltd appointed as
The 40-day blockade of the Strait of Hormuz -- through which roughly 20 million barrels of oil and gas pass daily -- has prompted a global scramble for energy independence, accelerating demand for clean energy storage systems. Chinese exports of inverters, a key component in energy storage systems, have surged 57% year-on-year, driven first
Solar panel sales have risen sharply since the start of the Middle East conflict, according to Octopus Energy - with households opting for larger arrays of roof panels. Sales were up 50% since after the war pushed oil and gas prices up. Consumer expert Holly Hamilton explains whether they are worth your cash, and
