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    Solar

    The £1,800 problem nobody talks about when they install solar

    Aveum · 5 April 2026 · 3 min read

    Solar conversations focus on generation. kWh per year. Panel efficiency. Roof direction. That's only half the story.

    A typical system

    4 kW solar array. Around 4,000 kWh per year. Exporting excess. This is standard. The missing variable: when you export.

    Two identical homes

    Both generate 4,000 kWh/year. Home A exports at midday: ~5p/kWh. Home B exports during peak: ~20p/kWh.

    15p × 2,000 kWh exported = £300/year difference. Over 6 years: £1,800. Same panels. Different value.

    "I'll just use a battery"

    Batteries help — but only if they're timed properly. Most systems charge randomly, discharge too early, and export at low value.

    The real optimisation

    Solar isn't about generating more. It's about exporting at the right time. That means knowing when grid demand is high, when Agile export prices peak, and coordinating battery charge/discharge around those windows.

    The takeaway

    Your solar system isn't just about how much you generate. It's about when that energy becomes valuable.

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