Pity they don't know that...

Battery prices fell 45%in 2025!
We found the economics suddenly stacked up, put in 15kWh for £4k, it's paying back at about 15%.

Used EV sales jump 78% against backdrop of conflict and rising fuel costs New data from Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Review (EVPR) for March reveals a strong month for trade alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs).

EV sales jump 78% as fuel prices rise.

March saw a strong rise in EV demand, with sales up 78%. Rising petrol and diesel costs are driving interest, with “buyer intent clear,” according to Dealer Auction.

fleetworld.co.uk/used-ev-sale...

While IOG + export delivers £££, it's frustrating that it incentivises the wrong summer behaviour: charging at night & exporting even on PV flooded days. Smart tariffs should mature into something closer to Agile.

We were going to shift to Flux, & likewise have HA automation to deliver peak export. But with Intelligent Go dropping further to a somewhat crazy 5.2p, the Flux idea didn't stack up any more...

China's electrification bet is paying off. Electricity now accounts for 30% of its energy consumption - 50% higher than the US or Europe.

With 1/3 of global renewable energy capacity already installed, China is structurally more insulated from rising oil prices than most Western economies.

Tipping point?

"New electric cars now cost £42,620 on average, compared with £43,405 for petrol models."

plc.autotrader.co.uk/news-views/p...

Big moment for UK transport as the average price for an electric vehicle drops below that of a fossil fueled car for the first time plc.autotrader.co.uk/news-views/p...

Iran war's global energy crisis sharpens China’s advantage in clean tech The war in Iran is sharpening China’s advantage in promoting a renewable energy future, as oil disruptions expose the fragility of fossil fuel systems.

China is poised to benefit from the Iran war as global energy disruptions accelerate a shift away from fossil fuels and toward clean technologies and renewable power, industries that China dominates.

Just to crib Jan's great chart here a little bit - here are just a few of the headlines that came out when growth somewhat slowed in 2024

Many, many media outlets do not really know how to handle technological change like this

Our net zero experience is that the investment is paying back at about 15%, which is amazing.

Tories just can't resist policies that benefit the rich most. Shallow thinking.
Or no thinking.

How to make your home Net Zero How to save money on energy bills: your guide to a net zero bills, net zero carbon green home, based on our real life UK retrofit example. Generate power and income from solar PV which pays for your w...

Solar was key to cancelling our energy bill.
Heating, driving, all essentially free now.
Netzerohome.uk

You can do this with existing homes too...
netzerohome.uk

Anecdotes about massive costs and underheating? No data on satisfaction levels, no mention of the role of smart tariffs in cutting elec costs?
It felt very 2018.

A lightweight piece, using just 2 anecdotes to show high costs & low effectiveness... He should try DATA.
& no mention of the role of smart tariffs in reducing elec costs.

BREAKING: The blackout in Spain and Portugal in April 2025 did NOT happen because of renewables.

The final ENTSO-E report on last year's Iberian blackout is out — and it's essential reading for anyone working on the energy transition.

www.entsoe.eu/news/2026/03...

(from 1 April, & for the majority of customers who saved on gas standing charge)

Octopus Energy Cheaper, greener energy, heat pumps, solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles from Britain's most awarded energy supplier. One of Europe's largest investors in renewable energy. Switch today.

Octopus heat pump performance published: *95%* are cheaper to run than gas
octopus.energy/cosy-heat-pu...

Clear depiction of just how much land in England is used for solar.

How to make your home Net Zero How to save money on energy bills: your guide to a net zero bills, net zero carbon green home, based on our real life UK retrofit example. Generate power and income from solar PV which pays for your w...

It does feel bizarre to be reading of Europe quaking at the gas price, even as free solar energy fills the house & car...
Many more of us could have this.
Netzerohome.uk

Spain's renewables build-out has structurally decoupled its electricity prices from gas markets. Gas now sets the price in only 15% of hours, compared to 90% in Italy.

Countries that invested early in clean power are far less exposed to fossil fuel price shocks. Those that didn't now pay the price.

... it seemed more elegant to self-consume PV over summer & provide peak export rather than keep dolloping more power into already PV filled grid. But not looking worth the bother now.

Yes, we decided against battery when Flux was the main option. What changed it was a) getting EV, opening up EV tariffs and b) great low battery quote.
We think Flux does work over summer, with PV & 30p peak export. We were going to do this but the April IOG cut actually wipes the modest gains.

Octopus may also be using it to learn how the behaviour of early energy tech users changes with pricing, timing etc

Agree, Export reduction not a surprise. Could see it as pump priming though, getting the kit into the market like early FiTs.
As the market matures & more people use these tariffs, prices should change^. But current tariff awareness/adoption surprisingly low, even EV owners mostly use SVR.

Sure, Intelligent Octopus Go & Oct Outgoing. IOG prices are falling again next month to astonishing 5.49p for new customers.
In winter the battery lasts the majority of days, we paid 14.5p blended in Jan/Feb. But the recent Export cut will reduce arbitrage earnings vs our projection.

Despite the madness in Middle East, UK elec prices are falling.

For Intelligent Octopus Go, the leading EV tariff, this turns out at an amazing 3.5p cut to the already low 8-9p/kWhm, (7p for existing users) - potentially a 50% electricity price cut!

Even more great news for EV & battery owners...

Used to think this too... but we got 15kWh for £4k. Estimate savings at £5-600, including some arbitrage from peak export. So 7yr pb/13.7% ROI. Seemed ok to us.
Power cut proof too. Sadly we haven't had one yet...

Hot water from immersion heater on EV tariff is now a lot cheaper than heating oil.
Oil has ~10kWh per litre, so 14-15p/kWh atm for hot water after losses.
But night time EV tariff ~8.5p. Set that timer.