Date Milestone Notes 5 March 2026 Quote requested 12 panels + 5.12 kWh battery quoted at £5,900, including grid connection and DNO liaison. 9 March 2026 Site survey booked Installer visits the property. Installment payments and additional panels discussed. Haggled a bit. 11 March 2026 Decision to proceed 12 panels + 9.4 kWh battery confirmed at £6,600. Opted for a bigger battery to utilise overnight cheap tariff. Requested April installation slot. 12 March 2026 Extra panels added; DNO application sent 2 additional panels agreed at £175 each if there’s room on installation day (in the end they could only fit one more). G99 application submitted to the DNO (to allow export to the grid). 18 March 2026 Install date confirmed: 20 April Contract sent over. 1 April 2026 Contract & deposit issued Deposit paid (10%). 15 April 2026 Pre-installation update DNO approval for exporting energy is still outstanding, but scaffolding is booked. 18 April 2026 Scaffolding erected Scaffolders arrive in the morning – they take under 3 hours. 20 April 2026 Installation day Panels and battery fitted – three tradesmen arrive around 8:30am, they’re gone by 1:30pm. Solar starts getting to work straight away – the sun powers the house until about 5pm, then the battery takes over. 21 April 2026 Payment made; outstanding items Remaining payment confirmed (total is £6775, all in). Playing around with the app. First full day of solar power. 8:15am, solar is powering 70% MORE than baseload use and therefore charging the battery. By lunchtime it’s 3x.

Here's a timeline of our process for installing solar (sorry yes, I've really nerded out), in case of use to anyone. I've included the final cost for full transparency. We saved for ages but it was a decent price.

Some tips on getting solar panels installed Get the funding in place. If upfront cash is an issue, check out the alternatives I’ve covered previously. Do some research. The SolarUK subreddit is excellent, as well as people like Gary Does Solar on YouTube. Search local solar installers near you. Make sure they are MCS registered (they will say so if they are and will be on the MCS database) Make a note of your energy usage over the year (in kwh). This will help with getting the right battery size. The advice is often to ‘max out’ the number of panels you can fit. Since labour and scaffolding is a big part of the cost, additional panels often add little to the overall cost. Get an in-person quote from a well-reviewed firm. They will tell you how many panels you can fit on your roof (there are also tools online where to help you approximate this) Go to 2-3 other well-reviewed firms to get more quotes Haggle, if you are so inclined Pick one. Book it in. Get on the right tariff in advance – one which offers cheap overnight rates. This will let you charge your battery cheaply for the next day’s usage, whether it’s sunny or not. Several offer nighttime rates of around 7p per kwh. Pick somewhere for the battery and inverter to go, either in a large cupboard or outside (keeping them in lofts is strongly discouraged now) Sort out energy exporting – as soon as you have a G99 export certificate your installer has (hopefully) got hold of, plus the MCS certificate, you can sign up for an export tariff, e.g. EDF, Octopus, Good Energy, Eon. For renters: start exploring plug-in solar. It’s coming soon (and is already possible with sign off from an electrician). Failing that, pester your landlord. It will boost their EPC and make your home a far nicer place to live.

I've written up some tips on installing solar panels in the UK if you're lucky enough to own your own home (and roof).

These are just tips that worked for me - I'm sure others will have more.

If it helps anyone at all I'll be delighted.

Lily's Scones These are the best scones I’ve ever eaten, which is quite how it should be since they emanate from one of those old-fashioned cooks who starts a batch the minute the door-bell rings at teatime. Yes, I...

Scones are #RecipeOfTheDay – not just any old scones, but Lily’s Scones! I know you all have strong views on whether they’re topped first with cream then jam, or jam first and then cream, and you must eat them as you like. But I do feel there’s no point in debating it www.nigella.com/recipes/lily...

Sledgehammer was released 40 years ago today!

This week’s main story is about prediction markets – platforms where you can bet on basically anything, from the weather to the war in Iran – the legal and moral questions posed by their existence, and why someone needs to take Shayne Coplan sweater shopping. The purple isn’t working, Shayne!

Similarly, historians will retch at Zelensky’s treatment in the Oval Office & beyond. We all moved on to the next abomination without even stopping for sandwiches…

Mayor Mamdani and President Obama read a picture book to a group of children.

Mayor Mamdani and President Obama chat and laugh with a group of children.

Mayor Mamdani and President Obama chat and laugh.

Children hug Mayor Mamdani.

Today, President Barack Obama and I read to a group of toddlers at Learning Through Play Pre-K Center in the South Bronx. 

In between singing wheels on the bus, we discussed our administration’s vision for this City — one where New York’s Cutest have the strongest start possible.

Instant Chocolate Mousse When you haven't got time for overnight setting in the fridge or you don't want to use raw eggs, this mousse is perfect. In fact, at all times, constraints or not, it is chocaliciously gorgeous.

Sometimes good things come to those who can’t wait: Instant Chocolate Mousse is #RecipeOfTheDay! If you’re avoiding raw eggs, or can’t eat eggs full-stop, these beauties are also very much for you. (Most supermarkets sell the mini marshmallows you need for this.) www.nigella.com/recipes/inst...

🚨 NEW MINI EPISODE 🚨

As fresh details emerge that Peter Mandelson failed vetting, Alastair and Rory ask: Is the Prime Minister telling the truth about everything he knew?

As Olly Robbins loses his role over the Mandelson scandal, who else's job is in jeopardy?

Link in replies 👇

A Ford Prefect being hoisted off the Stornoway mailboat MV Loch Seaforth at Armadale, Skye.

Pic: Robert Chappell

Out tomorrow for Record Store Day 2026, The Great Western Road Trip live album.

Find your local store: cookingvinyl.lnk.to/RSD26

Dedicated to James Miller Prime
3 November 1960 – 19 June 2025 💙

Smoked Trout Pate This pâté takes the merest moment to make and yet it is a wonderful start to a meal or, indeed, a whole meal in itself. I don't even need a salad with it: I'm happy with toast or crusty bread, and may...

Smoked Trout Pâté is #RecipeOfTheDay! And I dare say you could use smoked mackerel if you’d prefer. www.nigella.com/recipes/smok...

Do check out Rest Is PoliticS LEADING for our interview with a Kyiv doctor. Also new Q and A ep out - analysing Orban defeat, looking ahead to Scottish and Welsh elections, lost art of discernment and how Rory fell in love with the Galapagos- wherever you get your podcasts

If one of my party's recent prime ministers had redecorated the Number 10 flat in a way that ended up involving TWO separate inquiries and a Wikipedia page, I would simply not have put out a press release confirming that the current prime minister had spent less than the allowance he was given.

Wes Streeting must kick Palantir out of our NHS.

Donald Trump's favourite tech giant shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Brits' private health data.

There are fantastic British tech firms who would be far better and safer for the NHS.

Can’t stop. Won’t stop 😤

@victoire-lphf.bsky.social hits 20 wins at TD Garden with a 15-game point streak still going strong!

Screenshot of an article from CBC News. The headline reads: Carney temporarily suspending federal fuel excise tax on gas, diesel and aviation fuel.

We’re cutting taxes on fuel across Canada.

Starting next Monday, you’ll save up to 10¢/L on gas at the pump.

Especially at a big moment like starting school, I want every child in Scotland to have the best start in life.
 
Building on the success of the Baby Box, we will introduce a Welcome to School Bag - supporting families and children with stationery, books and other helpful items.

Richmond Bridge

Clannad - Robin The Hooded Man (Official Audio) YouTube video by ClannadOfficial

Posting because R.I.P. Moya Brennan and also because it's one of the greatest T.V. themes ever recorded. youtu.be/_B95i-BQ6n0?...

The Titanic hit an iceberg at 11.40pm on this day 1912. Wallace Hartley, leader of the band that carried on playing, came from Colne, Lancs. There is a plaque to the musicians in the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, and a monument on Liverpool waterfront to 244 engineers who died.

Clannad - Theme from Harry's Game (Official HD Video) YouTube video by ClannadVEVO

Absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of Moya Brennan. Someone I had the pleasure of meeting occasionally in recent years. An immense talent, national treasure and all-round fantastic human being. Her loss will be felt immeasurably in her home of Gweedore. youtu.be/4zHTcxVjX0I?...

McDonald’s unveil their new promotional character, Jesus McChrist

Mon joueur préféré du Canadien ajoute sa touche à une année exceptionnelle pour le CH. Bravo à Nick Suzuki! Quel joueur extraordinaire: lecture, constance, talent, intelligence…!
🏒🥅💙⚜️

🥚

Hello, sorry, in case you hadn't already worked it out: there is no new episode this week. It's just been impossible with my whole going to Australia thing. The story hots up again next week.

Bluebell woods for anyone that doesn’t have one near them x

Perfect weather first thing to take in the local bluebell displays! These were around Harleyford and Marlow Common (Rassler Wood to be technically correct!) 😊
#mymarlow #marlow

Pub Song | SNL UK YouTube video by Saturday Night Live UK

I’m still singing this from 2 weeks ago!

youtu.be/rY15PLImY3E?...

@alexhorne.bsky.social watched the first show of S21 and was wondering how long it took to complete the final challenge, "find the oranges". It seemed like you were all at it a while...