https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/ UK solar and battery news with plain-English commentary, for Whitstable, Kent homes. en-gb Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0100 https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/great-britain-sets-record-solar-month-in-july-2026.html https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/great-britain-sets-record-solar-month-in-july-2026.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0100 Market NESO's own half-hourly data puts solar at about 14.7% of GB generation in July, up from about 12.5% in May. A record month is good news for the grid, but it tells a Whitstable homeowner less than you might think. https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/wall-mounted-ev-chargers-get-wider-planning-rights-from-21-october-2026.html https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/wall-mounted-ev-chargers-get-wider-planning-rights-from-21-october-2026.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0100 Rules A new order lets homeowners fit one wall-mounted charge point anywhere in the curtilage, not just in a parking area, with new limits for conservation areas and pavements. https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/peoples-power-community-energy-funding-opens-17-september-2026.html https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/peoples-power-community-energy-funding-opens-17-september-2026.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0100 Policy Great British Energy opened grants for local authorities and community groups on 17 September 2026. Homeowners cannot apply, but it shows where rooftop solar policy is heading. https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/new-planning-order-keeps-plug-in-solar-off-timber-walls-and-fences.html https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/new-planning-order-keeps-plug-in-solar-off-timber-walls-and-fences.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0100 Rules The order that brought plug-in solar into permitted development, in force from 27 August 2026, rules out wooden walls, timber-clad house exteriors and wooden fences. That matters in a seaside town. https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/great-british-grid-announced-what-it-means-for-home-solar-and-batteries.html https://whitstablesolarbattery.co.uk/news/great-british-grid-announced-what-it-means-for-home-solar-and-batteries.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0100 Policy A new publicly owned body will invest in the electricity network and push for faster connections. For a home solar and battery install, little changes now.