Energy & Storage

Smarter ways to make, store and use energy.

Solar panels, batteries and efficiency upgrades can change how a home or business uses power. We unpack how the technologies work, what they cost over their lifetime and where the trade-offs sit, for owners and renters alike.

What we’ll explore

A growing library of independent guides, comparisons and explainers across the energy topics people ask about most.

  • Solar energy

    How solar generation works, what influences real-world output and what to weigh before installing.

  • Home battery systems

    Capacity, power, warranties and the questions worth asking before adding storage to a solar home.

  • Portable power stations

    Where portable batteries fit, from emergencies and camping to everyday backup.

  • Batteries for renters

    Practical options for people who can’t install rooftop solar or fixed systems.

  • Battery chemistry and emerging technologies

    What the different chemistries mean in plain language, and which newer ideas are worth watching.

  • Energy efficiency

    Upgrades that reduce the energy you need in the first place, and how to judge their value.

  • Off-grid systems

    How self-sufficient power systems are designed, and the compromises that come with them.

  • Electric vehicle charging

    Home charging, smart charging and how vehicles can connect with the rest of a household’s energy.

  • Renewable energy

    The bigger picture of how clean generation and storage are changing energy systems.

  • Energy storage comparisons

    Side-by-side, independent comparisons built on published specifications and clear assumptions.

Our lens

Questions we ask of every system.

Good energy decisions rest on good questions. These guide every guide and comparison we publish.

  1. What does it actually do, and under what conditions?
  2. What does it cost over its whole life, not just on day one?
  3. What are the limits, risks and things the brochure leaves out?
  4. Who is it genuinely a good fit for, and who should look elsewhere?

Clear about what’s proven.

Energy technology moves quickly. We label what is established, what is new to market, and what is still in the lab, so enthusiasm never gets ahead of evidence.

  • Established technology

    Commercially available, widely installed and with a real-world track record we can examine.

  • Emerging commercial solution

    Available to buy, but newer. Less long-term evidence, so we say plainly what is still unproven.

  • Experimental research

    Promising results in laboratories or pilots, not yet proven at scale or in the market.

  • Speculative concept

    Interesting ideas worth understanding, clearly separated from anything you could buy or build today.

Explore other areas

  • Better Buildings

    Materials, construction methods and design ideas that make buildings more comfortable, durable and resource-smart.

  • Circular Living

    Repairable, reusable and well-designed products, plus the recycling and recovery technologies that keep materials in play.

  • Future Innovations

    Emerging technologies and research worth watching, with honest notes on how close each one is to real-world use.