The energy market has changed. Gone are the days of simply generating power; today, the smartest homeowners are trading it. With Octopus Energy's innovative tariffs, your solar panel system becomes a financial asset—and you stay in control.
Why Choose Octopus Energy for Solar?
Octopus Energy has revolutionized the UK energy market with "smart tariffs." Unlike traditional suppliers that offer a flat rate for your exported energy (often as low as 3p-5p/kWh), Octopus uses technology to offer dynamic pricing.
By pairing your solar panels with a compatible battery and a smart meter, you can access tariffs designed specifically for renewable homes. This means you can:
- Get paid more for the energy you export than you pay to import it (at certain times).
- Charge your battery cheap overnight when grid demand is low.
- Sell your solar power at peak times for maximum profit.
- Stay in control of your own system and energy usage.
Our Recommended Tariffs: Octopus Flux & Octopus Go
We recommend Octopus Flux and Octopus Go for our customers—not the "Intelligent" versions. Why? Because with these tariffs, you control your system, not Octopus.
Octopus Flux
Octopus Flux is designed for homes with solar panels and battery storage. It offers three daily rate windows:
- Cheap Rate (02:00 - 05:00): Charge your battery from the grid at the lowest rates.
- Standard Rate: Normal daytime rates for import.
- Peak Export (16:00 - 19:00): Get premium rates for exporting power back to the grid during peak demand.
The key advantage? You decide when to charge, when to use stored power, and when to export. Your battery management is in your hands, not automated by Octopus.
Ideal for West-Facing Roofs
Octopus Flux is particularly well-suited for homes with west-facing roofs. Why? Because the peak export window (4pm - 7pm) coincides perfectly with when the afternoon sun is shining directly onto west-facing panels.
While south-facing panels generate more power overall, west-facing installations often earn more money on Flux because they're generating at exactly the right time. Your panels are producing maximum output precisely when export rates are highest—no battery required to shift the energy.
Octopus Go
Octopus Go offers a super-cheap overnight rate of 8.5p/kWh between 00:30 - 04:30 for charging batteries or EVs. Combined with solar, this tariff lets you:
- Charge your battery overnight at rock-bottom prices
- Use your own solar during the day
- Export excess power at SEG rates
Why We Don't Recommend "Intelligent" Tariffs
The "Intelligent" versions of these tariffs (like Intelligent Octopus Flux) require you to hand over control of your battery to Octopus. They decide when to charge and discharge your system based on grid needs—not yours.
For most homeowners, this trade-off isn't worth it. You lose the flexibility to manage your own energy, and the marginal extra savings rarely outweigh the loss of control. We believe in systems that work for you, on your terms.
The Hardware You Need
To access these premium tariffs, your system must be MCS Certified and use compatible hardware. Eastbourne Energy specialises in installing high-quality systems including:
- SolarEdge inverters and optimisers
- Fox ESS hybrid inverters and batteries
- Solis hybrid inverter systems
As an MCS-accredited installer, we ensure your paperwork is perfect, guaranteeing your eligibility for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and these Octopus tariffs.
Real-World Savings Example
Consider a typical home in Eastbourne with a 4kW solar array and a 9.5kWh battery on Octopus Flux:
- Summer: Your solar panels generate more than you need. You charge your battery from excess solar, then export to the grid during the 4pm-7pm peak window when rates are highest. West-facing panels shine here—literally.
- Winter: Solar generation is lower, but the savings continue. You charge your battery from the grid during the cheap 2am-5am window. This stored power runs your home during the day, avoiding expensive peak-rate electricity.
- You decide: If you're home all day, you might use more stored power yourself. Going away for the weekend? Export more to the grid. The choice is yours.
Getting Started
Ready to take control of your energy bills? Here's how to get set up:
- Get a quote from Eastbourne Energy for a solar and battery system.
- We install your MCS-certified system with compatible hardware.
- Switch to Octopus and select Flux or Go as your tariff.
- Start saving while staying in complete control of your energy.
Contact us today to discuss which system and tariff combination is right for your home.
Eastbourne Energy Team
Solar Energy Specialist at Eastbourne Energy
