Only Panels - Solar Installer Chats

With the price cap going up and winter coming, are families going to have to choose between heating and eating? And what would actually make solar affordable for them?📺 This episode launches the brand-new LONGi UK YouTube channel. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@LONGiUKFirst, Dan Holliday takes you round Solar & Storage Live 2026 at the NEC: the welcome on the LONGi stand with Sarah Wallace (new storage, a self-extinguishing fire mitigation module and the 500 W all-black panel coming in 2027), a run round the halls before the doors open on the last day, and the new Sigenergy EV charger.Then Andy Barrow from Solar Nerd sits down with Sarah. He explains why "the best product in the world" still fails without a plan for the market, what Bangladesh and Florida have in common, and why the industry needs to stop talking to itself. He talks about heat or eat, a grant refused because the customer lived on the wrong side of the road, low-cost loans that never arrived, why salary sacrifice for solar and batteries could be a game changer if it happens, and the off-the-record conversations about support that never picks up the phone.In this episode:• Dan on the show floor: LONGi, a run round the halls, and the new Sigenergy EV charger• Best product, no buyers: why brands need more than tech• Stop talking to each other, start talking to homeowners• Heat or eat: the budget, the price cap and this winter• Grants by postcode: the wrong side of the road• Solar for all? Plug-in solar, low-cost loans and salary sacrifice• Off the record: support that actually picks up the phoneChapters0:00 Cold open0:40 Dan on the show floor: welcome to Solar & Storage Live0:54 On the LONGi stand: storage, fire safety and the 2027 panel2:11 Day 3: a run round the show before the doors open2:39 On the Sigenergy stand: the new EV charger3:19 Meet Andy Barrow (Solar Nerd)4:34 The best product in the world, and no buyers6:09 Know your market: Bangladesh, Florida and the UK7:24 Stop talking to each other, start talking to homeowners8:31 The budget, the price cap and heat or eat10:10 Grants by postcode: the wrong side of the road12:11 Plug-in solar and solar for all12:52 What would help: low-cost loans and salary sacrifice14:37 Off the record: support that picks up the phoneGuest: Andy Barrow (Solar Nerd)Hosts: Dan Holliday (DMH · Only Panels) & Sarah Wallace (LONGi)Recorded at Solar & Storage Live 2026, NEC Birmingham, and on the LONGi stand.New Only Panels episodes every Wednesday at 6pm. Short Circuit every Sunday at 6pm.Show supporters: LONGi (https://www.youtube.com/@LONGiUK) · A121 Training · AlphaESS🎓 Want to install it properly? A121 Training runs hands-on courses: the Solar Roofing Masterclass, the Gateway, Battery & Inverter Masterclass, and Level 3 Solar PV (designed to meet MCS requirements). Book at https://a121.co.uk#solar #energybills #heatoreat #solarinstaller #OnlyPanels #SolarAndStorageLive #LONGi #LONGiUK #Sigenergy

"I walk around Solar & Storage, I will guarantee 10% of these manufacturers won't be here this next year." Mark Hale, Managing Director of AlphaESS, joins Sarah Wallace and Phoebe Cho from LONGi on the LONGi stand at Solar & Storage Live 2026, NEC Birmingham.Sarah warns that there are a lot of products that go boom and bust, and that a big brand went under this year. Mark says they've seen two manufacturers go this year. He explains why some brands pull out of the market and what to check before you commit: on-site support, warranties, references and customer reviews. Don't get lured in by social media hype. The manufacturers will also put you in touch with a competent installer in your area. His verdict: if you see something cheaper from an unknown brand and an unknown installer, ask yourself why.⚡ Short Circuit #3: one topic, no resistance. A short episode from the Only Panels Podcast, out every Sunday at 6pm.In this episode:• Phoebe: renewables are getting easier to buy into• Products that boom and bust• "10% of these manufacturers won't be here"• How to do your due diligence• Ask the manufacturer to recommend an installer• Cheaper? Ask yourself whyChapters0:00 Cold open0:18 Meet Mark Hale (AlphaESS) and Phoebe Cho (LONGi)0:31 Phoebe: solar's getting easier to buy into0:52 Products that boom and bust1:55 "10% of these manufacturers won't be here"2:54 How to do your due diligence3:33 Ask the manufacturer for an installer4:28 The verdict: cheaper? Ask yourself whyGuest: Mark Hale, Managing Director, AlphaESSHosts: Sarah Wallace & Phoebe Cho, LONGiRecorded on the LONGi stand at Solar & Storage Live 2026, NEC Birmingham.Subscribe for more from the Only Panels Podcast with Michael Stott & Dan Holliday.Show supporters: LONGi · A121 Training · AlphaESS#solar #batterystorage #homebattery #solarinstaller #UKSolar #AlphaESS #LONGi #SolarAndStorageLive #OnlyPanelsWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8Be9ydCufVM

"It's lonely being a spark." Only Panels goes on the road. Dan Holliday and Michael Stott set up in the corner of the Elite Sparking Krew (ESK) annual Curry Night, the "Annual Sparky Get Together" held the same night as Elex at Stoneleigh Park, and grab whoever they can between the quiz, the raffle, the bingo and the curry.Jamie explains how a 30-person curry-house meet-up became a night for sparks who spend all day working on their own ("it's lonely being a spark"), and why it's "not PC, just a good crack". Craig Gifford tells us how he became the Secret Millionaire, and why you don't have to be rich to be a millionaire. Charles from TradeCert and Antonio from ALO Electrical & Security talk certs built with real sparks, and Antonio's van that needed building twice in 30 days. Kev from HDT closes the night with the test-equipment company behind the brands, and how feedback took a PV tester from 15 A to 20 A with a firmware update.In this episode:• How the ESK Curry Night grew: curry house → Stoneleigh Park• "It's lonely being a spark": why the ESK WhatsApp community exists• Quiz, raffle, bingo and a curry: a working men's club for sparks• Craig Gifford: how the Secret Millionaire name stuck• You don't have to be rich to be a millionaire• TradeCert: PV certs designed with installers• Antonio's van: two builds in 30 days• HDT: the OEM behind the testers you already use• 15 A to 20 A with a firmware updateChapters0:00 Cold open0:42 Only Panels on the road: the ESK Curry Night1:40 Jamie: how the curry night grew2:32 It's lonely being a spark4:18 Quiz, raffle, bingo and a curry5:03 Not PC, just a good crack6:05 Same time next year7:08 Craig Gifford, the Secret Millionaire7:57 Elex at Stoneleigh Park8:44 You don't have to be rich to be a millionaire12:32 What's your curry?13:03 Charles (TradeCert) & Antonio (ALO Electrical & Security)15:38 Antonio's van: two builds in 30 days17:53 The worst raffle in the world18:34 Kev from HDT: the testers behind the brands21:09 15 A to 20 A with a firmware update21:58 Kicking-out timeGuests: Jamie (Actual Electrical Content, ESK organiser), Craig Gifford, Charles (TradeCert), Antonio (ALO Electrical & Security), Kev (HDT)Hosts: Dan Holliday (DMH) & Michael Stott (East Renewables)Recorded at the ESK Curry Night, Elex week, Stoneleigh Park, 22 October 2026. Same time next year: tickets go on sale about three months before.🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@OnlyPanelsPodcastLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/onlypanelsTikTok & Instagram: @onlypanels#electrician #sparky #OnlyPanels #Elex #ESK #solarinstaller #TradeCert #electricalcontractor

If your roof needs replacing anyway, why put slates where solar panels could go? Sarah Wallace from LONGi talks to installer Leon Rygol from Rygol Electrical Services and Shane from GSE Integration on the LONGi stand at Solar & Storage Live 2026, NEC Birmingham.Leon bought a house that needed a complete new roof, so he put his own money where his mouth is: 44 LONGi 480 W all-black panels on a GSE in-roof system, 21 kWp in total. He explains why, as an investor, it's one of the very few jobs on a property that pays for itself, what he expects it to generate against a new 7 kW heat pump, and why it finally gives him an answer when customers ask what's on his own roof.⚡ Short Circuit #2: one topic, no resistance. A short episode from the Only Panels Podcast, out every Sunday at 6pm.You'll also see Leon in next Wednesday's main episode, Only Panels S3E4 "Training Has Missed the Trade" (Wednesday 28 Oct, 6pm).Chapters0:00 Cold open0:14 Meet Leon (Rygol) and Shane (GSE Integration)0:33 A 21 kWp in-roof system on a brand-new roof1:36 Why a new roof should pay for itself2:09 Why LONGi panels and a GSE in-roof kit2:49 15,000 kWh vs a new heat pump3:38 Finally, solar on the installer's own houseGuests: Leon Rygol, Rygol Electrical Services · Shane, GSE IntegrationHost: Sarah Wallace, LONGiRecorded on the LONGi stand at Solar & Storage Live 2026, NEC Birmingham.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yYBoF-2Bra4Only Panels Podcast with Michael Stott & Dan Holliday. Show supporters: LONGi · A121 Training

What does it actually take to run a solar install business in 2026? Live from the LONGi stand at Solar & Storage Live 2026, five people who do it every day talk customers, leads, kit, admin and standards.Sam Waxman (Waxman Energy), nearly 20 years in, says the industry has gone from constant firefighting to finally planning ahead. Ben Price explains how Heatable works with local installers, pays them the full rate and takes the DNO, MCS and NAPIT red tape off their hands. Ben Fogg (Evo Renewables) says customers now buy on the tech spec, not the double-glazing pitch, and with the app and the data in their hands, "there's nowhere to hide". Dan Holliday (DMH) on why people buy from people, and holding his team to the highest standard. Plus Alicia Reid (Tomlinson Longstaff) and Michael Stott on support you can get hold of, and lifting a 120 kg battery.In this episode:• From firefighting to planning ahead• How Heatable works with local installers• Selling on the tech spec, not the sales pitch• Customers chase brands• YouTube vs buying leads• Nowhere to hide: honesty and no package deals• 5% VAT: a boom coming?• Taking the red tape off installers• Choosing your panels and kit• Support, and the 120 kg battery• Keep learning• Holding your team to the highest standardChapters0:00 Cold open1:05 Welcome to Only Panels1:13 Sam Waxman: from firefighting to planning ahead2:28 Ben Price: how Heatable works with local installers3:49 Selling on tech spec, not the double-glazing pitch5:20 Customers chase brands6:47 YouTube vs buying leads7:41 Nowhere to hide: the customer has the data9:28 5% VAT: boom or bust?10:40 Taking the red tape off installers12:36 Choosing your panels and kit15:09 Support, and the 120 kg battery17:10 Keep learning18:14 Holding your team to the highest standard19:11 Wrap-upGuests: Sam Waxman (Waxman Energy), Ben Price (Heatable), Ben Fogg (Evo Renewables), Alicia Reid (Tomlinson Longstaff), Dan Holliday (DMH)With Sarah Wallace and Phoebe Cho (LONGi)Hosts: Dan Holliday (DMH) & Michael Stott (East Renewables)Recorded on the LONGi stand at Solar & Storage Live 2026, NEC Birmingham.Train with A121 Training (book at a121.co.uk):• Solar Roofing Masterclass: 1-day hands-on course• Gateway, Battery & Inverter Masterclass: 1-day course• Level 3 Solar PV: 3-day course designed to meet MCS requirementsNew episodes Wednesdays 6pm · Short Circuit Sundays 6pmShow supporters: LONGi · A121 Training#solar #solarinstaller #solarbusiness #installerlife #OnlyPanels #SolarAndStorageLive #LONGi #A121Training