Choosing to install solar is a smart move for long term savings on your electricity bills and carbon footprint. To get the best return on your investment, consider pairing your solar array with a few practical upgrades that boost performance, protect your investment and increase savings.

At Solar Suffolk we design each install around your home and energy habits, no hard sells, just clear, experienced guidance. Below are popular extras we recommend that can increase efficiency, reduce imports from the grid and future proof your set up.

Keep Wildlife Out (and Your System Safe)

Birds, squirrels and other critters can cause issues by nesting beneath panels or chewing through cables. That’s why we offer bird protection mesh as a standard option with every installation. We fit a low profile, durable galvanised mesh that’s discreet from the ground and built to last. You can decline if you prefer, but fitting it during installation is usually far more economical and less disruptive than retrofitting later.

Solar Battery Storage

Adding battery storage lets you store your surplus solar generation for use when you need it, potentially covering a larger portion of your household demand and cutting grid imports further. Batteries are an additional investment, but for many households, the extra resilience and savings can make them worthwhile. We’ll run the numbers for your usage patterns so you can see the likely payback period.

Pro tip: Charge your solar battery using lower off peak tariffs and sell your surplus electricity back to the grid for a higher Smart Export Guarantee rate.

EV Charger – Charge with Sunshine

If you own, or plan to buy, an electric car, pairing a home EV charger with solar is a perfect match.  Charging from your solar PV array can save you hundreds of pounds a year compared with mains only charging and a smart charger can time charging to maximise self-consumption or make use of cheaper, off-peak EV tariffs. It’s also an attractive feature for future buyers, adding value to your property.

Panel Level Monitoring with Power Optimisers

If detailed performance data matters to you, consider a system with power optimisers. These devices let you monitor output at the level of each individual panel, so shading, dust and debris or a single underperforming panel is easier to spot. While many string inverters offer basic monitoring, an optimiser solution gives deeper insight and typically higher overall energy harvest.

Immersion Diverter for Hot Water Savings

For homes with a hot water cylinder, an immersion diverter is a simple, clever addition. When your panels are producing more power than the home is using, the diverter redirects that surplus to heat your hot water rather than exporting it to the grid, a practical way to capture otherwise wasted energy and self-consume more of your generated free electricity.

Make Your Solar Work Smarter, Not Harder

Solar panels form the backbone of a greener, more efficient home, but these add ons help you get more from your solar investment – greater savings, more independence from the grid and increased flexibility for future tech like EVs and smart home devices.

If you’d like, Solar Suffolk can assess which options suit your property and budget with a no pressure, free feasibility study. Tell us a bit about your home, your usage, lifestyle and energy goals and we’ll show you most cost effective way to maximise your system and design a system that works for you.

Solar on your roof. Power in your hands.