Only Panels - Solar Installer Chats

🎙️ Welcome to Only Panels – Solar Installer Chats, the podcast for solar PV professionals and enthusiasts. In this episode:🔹 The ongoing nightmare of G99 DNO applications, specific struggles with Northern Power Grid, and the crippling 45-working-day wait times holding the industry back. 🔹 Are some installers breaking the law? The massive liability and potential criminal offense of installing gri...

🎙️ Welcome to Only Panels – Solar Installer Chats, the podcast for solar PV professionals and enthusiasts. In this episode: 🔹 We sit down with Sam Waxman, Managing Director of Waxman Energy, to reflect on his 18.5 years riding the extreme highs and lows of the UK solar market.🔹 From pre-Feed-In Tariff craziness to massive price drops, discover how a major distributor navigates an industry that m...

🎙️ Welcome to Only Panels – Solar Installer Chats, the podcast for solar PV professionals and enthusiasts. In this episode:🔹 We stack into Aaron's dodgy van at the Waxman event day to talk about the massive shift happening in the renewable market.🔹 A deep dive into the brand new Anker Solix XE—a 5kW inverter and 7kWh battery integrated into a single, Lego-like block that installs in 5 minute...

🎙️ Welcome to Only Panels – Solar Installer Chats, the podcast for solar PV professionals and enthusiasts. In this episode, Michael and Dan sit down with Sarah Wallace from LONGi Solar to break down the latest panel tech, industry shakeups, and why back-contact panels are changing the game. In this episode: 🔹 The April 1st Price Hike: What the removal of the Chinese VAT subsidy means for module c...

Season 2 is officially LIVE! First off, a massive thank you to everyone who tuned into Season 1. Honestly, the number of views and listens we had was overwhelming. We started this to help the industry, and seeing how many of you got stuck in was the best motivation to get back behind the mics. In this kickoff episode, we aren't hanging about. We’re diving straight into the "why" behi...

We’re back at it again — this time live from the brand-new Apprentice 121 Training Centre , officially signed off by EAL and ready to deliver accredited solar, EV, and electrical training. Join Mike, Dan , and the legend himself Mark Allison as we take a walk through the new setup — from the WECO battery wall and Solax rigs to the testing bays being built for 2391s. We also chat with Dan “Sparky I...

Alpha ESS UK MD Mark Hale joins us at Waxman Energy . We dive into the G3 range , new heated UL9540 batteries, installer support, and C&I solutions like H50 (parallel up to 10). We touch on Octopus Intelligent Flux integration, an app refresh landing end-of-year, and a backup gateway coming Q1 . Practical chat on insurance docs, commissioning in ~5 mins, and simplifying SKUs with interchangeab...

We hijack The Renewables Podcast studio to sit down with Mark Allison — the force behind Apprentice 121 , Powersonic , and one of the most connected voices in the UK electrical industry. We talk about the brand-new Apprentice 121 Training Centre in Driffield and what proper , hands-on renewables training should look like. In this episode: How Apprentice 121 grew into a national training movement W...

Three mics. One office. No filter. Jay joins Mike & Dan back in the DMH HQ for a brutally honest chat about what life’s really like inside the business. From HGV driving to PV installs, broken panels, red-tape madness and why he’s still not trusted with the van keys — nothing’s off-limits. This one’s half therapy session, half toolbox talk, all chaos. What’s inside: £10k career switch and the...

We’re live at Solar & Storage Live 2025 with highlights straight from the NEC show floor. In this episode Michael dives into the brand-new AlphaESS G3 and H30/H50 storage systems , visits the Doncaster Cables stand for a look at their new PV-Ultra multi-core cable, and catches up with David from Cleantech Wholesale on their rebrand and what’s hot in distribution. We also chat about Sigenergy m...

We’ve dropped this one a day early ahead of Solar & Storage Live ! In Episode 11 of Only Panels – Solar Installer Chats , Michael and Dan are joined by Phil Joly from Van der Valk Solar Systems to talk about all things mounting: 🔹 The shift from Strongline to the new Valk Ace – what’s changed and why installers are switching 🔹 One hook that does both vertical & horizontal – the game-chan...

In this episode of Only Panels , Michael and Dan are joined by Oli from Zinc Electrical to unpack one of the biggest questions in solar: how do you size a solar PV system properly? We kick things off with highlights from Elex Coventry — including the Safe Isolate stand and plenty of installer chatter — before diving into real-world solar design. Topics we cover: Should you design a solar system ba...

SolarEdge has been a household name in solar installs for years. Optimisers, panel-level monitoring, fire safety integration, strong warranties — it was the system many of us trusted and fitted as standard. But in 2025, something feels different. You don’t see SolarEdge as much on roofs, in installer groups, or even across social media. Other brands have grabbed the spotlight. So the question is:...

Dan is back in the studio this week and we’re joined by a special guest: Adam Stears (SOTA Electrical) — EV charger specialist, YouTuber, and all-round industry voice. We dive into: ⚡ Adam’s 20+ year journey in the electrical industry 🔌 The rise of EV charging & what makes a good install 🔋 How to integrate EV chargers with solar & battery systems (without draining the home battery) ☀️ P...

In Episode 7 of Only Panels – Solar Installer Chats , we bring you a visual compilation of clips recorded at the Installer Show and CEF Live at the NEC 2025. From sodium-ion batteries to stackable storage, hybrid heating, new EV chargers, EnviroTile solar roofs and more — this episode is packed with the latest product developments and installer insights. 👀 Best experienced on YouTube or Spotify V...

📅 Release: Wednesday 19th August at 7pm 🎤 Guest: Aaron James Darvill – Senior Sales Manager, UK & Ireland, Anker Solix 🎧 Hosts: Michael Stott (East Renewables) 🔋 What do Christian Louboutins, balcony batteries, and the Solarcoaster have in common? They all come up in this week’s episode with the one and only Aaron Darvill from Anker Solix — and trust us, this one’s got range. Anker might b...

🎙 Episode 5 – Mega Solar Installs with The Solar Composer In this episode of Only Panels , hosts Michael Stott (East Renewables) and Dan Holliday (DMH Electrical & Renewables) are joined by Chris Nottingham , better known as The Solar Composer , founder of The Solar Roofing Company . Chris is a legend in the solar roofing world, known for delivering some of the largest, most complex, and highe...

In Episode 4 of Only Panels , hosts Michael (East Renewables) and Dan Holliday (DMH Electrical & Renewables) take a no-filter look at the chaos caused by G99 application rejections and long-winded DNO processes . They share real-world frustrations of dealing with 45-week+ lead times , broken communication, outdated systems, and how this is crippling consumer trust , violating consumer codes, a...

🎙️ Episode 3: Is Tesla Powerwall 3 the Best Battery on the Market? And What Happened to GivEnergy? This week on Only Panels , I’m joined by co-host Dan Holliday from DMH Electrical and Renewables, and special guests Libby and Francesca from Azzurri Electrical , as we deep-dive into the latest in solar PV , battery technology , and the shifting energy landscape in the UK. We kick things off with th...

🎙️ Ep2 – GSE vs Viridian: Which In-Roof Solar System Comes Out on Top? In this episode of Only Panels , Dan from DMH Electrical & Renewables and Michael from East Renewables dive deep into the debate between two of the UK’s most talked-about in-roof solar mounting systems: GSE Integration and Viridian Solar Clearline Fusion . Recorded live on Instagram, this unfiltered installer chat covers: –...

In this episode, we delve into the critical importance of proper installation techniques, particularly in the realm of solar panel setups. Join us as we uncover the pitfalls of substandard installations and the potential risks they pose, not just to property but to safety. Through real-life stories and expert insights, we emphasize why cutting corners can lead to costly consequences and how adheri...