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  • EP16 – Apprentice 121: Opening the Training Centre of the Future (with Mark Allison)
    2025/10/29

    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 In Training”, Libby from Azzuri Electrical, and Mattie Allison, who’s stepping up to take the reins at PowerSonic while Mark focuses on the training side.

    Plenty of laughs, cake, and real talk about the future of hands-on installer training in the UK.

    👉 Listen in and find out what’s next for Apprentice 121.

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    17 分
  • EP15 - Built to Last: Alpha ESS G3, Safety Upgrades & C&I with Mark Hale (at Waxman Energy)
    2025/10/22

    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 interchangeable 4.8/9.6 kWh batteries.

    00:00 Intro at Waxman Energy
    01:13 Alpha ESS UK roots & longevity
    02:30 UK installer support (ex-installers, first-install on-site)
    04:17 G3 range overview (3.68/5/8kW, parallel)
    05:34 New batteries: heating for cold installs
    07:20 Safety: suppression, venting, UL9540 & insurance docs
    09:05 1C cells (4.8 kWh) vs 0.5C; 9.6 kWh; scaling
    10:00 Interchangeable 4.8/9.6 across single & three-phase
    13:03 Installer Hub (docs, videos), 5-minute commissioning
    15:00 C&I: 30/50/100 kW cabinets; outdoor, safety features
    16:08 H50 cabinets, factory commissioning & sign-off
    18:28 Care homes & farming use cases
    19:36 H50 parallel (up to 10); M50 teaser
    20:49 24/500 kW, 1.4 MWh container (late-year)
    23:41 New app end-of-year
    24:04 Octopus Intelligent Flux integration
    25:18 Backup gateway coming Q1
    26:31 Market shift & smarter customers
    27:51 Waxman events & wrap


    AlphaESS UK Website alpha-ess.co.uk

    Waxman Energy waxmanenergy.co.uk


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    29 分
  • EP14 – The Training Centre of the Future with Mark Allison (A121 Training)
    2025/10/15

    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

    • Why classroom-only solar courses miss the mark

    • FIT retrofits with batteries, smart metering & commissioning quirks

    • PAS guidance, large domestic storage & practical safety tips

    • Gateways are coming – Tesla, SIG Energy, EcoFlow & more

    • Battery recycling, packaging waste & sustainability

    • SolarEdge vs SIG, Victron everywhere & manufacturer pitfalls

    • College drops: giving back to train the next generation

    Guest: Mark Allison – Apprentice 121 / Powersonic / The Renewables Podcast
    Hosts: Michael Stott & Dan Holliday – Only Panels – Solar Installer Chats

    📅 Apprentice 121 Training Centre launch: 29 Oct 2025
    🕖 New episodes every Wednesday 7 PM
    🌐 onlypanels.com

    Follow, rate & share to support the installer community ⚡

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    51 分
  • 🎙️EP13 – Life at DMH: Jay Tells the Bits You’re Not Supposed to Hear
    2025/10/08

    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 training company that went bust

    • Industrial vs renewables: real work vs red tape

    • Storm-proofing gone wrong (and right)

    • Josh the apprentice, the “whoever drives it washes it” rule

    • That moment when the smart meter hits 0 kW

    • Why renewables installers stick together tighter than duct tape

    Heads-up: Recorded live in one room — bit of echo, plenty of energy.
    New episodes every Wednesday 7 PM 🎧

    👉 Subscribe. Comment. Tag a mate who needs to hear this.

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    47 分
  • EP12 – The Future of Solar: AI Trading, New Batteries & Installer Insights
    2025/10/01

    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 microinverters, Fronius Wattpilot & Gen24 backup, and the rise of AI-driven grid trading with Sunsynk + Connectify.

    • New fire-safe, high-cycle batteries from AlphaESS

    • Doncaster’s 6-core PV-Ultra cable & bonding options

    • Why software matters more than hardware in solar

    • Huawei exiting the market – and who will fill the gap

    • The rise of OpenSolar, convenience, and solar being “bought not sold”

    • Anker Solix’s ambassador model and why it’s built to last

    🎧 Whether you’re an installer, distributor, or just love solar tech, this episode is packed with insights and laughs from the UK’s biggest solar event.

    🔔 New episodes every Wednesday at 7pm – subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app.

    Key Talking Points

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    39 分
  • 🎙️EP11 – Van der Valk at Solar & Storage Live: Game-Changing Mounting Systems Explained
    2025/09/22

    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-changer for tricky roofs
    🔹 Cable management, optimiser clamps, and the “third hand” feature that saves time on site
    🔹 The new ValkPro+ Next Gen flat-roof system designed for today’s larger panels
    🔹 How installer feedback is shaping product improvements
    🔹 Where to find Van der Valk at Solar & Storage Live 2025 – Stand D110 + daily Installer Hub training sessions

    Van der Valk Installer Hub Training Times (NEC):
    Tuesday – 14:00 & 14:20
    Wednesday – 12:00 & 12:20
    Thursday – 12:20 & 12:40

    Plus, we get into impact drivers, hats, and why Dan reckons Phil owes him new tools…

    If you’re heading to the NEC this week, this is the perfect listen for the drive down. Then pop over to the Van der Valk stand (D110) and get hands-on with their kit.

    Chapters / Highlights:
    00:01 – Intro & why we’re early for Solar & Storage Live
    01:29 – Meet Phil Joly, Van der Valk Solar Systems
    03:19 – Valk Ace launch and feedback from installers
    08:22 – Strongline vs Ace: price, performance & installer response
    12:00 – The “third hand” feature, hooks & hardware tweaks
    20:22 – Two impact drivers and the hat moment
    26:00 – Cable management & full mounting system solutions
    28:04 – ValkPro+ Next Gen flat-roof mounting for big panels
    36:34 – Awards, tools, and looking ahead

    🎧 Listen now on Spotify & YouTube
    📍 Meet Van der Valk at Solar & Storage Live 2025, Stand D110

    #Solar #MountingSystems #VanDerValk #SolarAndStorageLive #SolarInstallers #OnlyPanelsPodcast

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    43 分
  • 🎙️EP10 – How Big Should Your Solar System Be? With Oli from Zinc Electrical
    2025/09/17

    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 based on household consumption, maximise roof space, or stick to a set budget?

    • The “120% rule” explained – why oversizing panels or inverters can actually improve performance.

    • Inverter sizing myths: why a smaller inverter can sometimes generate more power over the year.

    • Battery storage challenges – charge/discharge rates, hybrid inverters, and when to add batteries later.

    • Real-life analogies to make sense of kWp, kWh, and inverter ratings (think: car top speed vs speed limit 🚗⚡).

    • How to future-proof PV systems for EV charging, heat pumps, and growing family usage.

    Oli also shares his personal journey: leaving corporate IT sales, training with Oval Renewables, and eventually launching Zinc Electrical. We talk about the realities of being a one-man-band installer, the importance of community in the UK renewables sector, and balancing business with family life.

    Whether you’re a solar installer, an electrician moving into PV, or a homeowner thinking about solar panels and battery storage, this episode gives you practical insights into how systems are really designed — and why no two installs are ever the same.

    📺 Watch on YouTube🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts

    #Solar #SolarPanels #Inverters #BatteryStorage #Renewables #OnlyPanels #Podcast #InstallerLife #SolarDesign #SolarPV #HeatPumps #EVCharging

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    51 分
  • 🎙️EP9 – Where’s SolarEdge Gone? Why I’m Not Using It Anymore
    2025/09/10

    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: Where’s SolarEdge gone? And why are some of us no longer using it?

    In this episode, Michael and Dan have an open and honest chat about their experiences with SolarEdge — the good, the bad, and the future.

    • 🔋 The battery problem – Why the Energy Bank is seen as too big, too heavy, and sometimes too late. We compare it to alternatives like Sigenergy and Anker SOLIX, and ask whether the new Nexus modular system can close the gap.

    • Optimisers explained – More than just shade mitigation. How panel degradation, voltage balancing, and DC safety set SolarEdge apart… and whether competitors are catching up.

    • 🔥 Safety and insurance – Rapid shutdown, DC arc detection, and the growing pressure from insurers for safer installs. We ask if SolarEdge still has the edge, or if other brands are stepping in.

    • 🛠️ Real installer experiences – From heavy warranty swaps to the reality of lifting a 110kg battery, we share stories straight from site.

    • 🔄 Warranties and backwards compatibility – The upside of long product support, but also the challenge of steering a “big old tanker” in a fast-moving market.

    • 🌍 The bigger picture – How SolarEdge’s global operations, Israeli roots, and shifts to US manufacturing might shape its future.

    • 🔮 What next? – Will the Nexus range spark a comeback, or is it too little too late?

    SolarEdge isn’t just another inverter company — it helped define panel-level optimisation and set the standard for safety. But as new players enter the market with sleeker batteries, simpler commissioning, and flashy marketing, installers are questioning whether SolarEdge is still the best choice.

    For customers, it raises important questions too: if your installer no longer uses SolarEdge, should you? If you already have it on your roof, what does the future look like for your system?

    Michael admits he doesn’t install SolarEdge as much anymore — and explains why. Dan remains a huge fan of the technology and is excited to see what’s next. Together, they explore the balance between installer preference, customer needs, and industry innovation.

    Whether you’re an installer, supplier, or homeowner curious about your solar options, this is an episode packed with insights.

    🎧 Tune in to hear where SolarEdge stands today, what went wrong, and whether it can win back the market in 2025 and beyond.

    What we cover in this episode:Why this matters:Our take:

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    31 分