Solar Panel Monitoring: Best Apps, Systems & How to Track Output
Your solar panels are generating electricity — but how do you know they're working properly? A good monitoring system lets you track output in real time, spot faults early, and maximise your savings.
Quick Answer
Most solar inverters sold in the UK in 2026 come with free monitoring via a companion app. SolarEdge and Enphase offer the best panel-level monitoring, while GivEnergy leads for battery tracking. You don't need to pay extra — monitoring is included with your inverter. Just connect it to your home WiFi during installation.
Why monitor your solar panels?
Solar panels are low-maintenance, but that doesn't mean you should ignore them. Without monitoring, a faulty panel or inverter issue could go unnoticed for months — costing you hundreds of pounds in lost generation.
Detect Faults Early
A drop in output could signal a faulty panel, tripped inverter, or wiring issue. Monitoring alerts you immediately so you can get it fixed before it costs you money.
Track Generation vs Consumption
See exactly how much you're generating, using, exporting, and importing. This helps you understand your energy habits and adjust usage to save more.
Maximise Self-Consumption
By watching when your panels produce the most, you can schedule high-energy tasks (washing machine, dishwasher, EV charging) during peak solar hours.
Verify System Performance
Your installer quoted a certain annual output. Monitoring lets you check whether your system is actually delivering what was promised.
Spot Shading Issues
New tree growth, a neighbour's extension, or dirt buildup can reduce output. Panel-level monitoring shows exactly which panels are underperforming and why.
Track Your Savings
Most apps calculate your savings in pounds, including what you save by using solar directly and what you earn from the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
How does solar monitoring work?
Solar monitoring is straightforward. Your inverter collects data from your panels and sends it to a cloud platform via your home WiFi. You then view the data on a smartphone app or web dashboard.
Inverter collects data
Your inverter (or microinverters) measures the DC power from each string of panels, converts it to AC, and logs the output every few seconds.
Data sent via WiFi
The inverter connects to your home WiFi (or via an Ethernet dongle) and uploads data to the manufacturer's cloud platform every 5–15 minutes.
View on app or web
You download the manufacturer's free app (or log in to their web portal) to see real-time and historical data, charts, alerts, and savings calculations.
CT clamps (optional)
Many systems include CT (current transformer) clamps that clip around your mains cable. These measure total grid import and export, giving you a complete picture of your energy flows.
Your installer should set up WiFi connectivity during installation. If your inverter is too far from your router, ask about a WiFi extender or Ethernet connection.
Best solar monitoring systems in the UK
Every major inverter brand offers its own monitoring platform. Here's how the most popular systems compare for UK homeowners in 2026.
SolarEdge Monitoring
Best panel-level monitoring
The industry leader for detailed monitoring. SolarEdge systems use power optimisers on each panel, giving you individual panel-level data. The free mySolarEdge app shows real-time generation, consumption, battery status, and detailed analytics. Automatic fault alerts notify you if a panel or optimiser underperforms.
Enphase Enlighten
Best for microinverter systems
Enphase microinverters pair with the Enlighten monitoring platform, offering excellent panel-level data without the need for separate optimisers. The app is clean and intuitive, with 25 years of data retention. Particularly strong for systems where panels face different directions.
GivEnergy Portal
Best for battery monitoring
GivEnergy's monitoring portal is the best in the UK for battery system owners. It shows battery charge/discharge cycles, grid import/export, and supports tariff optimisation for time-of-use tariffs like Octopus Agile. The app lets you set charging schedules and force charge/discharge.
Solis Cloud
Best budget option
Solis inverters are popular in budget UK installations, and the Solis Cloud monitoring platform does the basics well. The interface is clear and straightforward — you get generation data, daily/monthly/yearly charts, and basic alerts. No panel-level monitoring, but solid for the price.
Huawei FusionSolar
Best for Huawei inverter users
FusionSolar is Huawei's monitoring platform, offering a clean interface with good battery integration for LUNA2000 battery users. The app shows generation, consumption, and battery status. Smart string-level monitoring helps identify issues without full panel-level data.
Growatt ShinePhone
Best budget all-rounder
Growatt's ShinePhone app works with their popular MIN and MIC inverter ranges. It provides a basic but functional monitoring experience with generation tracking, historical data, and simple alerts. A solid option for budget-conscious installations.
What should you monitor?
Here are the key metrics to keep an eye on. Not all monitoring systems show every metric — panel-level data requires optimisers or microinverters.
| Metric | What It Tells You | Available On |
|---|---|---|
| Daily/monthly/annual generation (kWh) | How much electricity your panels produce | All systems |
| Self-consumption ratio (%) | How much of your solar you use directly vs export | Most systems (with CT clamp) |
| Grid export (kWh) | Surplus energy sent to the grid (earns SEG payments) | Most systems (with CT clamp) |
| Grid import (kWh) | Energy drawn from the grid when solar isn't enough | Most systems (with CT clamp) |
| Battery state of charge (%) | Current battery level and charge/discharge cycles | Battery systems only |
| Panel-level performance | Output of each individual panel — spots shading or faults | SolarEdge, Enphase only |
| Inverter efficiency | How efficiently your inverter converts DC to AC power | Most systems |
| Revenue/savings tracker (£) | Estimated savings and SEG income in pounds | SolarEdge, Enphase, GivEnergy |
If your system doesn't have CT clamps installed, ask your installer about adding them. They typically cost £50–£100 and give you import/export data that is essential for understanding your true savings.
Generation meters vs monitoring apps
There are two ways to track your solar output, and they serve different purposes:
| Feature | Generation Meter | Smart Monitoring App |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Physical meter fitted next to your inverter | App/web dashboard linked to your inverter |
| MCS requirement | Yes — required for MCS certification | No — optional but recommended |
| Data shown | Total kWh generated (cumulative counter) | Real-time generation, consumption, export, import, battery |
| Alerts | None — you must check manually | Push notifications for faults, low output, etc. |
| Historical data | None — just a running total | Daily, monthly, annual charts & trends |
| Cost | Included in installation (MCS requirement) | Free with most modern inverters |
| Internet needed | No | Yes — WiFi or Ethernet connection |
Your generation meter is a legal requirement for MCS certification and SEG eligibility. But for day-to-day tracking, a monitoring app is far more useful and is included free with virtually all modern inverters.
How to check if your system is underperforming
If you suspect your solar panels aren't producing as much as they should, here's how to investigate:
Compare actual vs expected output
Your installer should have provided an estimated annual yield (in kWh). Compare your monitoring data against this figure. A well-performing system should achieve 90–110% of the estimate, depending on weather that year.
Account for seasonal variation
UK solar output varies hugely by season. Expect roughly 60–70% of your annual generation between April and September, and only 10–15% in December and January. Don't panic about low winter output — it's normal.
Check for sudden drops
A gradual decline is normal (panels degrade ~0.3–0.5% per year). A sudden drop usually means a fault — a tripped inverter, blown fuse, or failed panel. Check your monitoring app for error codes.
Compare panel-by-panel (if available)
If you have SolarEdge or Enphase, check individual panel output. One panel significantly lower than its neighbours suggests shading, a faulty cell, or a connection issue.
Contact your installer
If output is consistently below expected and you can't identify the cause, contact your installer. Most offer workmanship warranties of 5–10 years, and your panels have 25-year manufacturer warranties.
Smart meter integration
Your smart meter and your solar monitoring system serve different but complementary purposes. Here's how they relate:
Smart Meter
Measures total grid import and export. Your energy supplier uses this for billing. The in-home display (IHD) shows real-time usage but doesn't break down solar vs grid.
Solar Monitoring App
Shows solar generation, self-consumption, and battery status. With CT clamps, it also shows import/export — giving you a complete picture that your smart meter alone cannot.
Some energy suppliers (such as Octopus Energy) offer their own apps that pull smart meter data, showing your half-hourly import/export. Combining this with your inverter's monitoring app gives you the most complete view of your energy flows.
If your smart meter stops sending export readings after solar is installed, contact your energy supplier. They may need to reconfigure it to record export as well as import.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Monitoring
Do I need to pay for solar monitoring?
No. All major inverter brands (SolarEdge, Enphase, GivEnergy, Solis, Huawei, Growatt) include free monitoring via their app. There are no monthly fees. The only requirement is a WiFi connection to your inverter.
Can I monitor my solar panels without WiFi?
Your inverter will still generate electricity without WiFi, but you won't be able to view data remotely. Some inverters have a small screen showing basic output. For full monitoring, you need WiFi or an Ethernet connection. Some systems offer a cellular dongle as an alternative.
What is panel-level monitoring?
Panel-level monitoring shows the output of each individual panel, rather than just the total system output. This requires either power optimisers (SolarEdge) or microinverters (Enphase). It's useful for detecting shading issues or faulty panels, but adds cost to the system.
How do I know if a solar panel is faulty?
In a monitoring app, look for a panel producing significantly less than its neighbours (more than 15-20% lower). Also watch for error codes from your inverter, sudden drops in total output, or your inverter shutting down entirely. Contact your installer if you suspect a fault.
Is SolarEdge monitoring better than Enphase?
Both are excellent. SolarEdge offers slightly more detailed analytics and is the most widely installed system in the UK. Enphase is particularly strong for complex roof layouts with panels facing multiple directions. The choice usually depends on which inverter technology your installer recommends.
Can I add monitoring to an older solar system?
It depends on your inverter. Many older inverters lack WiFi capability but can be retrofitted with a monitoring dongle (typically £50–£150). If your inverter is very old, it may not support any monitoring. Ask your installer about options for your specific model.
How often does solar monitoring data update?
Most systems update every 5–15 minutes. SolarEdge updates every 15 minutes by default, Enphase every 5 minutes, and GivEnergy every 5–10 minutes. This is near-real-time for practical purposes — you don't need second-by-second data.
What's the best free solar monitoring app?
The best app depends on your inverter brand. For overall quality, the mySolarEdge and Enphase Enlighten apps are the most polished. GivEnergy's portal is best for battery owners. All are free — you don't need to pay for solar monitoring in 2026.
Related Guides
Maintenance Guide
Cleaning, monitoring, warranties, and lifespan.
Smart Export Guarantee
Best SEG tariffs compared. Earn 3–15p/kWh selling solar electricity back to the grid.
Battery Storage
Solar battery costs, sizing, popular models, and payback analysis.
Solar Panel Output
How much electricity solar panels produce by system size in the UK.
Sources
- Energy Saving Trust — Solar Panels — energysavingtrust.org.uk
- MCS — Microgeneration Certification Scheme — mcscertified.com
- SolarEdge — Monitoring Platform — solaredge.com
- Enphase — Enlighten Monitoring — enphase.com
- GivEnergy — Monitoring Portal — givenergy.co.uk
- Ofgem — Smart Export Guarantee — ofgem.gov.uk
Last updated: March 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the UK solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official MCS and Ofgem data and maintains relationships with MCS-certified installers across the UK.
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