Solar panels harness energy from the sun, converting it to free renewable electricity. In the past, it took as many as 14 years for homeowners to break even on the best solar panels. The good news is that systems installed in 2024 could pay for themselves in less than 10 years. And if you add a solar battery to your setup, you could recoup your investment even faster.
To save on energy bills and limit their reliance on fossil fuels, more and more homeowners in the UK are switching to solar power: in 2023, there were 229,618 solar panel installations across the nation, compared to just 172,020 in 2022[1].
In this guide, we’ll outline how solar panels work, whether they make sense for you and, importantly, how much you can expect to save on your energy bills.
For a three-bedroom house in the UK, the average cost of a solar panel system including installation is £9,600 with a solar battery, and around £7,100 without.
If you can afford to add solar panels to your property, it is worth the investment in the long run. As well as lowering your carbon footprint, you’ll benefit from significantly reduced energy bills.
Just ask Independent readers. According to a recent survey we conducted*, more than three quarters (77.20 per cent) of readers are happy with how much they’ve saved with their solar panels, and 77.66 per cent are satisfied with how much they spent to install them.
Despite the country’s reputation for grey weather, solar panels are highly effective in the UK and even produce electricity on cloudy days and throughout the winter.
For a three-bedroom house with a 4.5kW system, the average time for solar panels to pay back in Great Britain is 10.8 years. That’s if you also install a solar battery, and take advantage of the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). The exact length of time will depend on the initial cost, the size of the system and your home’s location.
We recommend that the average three-bedroom household in the UK installs a 12-panel, 4.5kW system, as well as a large solar battery, to cover most of its energy consumption. However, the exact number of panels you need will depend on your energy usage, the solar energy storage you install, and the power and efficiency of the solar panels you choose. If you want to be fully energy independent, you will need more panels and a solar battery big enough to store the excess energy you generate.
As long as you install a solar panel system powerful enough to cover your household’s energy usage, you can rely on solar electricity for all your energy needs.
How many solar panels you can fit on your roof depends on the size of your roof and the system you want to install. Keep reading to learn how to determine the size of solar panel system you need for your household and how much space you will require.
Most small-scale domestic solar panel systems in the UK qualify for permitted development rights, so you won’t have to apply for planning permission. However, some homes – such as World Heritage Sites, listed buildings and those in conservation areas – do require planning permission. If you live in such a property, you should check any such requirements before committing to purchasing solar panels.
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A solar panel, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) panel, is made up of solar cells that convert daylight into usable electricity or heat. The type of solar panel you choose will determine the efficiency of your system, how many panels you need, and what your system looks like.
You’ll need fewer of these panels to meet your energy needs, as they tend to be more energy efficient than polycrystalline panels. Thanks to their simple construction, solar panels with monocrystalline cells have a sleek design, making them popular with consumers concerned about aesthetics. As the name suggests, these panels’ cells are made from a single silicon crystal sheet.
These panels are around 13 to 16 per cent less efficient than monocrystalline panels, but they are more cost-effective. However, they also have a shorter lifespan than monocrystalline cells, and because you’ll need to install more panels, they take up more roof space. These panels’ cells are made of multiple silicon crystals, which are melted (rather than cut) into squares, that connect to form a solar panel.
The least energy-efficient of the three types (at around 7 per cent), thin-film solar panels are also the cheapest, as they need less material to make. Because of their lower efficiency and the fact that they degrade quicker than crystalline cells, they’re usually used in commercial or industrial solar developments rather than domestic setups.
When solar panels are installed on the roof of your home, a solar inverter converts the power from the panels into electricity. To store any excess electricity for future use, you can add an optional solar battery to your system. You can also opt to pair your solar system with a smart meter, which can track your energy consumption in real time. Depending on where you live, you’ll need to choose between grid-connected and stand-alone systems:
This kind of solar panel system is connected to the national grid, which you can tap into for instant power if your panels don’t produce enough electricity for your needs. That means you’ll never be without power. Also, if your system generates more electricity than your home needs, you can make a profit by exporting any excess power back to the grid via your energy supplier. To do this, you’ll need to register for the SEG, which you can only do if your system is installed by someone certified with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
These solar panel systems are not connected to the national grid, and they are most common in remote areas where connection is not possible. During daylight hours, stand-alone PV panels generate electricity to power your home, storing any excess electricity in solar batteries. Due to the cost of solar batteries, stand-alone systems have higher upfront costs than grid-connected systems.
Solar battery storage systems store any excess energy generated by your solar panels, allowing you to tap into this surplus energy whenever your panels are not generating any electricity, such as at night or in cloudy or low-light conditions.
Interestingly, we found the main reason Independent readers installed solar batteries was to take advantage of time-of-use rates. This means you can store excess energy when electricity rates are cheaper and use it when rates are at their most expensive, saving you more money on your bills.
A solar panel diverter redirects excess energy from solar panels to other appliances – most commonly an immersion heater. By taking the pressure off your boiler, you can save even more money on your energy bills (up to an average of £630 per year). A PV diverter will usually need to be replaced after about 12 years.
Run your most energy-draining appliances when your solar panels are generating the most power to maximise the benefits from your solar system. This could mean running high-power appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers, in the middle of the day. If you’re not home during these hours, apps and/or smart home systems can help you schedule these appliances to run while you’re away.
While they come at a high upfront cost, domestic solar panels tend to last about 25 years, and some premium models have an even longer lifespan. This means that you should break even on your initial investment long before you need to think about replacing your system. However, you may need to replace certain elements earlier. For example, solar inverters have a lifespan of around 15 to 20 years, while solar batteries may need replacing after 10 years.
When deciding on whether to invest in solar panels, cost is a major factor for most homeowners. As you consider your options, bear in mind the other important aspects listed below.
The efficiency of your solar panels, including how much electricity they will produce, can be affected by the angle of your roof. The geographical location of your home also plays an important role.
Between 30 and 40 degrees is the optimal roof angle for capturing maximum sunlight. Solar panels installed at these angles maximise sunlight exposure, allowing them to generate more electricity. Orientation is another important consideration, as in the UK, south-facing solar panels generate the most energy and save you more money on your energy bills.
So, in theory, if your panels are at a 30-degree tilt and are directly facing south, you could expect 100 per cent efficiency from your panels. That efficiency falls to roughly 81 per cent if your panels face directly east or west.
Meanwhile, if your panels face south, but are tilted 10 degrees, your efficiency falls to 91 per cent. A 60-degree tilt, on the other hand, brings their efficiency back up to 95 per cent.
Once you have worked out your roof’s angle and orientation, you need to assess how many hours a day (and at what times) your roof is in the shade.
Ideally, your roof should not be shaded during peak sunlight hours, which in the UK is between 10am and 4pm. You may not generate enough electricity to power your home if your roof is shaded during this time.
To make installing solar panels a worthwhile investment, your roof must have enough space for the number of panels your household needs. Our experts found that the average UK household needs a 4.5kW system, which requires around 29m2 of free roof space.
Unsurprisingly, solar panels add a significant amount of extra weight to your roof. Before you make any big decisions, check out product specification sheets on panel manufacturers’ websites to find a panel’s weight.
To give you a rough idea, we’ve calculated that the average solar panel system could weigh up to 280kg – based on a typical UK household requiring a 4.5kW system made up of 12 panels.
A pitched roof isn’t the only place you can install solar panels. Houses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from solar energy:
“People who will get the most out of solar panels are those with a relatively large electricity consumption, and that consume their electricity mostly during the day, rather than in the evening, night or early morning. Therefore, homes hosting small businesses, large households with people working from home at least part of the time, and those with electric (rather than gas) cookers and appliances largely used during the day will benefit most from having solar panels on their roofs.”
Unsure about getting solar panels? We have all the information you need to make a decision with confidence.
Deciding which solar panels are right for you will depend on your energy consumption, budget, installation requirements and more. As we reviewed various solar panels, the best options needed to have efficiency ratings of over 20 per cent and a solid power output of at least 420W.
During our research into 13 of the country’s top solar panel manufacturers, we considered factors such as efficiency, reliability and power output to determine the highest-quality options out there. In the end, we chose the SunPower Maxeon 7DC 445W panels as the best on the market by these metrics.
When it comes to choosing solar panels, bear in mind the factors below.
The average three-bedroom household in the UK requires a 4.5kW system to meet its energy needs, which equates to around 12 solar panels. The exact amount required, though, will depend on household size, energy consumption and available roof space.
Remember to weigh up the pros and cons of solar panels before making such a long-term investment. In terms of benefits, solar panels can:
81.15 per cent of Independent readers surveyed installed their solar panels to reduce their bills. And it works: such households report already saving at least £630 every year[2]. These savings can be even more significant depending on your location, solar panel system size and the amount to energy you typically use.
If you sign up for the SEG scheme, you can increase the return on your investment by selling any surplus energy back to the National Grid.
When homes have renewable energy systems such as solar panels, potential buyers are willing to pay an average of £2,038 more.
The average solar panel generates clean energy all year round, and it lasts 25 years or more. With a solar battery, you’ll also maintain your electricity supply in the event of a power cut.
Solar PV panels cut the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions your home produces. The UN’s research has found that PV panels produce between 25g and 32g of CO2 per kWh of electricity, compared to 400g per kWh generated by fossil fuels.
Adopting solar energy not only means you’ll be minimising your carbon footprint, it can also result in complete energy independence. Relying solely on solar energy to power your home means you won’t be affected by rises in non-renewable energy prices, or by local power cuts.
One of the ways to increase your energy independence is by installing a solar battery alongside your solar panels so you can store any surplus solar energy you’re not using immediately. This energy can be sold back to the National Grid in the form of SEG payments, or you can save it to use in your home later.
Estimated battery size required for an average 3-bedroom house to achieve energy independence in the UK
| Energy independence level (%) | Annual energy consumption (kWh) | Number of solar panels | Battery size (kWh) | Total system estimated cost | Annual savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54% | 3,350 | 12 | 2 | £8,766 | £423 | 13.2 years |
| 74% | 3,350 | 12 | 4 | £10,433 | £592 | 13.8 years |
| 96% | 3,350 | 12 | 6 | £12,100 | £761 | 14.2 years |
When the new Labour government was elected on 5 July 2024, the energy secretary Ed Miliband promised to triple the amount of solar power in the UK by 2030 and approved the construction of three solar farms that had previously been blocked by Conservative ministers. Plans also include re-examining solar panel restrictions for listed buildings and bringing in solar standards for new builds.
Miliband said, “I want to unleash a UK solar rooftop revolution. We will encourage builders and homeowners in whatever way we can to deliver this win-win technology to millions of addresses in the UK so people can provide their own electricity, cut their bills and, at the same time, help fight climate change.”
In September 2024, it was then confirmed that the Cottam Solar Project has permission to move forwards. This project consists of three generating stations producing more than 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity each. That should be enough to power 180,000 homes in the UK.
Despite the country’s reputation for being cloudy and rainy, solar panels do work in the UK. In fact, 45 per cent of Independent readers surveyed said their solar panels cover up to 75 per cent of their energy consumption.
While sunlight availability affects solar panel efficiency, panels aren’t dependent on direct sunshine; they can produce electricity under cloudy conditions through diffuse sunlight.
What’s more, the UK’s solar capacity has grown significantly over the years, from just 1,288 MW in 2000 to 1.2 million MW in 2022. Modern solar panels are designed to be effective in various conditions, and many systems include technologies that maximise efficiency regardless of weather.
Additionally, solar panels tend to operate more efficiently in cooler temperatures, when compared with hotter climates, so the less intense sun exposure of the UK can actually be an advantage.
The UK is seeing a rapid increase in the adoption of solar panels[3], with over 1.7 million homes now equipped with them. But where are the best places to harness solar energy?
The team at Independent Advisor Solar Panels has uncovered the UK solar hotspots[4], scoring each region out of 10 based on:
Which local authority in the UK is the best for solar panels?
| Rank | Location | Households with installations (2023/24) | Installed capacity (kWh) of solar PV panels | Average annual sunshine hours (1991-2020) | Solar hotspot score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pembrokeshire | 2.54% | 207,800 | 1,664 | 9.17 |
| 2 | Dorset | 1.30% | 333,568 | 1,904 | 9.16 |
| 3 | Cornwall | 1.56% | 612,215 | 1,732 | 9.11 |
| 4 | Wiltshire | 1.63% | 554,300 | 1,699 | 9.00 |
| 5 | Wealden | 1.71% | 83,623 | 1,748 | 8.99 |
| 6 | Chichester | 1.30% | 77,410 | 1,919 | 8.76 |
| 7 | Isle of Anglesey | 4.21% | 42,300 | 1,675 | 8.56 |
| 8 | Canterbury | 1.16% | 113,020 | 1,737 | 8.42 |
| 9 | East Hampshire | 1.69% | 52,500 | 1,706 | 8.42 |
| 10 | West Suffolk | 1.05% | 150,756 | 1,742 | 8.30 |
Although solar power can be generated even in cloudy conditions, sunnier areas are better placed to exploit it.
“We went for eight panels on the roof and a battery system. We thought there might be a possibility of getting an electric boiler in the future and car charging if we get a hybrid or electric car. The rise in energy prices has given us a big kick, and solar power gives us some sense of control.
“[Our app shows us that, right now,] the house is using 162W. We’re getting 331W off the roof, and the inverter is sending it to the house and charging the battery. A fully charged battery will easily last us a day, allowing us to do a laundry cycle, a dishwash, use the kettle and do some cooking, even on a cloudy day.”
For a typical UK family living in a three-bedroom semi-detached house and using around 3,350kW of energy a year, a 4.5kW solar system should be suitable. Without adding a battery, this system would cost about £7,100; with a battery, the total goes up to £9,600.
Bear in mind, though, that the final cost of solar panels will vary depending on your region, energy consumption, house size, the installer and manufacturer you choose and whether you decide to add on a solar battery (which increases your upfront costs but can save you as much as 90 per cent more on your energy bills) or a diverter.
“A potential hidden cost would be if your roof is not in a great condition. Before getting solar panels, get a survey done or ask a solar company to do a roofing survey. There could be damage to your felt, lead or tiles [depending on your roof], or loose cement work. If you have a 70- or 80-year old roof, and you want to install solar panels, you may need some work done first.”
Thinking about switching to solar but unsure how many solar panels you’ll need to power your home? Our short video gives you a simple formula to help you work out your solar needs.
Installing solar panels is a long-term investment for your home, as they typically take about 10-13 years to pay back. However, there’s a lot to gain from generating your own electricity; not only will solar panels pay for themselves, but they can also make you a healthy profit over time.
Introduced by the government, the SEG scheme allows homeowners with a solar panel system to sell their unused solar energy back to the National Grid. Many homeowners with solar panels opt in to SEG payments, enabling them to earn money from their excess solar energy and allowing them to make significant savings on their energy bills.
You can benefit from a SEG tariff if:
You don’t have to use the same supplier for your SEG tariff as for your standard energy bills, so make sure to shop around for the best price. You can find the full list of SEG suppliers on Ofgem’s website.
How much you can save on your energy bills depends on where you are in the country. The table below is based on a 4.5kW system for the average three-bedroom home in the UK, including SEG payments.
| Location | Nobody at home during the day, with a SEG tariff | Somebody at home for half the day, with a SEG tariff | Somebody at home all day, with a SEG tariff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | £594 | £628 | £675 |
| East Midlands | £536 | £563 | £602 |
| East of England | £614 | £648 | £696 |
| North East | £550 | £578 | £616 |
| North West | £515 | £544 | £583 |
| South East | £590 | £623 | £668 |
| South West | £545 | £573 | £613 |
| West Midlands | £536 | £564 | £602 |
| Yorkshire and Humber | £553 | £581 | £620 |
| Scotland | £440 | £463 | £496 |
| Wales | £506 | £534 | £572 |
| Northern Ireland (excl. SEG) | £217 | £269 | £342 |
Source: Independent Advisor, based on Ofgem unit rates for October to December 2024.
While there are many benefits to installing solar panels, there’s no denying they come with a costly initial cost. It will take a while to recoup your investment, but once your system is installed, you’ll quickly see savings on your energy bill.
Adding a storage battery to your system will increase your initial investment, but it can help you break even faster. With a solar battery, you can store electricity for future use, including for times when sunlight is unavailable. Our research shows that around 90 per cent of homeowners opt to add a solar battery to their system.
Several other factors affect how quickly you recover the cost of your solar panels, including:
| Property size | System size | Number of panels | System cost (inc. installation and battery) | Approximate savings (inc. SEG) | Break-even point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One bedroom | 1.5kW | 4 | £6,200 | £334.18 | 18.7 years |
| Two bedrooms | 3kW | 8 | £8,200 | £667.64 | 12.4 years |
| Three bedrooms | 4.5kW | 12 | £9,600 | £885 | 10.8 years |
| Four bedrooms | 6kW | 16 | £12,000 | £1,128.27 | 10.7 years |
Data based on average savings across Great Britain (SEG isn’t available in Northern Ireland), with someone being at home for half of the day, using Ofgem unit rates for October to December 2024.
The time it takes your solar panels to recover costs will depend on the continually fluctuating energy prices in the UK. When prices are high, your system will pay for itself more quickly, but lower energy prices and lower SEG tariffs will have the opposite effect.
Plenty of solar panel grants and schemes are available to help lower the cost of this major investment.
Eligible homes can get free solar panels through government grants, such as ECO4 in Great Britain, the Home Upgrade Scheme (HUG2) in England, and the Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest Scheme in Wales. However, these government-backed initiatives are usually aimed at homeowners and tenants that already receive certain benefits, or are in low-income households.
If you aren’t eligible for free solar panels, you can still save money through group-buying schemes such as Solar Together, or solar panel subscriptions from installers like Sunsave and Effective Home.
There’s also the benefits of selling your excess energy through a SEG tariff (not available in Northern Ireland), and the 0 per cent VAT rate that is applied to all solar purchases in the UK.
Almost four out of five (78 per cent) of the solar panel adopters we surveyed said government incentives mattered to them when they first considered installing solar panels.
A day or two before the installation begins, a team will erect scaffolding around your house. This is legally required for safe access to your roof. Check that the cost of the scaffolding is included in your installation company’s initial quote to avoid any unexpected fees.
Once the scaffolding is secure, your roof team will arrive with your solar panels. To ensure they have brought the correct panels, you can check the sticker on the back of the packaging for the model number, make and output.
Before fixing the solar panels to your roof, your installers will need to attach anchors. The installation team will mount your panels on the rails that are held in place by the anchors. To do so, they will remove a roof tile and then screw the anchor brackets into the rafters. They can then slot the tiles and rest them on the long arms of the anchors.
Your solar panel system includes frames made of lightweight aluminium rails. Your installer will customise the rails to fit the size of your roof and cut them on-site. The installation team will fix the rails to each anchor bracket and secure them with two bolts that run vertically and horizontally across the roof, forming a frame that your panels will sit on.
After your roof is fully prepared, The installation team can install your solar panels. They can mount and secure each unit with a clamp once they are certain it is in the correct position and at optimal angle.
For this last step, a certified electrician will connect your pre-wired panels to your solar inverter. The inverter converts the direct current electricity generated by your solar panels into the useable alternating current electricity that can power your home.
Once you know what the process involves, it’s time to seek out an installer.
The MCS is an accreditation that assures the quality of renewable technology products and installers. In 2018, the MCS became independent of the government, and it has certified more than 4,000 contractors in the UK to date. It isn’t necessary that you choose an MCS-accredited installer, but doing so will ensure they are compliant with industry standards and can be relied upon to do a professional job.
Furthermore, if you plan to use your solar system to benefit from SEG payments (the scheme that allows you to sell excess energy back to the grid), working with an MCS-accredited installer is a requirement.
The contractor must register the new solar panel installation in the MCS Installations Database no later than 10 working days after the work has been commissioned.
MCS accreditation isn’t the only consideration. The top five most important factors to keep in mind when choosing a solar panel installer according to Independent readers are listed below:
“It takes up to six weeks from the first inquiry to energy generation. Including connection, an installation typically takes four to five hours. Once the installation is finished, your panels can start generating energy immediately, as long as there’s enough light left.”
Solar panels are low maintenance. You won’t need to do a lot to keep them going. However, to make sure they perform as well as they can across their lifespan, you should consider:
As with any new investment or purchase, the most difficult part can be knowing where to look or which manufacturers you can trust.
Take advantage of the hundreds of hours our team of experts has spent researching different companies, manufacturers and solar panels. Learn which brands can be trusted – and which ones are most worthy of your money – with our lists of the best regional solar panel installers and the best national solar panel installers in the UK.
Our best overall solar panel installer is Project Solar, while Effective Home is most suited to smart homes, and we chose Glow Green as best for households on a budget.
Solar PV panels are the most popular solar option for powering homes, but you could choose to install solar thermal panels instead or alongside your PV panels. Obviously, both methods harness the sun’s power, but while a PV panel converts that power into electricity, a thermal panel uses it to heat a fluid – usually water – in an immersion heater, space heater or water tank.
In the summer, solar thermal panels can provide up to 90 per cent of your home’s hot water requirements. They can also save you between £135 and £255 on your energy bill and prevent up to 930kg of greenhouse gas emissions every year. In the table below, we break down the main differences between thermal and PV solar panels.
| Factor | Solar thermal panels | Solar PV panels |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Uses the sun’s energy to heat fluid, such as water in space heaters, water heaters or swimming pools[5] | Uses the sun’s energy to generate electricity |
| Efficiency in cloudy weather | More efficient than solar PV panels, even in overcast or windy weather. Efficiency can be as high as 90 per cent[6] | Around 15-20 per cent for monocrystalline and 13-16 per cent for polycrystalline |
| Installation cost | £2,500 – £5,400[7] | Around £5,200 – £8,000 |
| Maintenance | Higher maintenance due to more parts and the circulation of fluid[8] | Low maintenance – occasional cleaning of panels required |
| Energy storage | Tank needed to store the water that gets heated[9] | Battery storage allows for SEG payments |
| Best for | Homes with high hot water needs | Powering homes with solar energy |
| Lifespan | Up to 20 years[10] | Upwards of 30 years |
Our energy saving team has spent hundreds of hours researching solar panels so you don’t have to.
Hannah Holway is a writer who has eight years of experience in writing and editing across several different categories. As an Energy Saving Expert at Independent Advisor, Hannah specialises in solar panels and windows and how they can impact your energy bills.
She started her career as a freelance film and culture journalist, and has written for editorial platforms such as Wonderland and Hero magazine, as well as interviewing directors, actors and musical artists. While at Wonderland, she was also Social Media Editor for the brand and Contributing Editor for the publication’s sister print titles.
In 2020 she joined New York Magazine’s The Strategist UK, reporting on evolving shopping trends and writing about everything from period pants and pens to books and the next ‘status’ candle. She then used her consumer trends knowledge and expertise in her role as Shopping Writer for Woman and Home Digital, where she oversaw a range of shopping content, writing product reviews and other features in the realm of health and fitness, beauty, fashion and homes.
Hannah has also had her academic work published in journals and presented at conferences, and she has a BA and MA in Film Studies.
Connor Campbell is an experienced personal and business finance writer who has been producing online content for almost a decade.
Connor is the personal finance expert for Independent Advisor, guiding readers through everything they need to know about car insurance and home insurance. From how much it costs to the best insurance providers in the UK, he’s here to help you find the right policy for your needs.
In his capacity as writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet, Connor explored a number of topics close to his heart, such as the impact of our increasingly cashless society, and the hardships and heroics of British entrepreneurs. His commentary was featured in sites such as The Mirror, the Daily Express and Business Insider.
At financial trading firm Spreadex, meanwhile, his market commentary was featured in outlets such as The Guardian, BBC, Reuters and the Evening Standard.
Connor is a voracious reader with an MA in English, and is dedicated to making life’s financial decisions a little bit easier by doing away with jargon and needless complexity.
As Independent Advisor’s energy saving expert, Katharine, a keen advocate for sustainability, is an authority on solar panels, double glazing, and cutting-edge renewable energy technologies. Her dedication merges with a commitment to enlighten and steer readers toward embracing eco-friendly solutions and the latest trends in sustainability.
With over 10 years of experience, she has worked with some of the UK’s leading companies and publications, including the Federation of Master Builders, Architectural Digest, and Denon Construction.
Katharine is particularly passionate about consumer causes and animal welfare and has art, philosophy, and psychology degrees. She lives with her sled dogs in East Sussex.
Professor Davide Dionisi is a chemical engineer and Professor of Engineering at University of Aberdeen. His areas of expertise and research include: renewable energy, bioenergy, biological wastewater treatment, valorisation of organic waste. Professor Dionisi is programme co-ordinator for the MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering and owns a 2.9 kW solar PV system at his house in Aberdeen.
This will depend on your specific home insurance policy, but you will need to tell your insurance provider if you have solar panels, either when you take out the policy or when you have them fitted. Panels are considered an asset, so installation may affect your premium, and installing them will likely affect the cost to rebuild your home if required, which could also affect your premium.
A solar panel system can power an entire household, so long as the amount of energy it generates is enough to meet the household’s consumption. Adding a solar battery can help, as you can store excess energy produced during the day for times when the panels aren’t generating electricity (usually at night).
Homes with solar panels need a good amount of direct sunlight to operate at maximum efficiency. However, solar panels do work during the winter months, as well as on cloudy days, and if your panels aren’t generating enough electricity to power your home, you can turn to the National Grid.
Living off-grid essentially means generating all of your required power independently, without relying on public utility services for things like water and electricity. Installing a solar panel system large enough to cover your household’s energy needs is one step towards off-grid, along with installing small wind turbines and using non-centralised water sources.
Off-grid living is certainly a way to live more sustainably, as well as being unaffected by issues like power cuts and rising energy bills. However, it’s an expensive option that requires time, energy and space; enough roof space to install the right amount of solar panels, for instance. Additionally, if you wanted to sell your unused energy back to the National Grid and increase your savings this way, this would prevent stop your household from being truly off-grid.
Yes, you do need to notify your electricity supplier if you plan on installing solar panels. Usually, your installer will register your system with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) at the time of installation, but you should check who this responsibility lies with before the installation goes ahead.
Simply put, no; cheaper solar panels tend to be less efficient and have a shorter lifespan than premium models. This means your panels probably won’t generate enough electricity to meet your home’s needs, and they also might not last as long, meaning you’d need to replace them much sooner than if you’d paid a bit more upfront.
As well as driving down your energy bills and earning you money through SEG payments, solar panels can also increase the value of your home if you decide to sell it. Research conducted by FirstPort in 2023 found that potential buyers are seeking eco-friendly features, and they’re willing to pay an average of £2,038 more for a home with solar panels already installed.
* Independent Advisor survey of 1,544 solar panel owners, June 2024.
[1] MCS, 2023: A record-breaking year for MCS and small-scale renewables, 8 January 2024.
[2] Energy Saving Trust,Solar panels. December 2023
[3] Statista, Cumulative installed solar PV capacity worldwide from 2000 to 2022, 11 October 2023.
[4] By using the MCS’s Data Dashboard, we discovered the areas in the UK that have the most and fewest solar installations. To find the solar capacity in different UK areas and regions, we used ONS data on Regional Renewable Statistics. We then used the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD) and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) data to source solar panel installations to the end of December 2023 as a percentage of total homes upgraded for all scheme applications. We also used Met Office Data to find the average annual sunshine hours in UK areas over 30 years (1991-2020).
[5] Solar Tech Advisor, Solar PV vs Solar Thermal: What’s the Difference?, February 2022.
[6] Ibid, 2.
[7] Solar Guide, Solar PV vs Solar Thermal.
[8] Ibid, 2.
[9] Spirit Energy, Solar Thermal vs Solar PV.
[10] Ibid, 2.
