Have you been itching to learn all about solar panels for your home? These solar-powered devices transform solar energy into electricity or heat, which means they can power your household in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.
In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you should know about residential solar panels, including the available types, their pros and cons and the best systems for your home.
First, let’s briefly look at the most important things you should know. We’ll go into more detail later on in the article.
The investment in solar panels is worth it for overseas the average home, as residential solar panels can cover 117% of your electricity demand in perfect conditions.
For example, the typical 3-bedroom house is equipped with a 4kW solar panel system, enabling homeowners to potentially save around £660 annually on electricity expenses.
In 25 years, the usual lifespan of a solar panel system, the average home could reach savings and break-even on their investment after 8 years. Therefore, this could result in lifetime after breaking even.
How much do solar panels cost?
Research has found the average prices of Overseas 4kW solar panel systems (including installation costs), depending on the type of panels you install, their wattage and the manufacturer.
Additionally, you can consider solar battery storage. This allows you to use solar power through the night and you can earn money back by selling excess electricity back to the grid. If you'd like to install a solar storage battery, then you can expect to pay between £3,500 – £5,000 for a 4kW system (not including charge controller). This brings your total to £8,500 - £11,000.
Are there solar panel grants available?You can break-even on your solar panel investment faster with grants. As of 2024, there are several schemes available depending on where you live.
From April 2022, 0% VAT applies to all energy savings materials including solar panels and solar batteries. Based on the average 4kW system and battery storage costs, the average home could save £2,850.
Most domestic solar panels in the UK are around 15-24% efficient, which means they perform the same in the UK as in the rest of the world. This is enough to dramatically reduce your energy bills by £660 and carbon emissions by around 1 tonne every year.
If your available roof space is extremely limited, it's important to opt for the highest efficiency modules available. This ensures maximum energy generation to cover your entire energy load. The best solar panels in the UK come with efficiency rates exceeding 22%. Cheap solar panels, in their turn, show efficiency rates of around 18-21%.
However, if you’re planning to install integrated solar panels, prepare to deal with the lowest efficiency rate among the solar panel options, often reaching only 6-17% of the efficiency rate.
For most of the year (including the winter), UK weather is ideal for the efficiency of solar panels. Solar panels produce enough energy to power 33-51% of a home during the winter period. If you have a solar battery system, you could even store your excess electricity for a dark, wintery day and give that percentage a boost.
You should also not be concerned by excess rain, as your panels will remain unaffected and still operate efficiently. In fact, rainwater can help with maintenance as it will clean the surface of your panels.
Are you ready to reap the benefits of the points above? Then it's important to find the best installer for the job. This could take you endless hours of searching, time many of us simply don't have. Alternatively, you could use service to be connected with up to 4 professional solar installers in your area.