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Solar panels

Our complete guide to getting solar panels for your home in 2024

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Solar panels explained

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.

How much does it cost to purchase solar panels?

For a three-bedroom house in the UK, the average cost of a solar panel system is £9,600 with a solar battery and around £7,100 without.

Are solar panels worth the investment?

Yes. 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 our 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.

Are solar panels really effective in the UK?

Yes, solar panels are highly efficient in the UK and produce electricity even on cloudy days and throughout the winter.

When do solar panels pay back?

For a 3-bedroom house with a 4.5kW system, The average time for solar panels to pay back in Great Britain is 11.7 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.

Can I generate all my electricity from solar panels?

Yes, as long as the system is powerful enough to cover your usage.

Will solar panels fit on my roof?

That 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.

Will I need planning permission for my solar panels?

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.

How to get a solar panel quote with Independent Advisor

1. Complete our short form

Complete our short form to request solar quotes for your home

2. Get a free quote

Get free, no obligation quotes from up to 5 local solar installers

3. Compare solar quotes

And pick the option that best suits your needs

What are solar panels?

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.

Types of solar panels

Monocrystalline cells

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, the cells of these panels are made from a single silicon crystal sheet.

Polycrystalline cells

These panels are often 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 they have more panels, they take up more roof space. The cells of these panels are made of multiple silicon crystals, which are melted (rather than cut) into squares, that connect to form a solar panel.

Thin-film cells

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.

How do solar panel systems work?

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:

Grid-connected

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).

Stand-alone

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.

Do I need a solar battery?

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 at their cheapest, before using that energy when rates are at their most expensive.

What is a panel diverter?

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.

How can you best utilise the solar energy you generate?

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 certain appliances to run.

How long do solar panels last?

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.

Are solar panels right for your home?

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.

Is the angle of your roof optimal?

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 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 the most 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. 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 title, on the other hand, has an efficiency of 95 per cent.

Is your roof shaded?

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.

Do you have enough roof space?

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 4kW system, which requires around 29m2 of free roof space.

Is your roof sturdy enough?

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 4kW system made up of 16 panels.

Where else can you put solar 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:

Solar panels on a flat roof: you can still install solar panels on a flat roof. As with any other roof, you’d need to make sure it doesn’t get too much shade, and can support the weight of your chosen system. You may also need to use a tilted mounting rack to maximise your system’s efficiency.
Solar panels on a garage roof: if you want to maximise your roof space, it’s possible to put solar panels on your garage roof. Again, you’ll need to make sure it can support the weight of the panels, and consider a tilted mount if your garage roof is flat.
Garden solar panels: if you have enough space, and your garden gets a lot of sun, you could purchase standalone, ground-mounted solar panels.

Find out more about solar panels

Unsure about getting solar panels? We have all the information you need to make a decision with confidence.

Best solar panels Solar panel costs Solar panel grants Best solar panel installers Solar battery storage Solar panel size

What are the best solar panels for you?

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 6AC 445W panels as the best on the market by these metrics.

When it comes to choosing solar panels, bear in mind the factors below.

Efficiency: solar panel efficiency refers to how well the panels capture solar energy to produce electricity. The higher your panels’ efficiency rating, the more electricity they will produce

Power degradation and lifespan: power degradation refers to the gradual, year-on-year loss of usable energy your panels can generate, which has a bearing on the system’s lifespan

Product warranty: the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 years, so suppliers should offer a long warranty – ideally the same number of years as the panels are expected to last. Our researchers found that the average warranty is around 25 years, though some stretch to a lifetime guarantee

Size: there’s no standard size for solar panels. To figure out how many panels will fit, you’ll need to know your roof’s size or have a solar installer measure it for you. You’ll also need to consider how many panels your household needs in order to meet your energy consumption requirements

How many solar panels are needed to power a typical house?

The average three-bedroom household in the UK requires around 12 solar panels to meet its energy needs, which equates to a 4.5kW system. The exact amount required, though, will depend on household size, energy consumption and available roof space.

Benefits of solar panels

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:

1 Cut down your energy bills

81.15 per cent of Independent readers 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.

2 Help you profit from your excess electricity

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

3 Increase the value of your property

When homes have renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, potential buyers are willing to pay an average of £2,038 more.

4 Provide a constant supply of electricity

The average solar panel generates clean energy all year round, and it lasts up to 25 years or more. With a solar battery, you’ll also maintain your electricity supply in the event of a power cut.

5 Lower your carbon footprint

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.

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Can your house be energy independent with solar panels?

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

Source: Independent Advisor.

What the new UK Government is proposing for solar panel systems

“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.”

Do solar panels work in the UK?

Despite the country’s reputation for being cloudy and rainy, solar panels do work in the UK. In fact, 45.43 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 1,288MW in 2000 to 1.2 million MW in 2022. Modern solar panels are designed to be effective in various conditions, with many systems including 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’s solar hotspots: best areas for solar power in 2024

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:

Places that had solar panels installed in the highest percentage of total households
The installed capacity of solar panels in each area
The average number of sunshine hours each year across the UK
The councils with the most solar installations as part of the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) Scheme and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) in 2023
The biggest solar farms in the UK

Which local authority in the UK is the best for solar panels?

Pembrokeshire is the local authority leader, with 2.54% of homes having installations and an impressive average sunshine of 1,664 hours.
Dorset and Cornwall follow closely, benefitting from high sunshine hours

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

Which areas are the sunniest?

Although solar power can be generated even in cloudy conditions, sunnier areas are better placed to exploit it.

In terms of local authorities, the Isle of Wight enjoys the most sunshine, with an average of 1,976 hours annually
Chichester and Hastings follow closely, with 1,919 and 1,914 hours, respectively, which underscores the South’s reputation for being sunnier than the rest of the country

The Sands

How do solar panel adopters, the Sands, use their solar panel system?

“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.”

The Sands

How much do solar panels cost?

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 on your energy bills) or a diverter.

Solar panel cost calculator

See how much it would cost to get solar panels installed on your home.
We’ve crunched the numbers so you don’t have to.

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The data used to power this calculator is sourced from various solar companies and industry bodies, including the UK government, the Energy Saving Trust and Ofgem. Please note that costs are estimated and based on a UK average, and should not be taken as the exact price you would pay. If you’d like to get an accurate quote for solar panels, then you can use this form to get an estimate from one of our trusted partners.

How to calculate your solar needs

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.

How much can you save with solar panels?

Installing solar panels is a long-term investment for your home, as they typically take about 10-13 years to pay out. However, there’s a lot to gain from generating your own electricity, and not only will solar panels pay for themselves but they can also make you a healthy profit over time.

What is the Smart Export Guarantee?

Introduced by the government, the SEG scheme allows UK 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.

How much can you save in your area?

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	Somebody at home for half the day	Somebody at home all day
Greater London	£574	£603	£644
East Midlands	£518	£541	£573
East of England	£594	£623	£663
North East	£534	£557	£589
North West	£496	£519	£552
South East	£571	£599	£638
South West	£527	£551	£585
West Midlands	£518	£541	£574
Yorkshire and Humber	£533	£556	£588
Scotland	£425	£445	£473
Wales	£489	£513	£546
Northern Ireland (excl. SEG)	£198	£246	£312

When will you break even on solar panels?

While there are many benefits to installing solar panels, there’s no denying they come with a costly initial investment. It will take a while to recoup your investment, but once your system is installed, you’ll quickly see savings on your energy bill.

How soon can you break even with a battery?

Adding a storage battery to your system will increase your initial investment and 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:

The amount of sunshine and daylight available in your area
The number of panels installed and your roof’s size and position
The current energy rate and the SEG tariff (the amount of money you’ll receive for the electricity you export to the national grid)
The amount of energy generated by your solar system
The solar panel grants, if any, you use to help offset the upfront cost

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	£305	20.5 years
Two bedrooms	3kW	8	£8,200	£609.27	13.6 years
Three bedrooms	4.5kW	12	£9,600	£829.91	11.7 years
Four bedrooms	6kW	16	£12,000	£1,042.55	11.6 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.

The time it takes your solar panels to recover costs will depend on the near-constant effect of continually fluctuating energy prices in the UK. When prices are high, your system will pay for itself more quickly. However, lower energy prices and lower SEG tariffs will have the opposite effect.

Are there solar panel grants and financing options?

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 the Energy Company Obligation initiative, as well as other available schemes and funding options. However, these government-backed initiatives are usually aimed at households that already receive certain benefits.

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 step-by-step guide to solar panel installation

1 The scaffolding goes up

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.

2 The roof team arrives

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.

3 The anchors are attached

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.

4 The solar panel rails are installed

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.

5 The solar panels are installed

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.

6 The electrics are set up

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.

How to find an installer

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 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 have the essential experience 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), it is essential you work with an MCS-accredited installer.

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:

Tom Armstrong

Director, Project Solar

How long does it take to get solar panels installed?

“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.”

Tom Armstrong

Director, Project Solar

Which solar panel companies are the best?

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.

For example, our best overall solar panel installer is Project Solar, while Effective Home is best for smart homes, and Glow Green best for people on a budget.

Should I install solar thermal panels alongside solar PV panels?

Solar PV panels are often the most popular solar option for powering homes, but you could also choose to install solar thermal panels instead – or alongside your solar 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 930kgs 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 generating 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

Meet our experts

Our energy saving team has spent hundreds of hours researching solar panels so you don’t have to.

Hannah Holway

Home Tech Writer

Katharine Allison

Energy Saving Writer

Tom Armstrong

Director, Project Solar

Kevin Henney

Director, ECO4 Hub

Solar panels FAQs

Do solar panels affect home insurance?

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.

How do you maintain solar panels?

It’s important to regularly keep up with solar panel cleaning and maintenance throughout your system’s lifespan. Luckily, solar panels are fairly low-maintenance and you only need to check on them around once a year; maintenance includes removing old leaves and tree branches, hosing them down to remove debris, and getting them checked regularly by a certified service provider.

Can you run a house just on solar panels?

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).

Do solar panels work in winter?

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.

Can you live off-grid with solar panels?

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.

Do you need to tell your electricity supplier you have solar panels?

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.

Is it worth buying cheap solar panels?

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.

How much will solar panels increase the value of your home by?

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.

Hannah Holway

Home Tech Writer

Hannah Holway is a writer with eight years of experience in writing and editing across several different categories. As a home tech expert at Independent Advisor, Hannah researches, tests and writes about broadband services and home security gadgets.

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.

Sources

* 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.