Are you looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint but you’re unsure where to start? Not to worry, living sustainably is within your grasp! And it could all start with installing solar panels.
More people all over the UK are switching to green solutions. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, 40% of UK electricity currently comes from renewable energy sources including solar, wind, biomass and hydropower. Out of all the renewable sources of electricity, solar panels are the most affordable for regular households.
So, how much do solar panels cost? How much can you save by having solar panels? Today, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about going solar.
The Cost Of Solar Panels
Getting solar panels means that you’re investing in your future. Having a solar panel system installed can seem pricey, but it’ll help you cut bills in the long run.
An average solar panel installation for the home in the UK costs anywhere between £3,500 to £7,300. However, this might not include battery storage as a solar battery storage system usually comes at an extra cost.
The cost depends on the type of solar panel, the size of your house, the brand, and extras. How much energy you consume and the shape of your roof will determine what type of solar panel is right for you.
Whatever the case, you can get discounts by availing packages from reputable suppliers. If you choose to work with ESE Group, you’ll notice that our solar PV panels come as part of a package with solar batteries for complete solar panel systems at competitive prices.
Solar Panel Packages
No two properties are the same. That’s why it’s best if you get bespoke design and installation services to ensure your solar panels generate enough solar electricity for your home. In general, the average cost of solar panels is £6,995 for a four-bedroom home.
With this price, expect to receive a complete system. It includes the following:
1. High-Performance 400w Panels
This is the bulk of your solar panel installation cost.
Photovoltaic panels, or PV panels, harness energy from the sun and convert it to DC electricity.
The good news is that with technology today, you don’t need direct sunlight to do it! It’s possible to capture sunlight even on a cloudy day.
That being said, just one panel is worth up to £550. Luckily, you can get them for cheaper if you buy them with a package.
2. A Hybrid Inverter
After your energy gets converted to DC electricity, you’ll need a solar panel inverter to turn it into AC electricity.
A brand-new inverter can set you back £500 to £1,500.
Here’s a great tip:
When you’re buying one, make sure you select an inverter that can last as long as your solar panels.
Inverters are notorious for breaking because of voltage spikes. They usually last for five to seven years, max. It’s why you should look out for packages that sell them with a lengthy warranty!
3. Battery Storage
Solar panels produce the most energy in the day.
Batteries are essential because it’s a way for you to store this energy and use it at night. You lose up to 70% of your electricity if you don’t have a battery to store it in! It also means you’ll need to rely on energy from the National Grid to power your home during this time (and you’ll pay more as a result).
The most affordable batteries are worth £3,000. The price of each battery changes based on the size and brand.
4. Maintenance
Solar panel system providers charge about £20 per month on average for maintenance. The price will likely include 4k images of your solar panels taken with a drone.
Trained experts carefully inspect your PV array and MC4 connectors to identify potential issues. Having this service will give you the peace of mind that your system is performing at its peak and it’s essential to think about if you choose to install solar panels.
If you choose the full solar system package, you can get 10 years of maintenance at zero cost with ESE!
We think it’s a great deal because you can be sure you’ll get the most returns from your investment.
Maintenance Plan Inclusions
Here are more perks of having regular maintenance done on your solar panels.
- Free inverter replacement
- Checking of solar panels
- Repair of faulty parts, like AC/DC isolators, cables, and generation meters fast
5. Access to a Monitoring App
Monitoring your system’s energy production, consumption, and storage is as simple as looking at your phone. You can do this anytime from even remote locations.
Having an app like this affects how much you save. It’s why solar panel packages should have this service included for free, like it does with ESE.
Solar panel installation costs can be high, so look for perks like these to ensure your solar panel system is worth the cost.
6. Technical Support, Detailed Reports, and Consultations
Here’s what we like about solar system packages. You get support from trained professionals without spending anything!
You can get telephone support and call qualified staff to check on your solar system when necessary.
With this, you’re sure to get state-of-the-art technology, professional services, safety, and peace of mind.
Other services include:
- A survey of your property to determine the repair of solar panels
- Comprehensive reports on the breakdown of your energy consumption
- Guidance for how to efficiently use your solar panels
- Full cost layouts
- Customised designs by experts
7. Warranties
Solar systems involve a lot of mechanical parts, all of which should have warranties! Having this will protect you from excessive costs in the future.
With this package, you get a 10-year warranty on your system’s PylonTech, US2000 batteries. Your hybrid inverter should have a 10-year warranty and free replacement as well.
Plus, each component should work beyond this timeframe. This means you may get guarantees of up to 25 years from your supplier.
Solar Panel Extras and Upgrades
There are a few things you might want that aren’t included in the original solar panel price. Individual prices may vary, so it’s best to get in contact with your solar system provider.
These are the extras and upgrades worth considering.
1. Tigo Energy Optimisers
Tigo optimisers are devices that you install on your solar panels. They ensure that each panel performs at its peak by giving you real-time updates.
What we love about this is you can identify which individual panel is underperforming. You can even avoid the hassle of not knowing which piece in your system is faulty.
Aside from this, having an optimiser makes your system safer. You can take advantage of the rapid shutdown feature in case of emergencies.
2. iBoost+
If you have a hot water tank and excess energy, then the iBoost+ may be the green solution you need.
The iBoost+ is a tool that detects if your PV system produces excess energy. After detection, it redirects this energy to heat water for your home.
What this does is save you money by preventing your excess energy from getting sent to the national grid.
3. SolarEdge
SolarEdge is a smart inverter that can manage all of your energy needs. Not only that, it can work with other inverters in your vicinity. It’s a way for you to become an energy producer for the grid (which means you can make some money selling that energy to the national grid via the smart export guarantee).
Traditional inverters and panels can affect each other’s performance. If one is faulty, the whole system underperforms.
You don’t have to worry about this if you have a smart inverter like SolarEdge. It’ll connect each panel to a chip that’ll maximise your production.
What’s more, you can track your performance and catch excessive energy usage with the SolarEdge monitoring app.
4. PV+
A PV+ is a device that goes between your inverter and your consumer unit. Its purpose is to control the voltage of electricity with its surge and lightning protection.
Your inverter can get damaged whenever a power surge happens. Having a PV+ protects your inverter. It potentially saves you £1,500, which is the cost of replacing a broken inverter.
5. Electric Vehicle Charging
Do you have an electric vehicle? Are you thinking of getting one in the future? If so, then we have great news for you. You can get OZEV-approved chargers compatible with your solar power system!
An EV charger will speed up your charging by 60% compared to regular socket chargers. What’s more, there’s a £500 government incentive for people with electric cars if you’re looking to install an EV charger so it might not even affect solar panel prices for you.
With an electric car, you only spend £4 per 100 miles by charging it at your home as well.
Interested? Here are two of the best brands of EV chargers:
CITA Smart 7
The CITA Smart 7 is a 7.2 kWh commercial charger for electric vehicles. It’s OZEV-approved, meaning you can get a grant.
This charger stands out because of its compact design and simple app. You can get it for £850 with installation.
Eco Smart EV Charger
The Eco Smart takes it a step further by allowing you to decide when to charge your vehicle. It means you get to pick a time when electricity is at its cheapest.
You can save up on your electricity bills for an initial investment of £1050.
If You Have a Bigger Home
For homes with more than four bedrooms, £7,999 can get you six large solar panels, a hybrid inverter, and battery storage.
Solar systems for commercial spaces can have up to 20 panels within one system! Of course, expect to pay more if you’ll buy upgrades and extras for your roof space.
Save With Your Solar Panels
What we like about solar panels is that you can make your money back over time. That’s because you can reduce your billing amount by harnessing sunlight.
Here’s how much you can expect to save.
Solar Panel Cost Savings
After your system gets installed, you’ll immediately notice the difference in your electricity bill.
According to Energy Saving Trust (based on fuel prices as of October 2023) you can save anywhere between £335 to £525 depending on how much time you spend at home – the more you’re at home during the day the better your savings will be.
However, not all homes are the same. Some households can save £1,587 on its electricity bill per year. That means your solar system can pay for itself within five to seven years!
Your supplier should provide a full breakdown of your energy consumption versus your energy generation. With this, you can see how much energy you produce, and figure out how long it’ll take to break even. But in almost all cases average solar panel costs will be covered by the savings you make on your bills due to those high electricity prices becoming a problem of the past.
Solar Panel Carbon Footprint Savings
In addition to reducing your bills, you also lessen your environmental impact.
People with solar systems can expect to cut 837 kg of carbon dioxide each year. That’s equivalent to planting 160 trees, or riding 24,905 kilometres in your car!
Solar Panel Time Savings
Having solar panels installed is quick and easy. You don’t need any planning permission to start.
All you have to do is provide your details, and an energy system designer will visit your property within days.
After this, you’ll receive a proposal. Once you approve, you could have your full system installed within a day!
The faster it’s installed, the earlier you can start saving on electricity bills.
Earn Money With Your Solar Panels
Now, you may think that solar panels are expensive. However, the truth is they pay for themselves in more ways than one.
Did you know it’s possible to get rid of your electricity bills, and even earn extra cash through the smart export guarantee?
Using solar panels means that you generate free energy. Any excess gets sent to the grid, and you get paid for every unit of electricity. Through this, you can get more returns than your initial investment.
Solar Panel Grants and Financial Support
Having good energy management and an installer certified by the government can help you gain grants. It can lessen the total solar system price, too!
Here are some ways you might get financial help.
0% VAT
According to the 2022 Spring Statement to the Parliament, UK households that install energy savers don’t have to pay VAT. It includes households with solar systems.
This offer is set to last until 2027, but it’s always a good idea to get in early to ensure you benefit from the UK government’s tax relief on energy saving materials.
Feed-In Tariffs
FEED-IN TARIFFS ENDED TO NEW APPLICANTS IN 2019. With that said, the following information is relevant to those who were already part of the feed-in tariff scheme before it closed.
People can get paid for the electricity they give to the grid with a feed-in tariff.
To do it, you’ll need the following:
- An MSC certificate from your provider
- A smart meter that measures your output at 30-minute intervals
- Confirmation from your distribution network operator that they know about your installation
Once you get past the requirements, you can sell your excess electricity for about 4.1p/kWh per unit of power.
OZEV
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles is a government agency that issues grants to those who install EV charge points on their property.
You can get up to £350 or 75% off if you install an electric vehicle charger into your home.
However, if you plan on building an EV infrastructure, you can get £30,000 or 75% off your cost! An individual can get this assistance 30 times each year as well.
Other Ways to Get Financial Support
Another way to make purchasing a solar system easy for you is by getting the right payment plan. You can loan anywhere from £500 to £50,000 and pay it back in instalments.
To receive funds, you’ll have to apply for them, of course.
Yet, we believe that it’s an easy option to choose. That’s because you can take the money saved from your electricity bill each month. You then use that to pay your loan!
FAQs
I Have a Three Bedroom Home. How Much Will the Solar System Price Be?
The cost of solar panels for a 3-bedroom house is £6,995 or less. This should include solar panels, a battery, an inverter, and 10 years of maintenance.
It’s best to get in contact with an installer that’ll survey your property. Each property size is different, and it’s better to have an exact quotation.
Can I Get Solar Power Even If It’s Cloudy?
Yes! We know that the UK gets many cloudy days each year. That’s why photovoltaic technology is the best solution for this.
PV solar panels can harness sunlight even if it’s cloudy outside. This is great for your wallet since a system that’s producing energy efficiently helps you save in the long run.
Why Is Having a Battery Important?
Your solar panels will still work even without batteries. However, without a way to keep your electricity, you’ll end up sending your surplus to the grid.
At night, when there’s no more sunlight to produce electricity, you’ll have to tap into the grid. In short, you’ll get charged for this energy.
Having a battery saves you from buying electricity from the grid by storing the energy you make in the morning.
How Can You Tell If Your Solar Panel Supplier Is Good?
Your solar panels for home cost shouldn’t break the bank. A good supplier will have affordable solar panels, a high Trustpilot rating, and accreditations from many organisations – like us here at ESE.
They should be with you throughout the whole process as well. Moreover, the best ones are easy to reach in terms of customer support and maintenance.
Why Should I Get Solar Panels?
Having a solar system increases the value of your home and saves you from electricity bills. You can even start earning your money back if you export electricity to the grid.
To add to this, you contribute to the environment by lessening your carbon footprint. We believe that solar panels are worth the cost!
Solar Panel Costs UK Conclusions
Solar energy is one of the most accessible green solutions for households and offices in the UK.
It may seem daunting to make the initial investment, but there are ways to decrease your solar panel for home cost. You can buy it through packages or get access to government grants, tariffs, and other financial assistance.
Acquiring upgrades for your solar panel is worth it as well. That’s because they help maintain energy efficiency and prolong your system’s lifespan. Harnessing solar energy at your home is the best way towards power independence and really taking control of your energy bills!
