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Solar panels use the sun’s power to generate free renewable electricity. While it used to take around 14 years to break even with the best solar panels (also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels), systems installed in 2024 could pay for themselves in less than 10 years, even less if you use a solar battery.
More and more homeowners are switching to solar to save on energy bills and limit their reliance on fossil fuels: in 2023, there were 229,618 solar panel installations compared to just 172,020 in 20221. In this guide, we’ll outline how solar panels work, whether or not they’re right for you and, importantly, how much you can expect to save if you install them.
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The average cost of a solar panel system in the UK for a three-bed house is £9,000 with a solar battery, and around £7,000 without a battery.
Yes, solar panels for homes are worth the investment if you can afford them – you’ll benefit from significantly reduced energy bills.
Yes, solar panels are highly efficient in the UK and can even generate electricity on cloudy days and throughout the winter months.
On average, solar panels pay back after 12 years, but some can pay back within less than ten years, less still with a solar battery. The exact length of time will depend on the initial cost, the size of the system, and your house’s location.
Yes, as long as the system is powerful enough to cover your usage.
That depends on the size of your roof and the system you want to install. Read on to find more about determining the size of the system you need and the space it will require.
Most small-scale domestic solar arrays in the UK qualify for permitted development rights, which means they won’t require planning permission. Some houses, however – such as listed buildings, or those in conservation areas or World Heritage sites – will require planning permission.
A solar panel (also known as a photovoltaic (PV) panel) is a collection of solar cells that convert daylight into useable electricity or heat. How your system does this depends on the type of solar panel you choose.
There are two types of solar panels:
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are made up of multiple cells containing conductive materials, most commonly silicon. These release electrons when exposed to sunlight, which creates a flow of energy. This energy is captured and converted, and the current is combined with the cell’s wattage to determine how much electricity is created. The most common panels used for residential solar systems are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film.
Monocrystalline cells. They tend to be more energy efficient, soyou’ll need fewer panels to meet your energy needs compared with their less expensive counterparts, polycrystalline panels. They’re popular with consumers who want their solar panels to look good, as their simple construction results in a sleek design. Monocrystalline solar panels are called this because their cells are made out of a single ‘crystal’ of silicon.
Polycrystalline cells. While these panels are cheaper, they are also around 13 to 16 per cent less efficient than monocrystalline panels. Polycrystalline cells also have a shorter lifespan than monocrystalline cells, and require more roof space to make room for more panels. They’re made of multiple silicon crystals which are melted, rather than cut, into squares that connect to form a solar panel which means there’s less room for electrons to move around.
Thin-film cells. The least energy efficient of the three types of solar cells, at around 7 per cent efficiency, thin-film solar panels require less material to make and are the cheapest option. Because of their lower efficiency, we usually only recommend them for large-scale commercial or industrial solar developments; they also degrade quicker than crystalline cells, so they’re not usually used in domestic setups. However, they perform extremely well in low-light conditions, and have even been found to produce electricity in bright moonlight.
Simply put, solar panel are installed on a home’s roof. A solar inverter converts power from the panels into electricity for the home, and an optional solar battery can store excess electricity to be used another time. You may choose to pair your solar system with a smart meter, a device that can track your energy consumption in real-time.
Grid-connected. A grid-connected solar panel system is connected to the National GridIf your panels generate less electricity than your home requires, you’ll have instant access to power from the grid, which means you’ll never be without electricity. Should your system generate more electricity than your home needs, this can be exported back to the grid via your energy supplier for a profit, provided you are signed up to the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
Stand-alone. Stand-alone solar PV panels are not connected to the National Grid. These types of systems are most common in remote locations where connection to the grid isn’t possible. During daylight hours, stand-alone panels generate electricity that can be used to power your home, and they store any excess electricity in solar batteries for use when your panels aren’t supplying any electricity – mostly at night. Stand-alone systems are more costly than grid-connected systems, primarily due to the cost of solar batteries.
Solar battery storage systems are designed to store excess energy from your solar panels. You can then use this surplus solar to power your home at times in the day when your panels are not generating any electricity, for example at night, or in cloudy or low-light conditions.
Solar batteries are a good idea for people who don’t want to rely on grid electricity, which means being unaffected by local power cuts. However, a solar battery will set you back around £4,000, on top of your initial solar panel system investment.
A solar panel diverter redirects excess energy from solar panels to other appliances, most commonly an immersion heater, this means your boiler won’t have to work quite hard, allowing you to save even more money on your energy bills.
You could save up to £630 per year using a PV diverter, and it’ll need replacing after around 12 years.
Although a costly investment, solar panels for homes have an average lifespan of 25 years, and can last even longer. The best part is that you should break even on your solar panels’ initial cost long before you need to consider replacing them – and you can start earning money from them straight away through SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) payments.
There are pros and cons of solar panels that you’ll need to carefully consider before investing. As for the benefits, solar panels can:
Yes, solar panels work in the UK despite its reputation for being cloudy and rainy. Although sunlight availability affects solar panel efficiency, panels don’t need direct sunshine to generate electricity; they can also produce power under cloudy conditions through diffuse sunlight.
The UK receives enough annual sunlight to make solar power highly viable. Its solar capacity has grown significantly over the years, from just 1,288 MW in 2000 to 1.2 million in 20222. Solar panels are designed to be effective in various conditions. Many systems include technologies to maximise efficiency regardless of weather.
Additionally, solar panels tend to operate more efficiently in cooler temperatures, which can be beneficial during the UK’s less intense sun exposure compared to hotter climates. The government incentives, such as feed-in tariffs and grants, have also helped increase the adoption of solar energy across the country.
With over 1.7 million homes now equipped with solar panels3, the UK is seeing a rapid increase in adoption. But which places are the best to harness solar energy?
The team at Independent Advisor Solar Panels has uncovered the UK solar hotspots, scoring each region out of 10 based on:
| 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 |
| 8 | East Hampshire | 1.69% | 52,500 | 1,706 | 8.42 |
| 10 | West Suffolk | 1.05% | 150,756 | 1,742 | 8.30 |
While solar power can be generated even in cloudy conditions, sunnier areas can exploit it better.
| Rank | Location | Average annual sunshine hours (1991-2020) |
| 1 | Isle of Wight | 1,976 |
| 2 | Chichester | 1,919 |
| 3 | Hastings | 1,914 |
| 4 | Dorset | 1,904 |
| 5 | Brighton and Hove | 1,892 |
| 5 | Eastbourne | 1,892 |
| 7 | Southend-on-Sea | 1,884 |
| 8 | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 1,779 |
| 9 | Gosport | 1,772 |
| 9 | Havant | 1,772 |
| 9 | Portsmouth | 1,772 |
| Rank | Location | Solar PV installations (2018/19) | Solar PV installations (2023/24) | Year-on-year percentage change |
| 1 | Mid Ulster | 10 | 153 | 1,430% |
| 2 | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | 25 | 359 | 1,336% |
| 3 | Liverpool | 113 | 1,115 | 887% |
| 4 | Newry, Mourne and Down | 41 | 390 | 851% |
| 5 | Rossendale | 38 | 338 | 789% |
| 6 | Wirral | 115 | 1,004 | 773% |
| 7 | North Tyneside | 88 | 752 | 755% |
| 8 | Stevenage | 40 | 327 | 718% |
| 9 | Causeway Coast and Glens | 26 | 212 | 715% |
| 10 | Fermanagh and Omagh | 8 | 64 | 700% |
Using data from the MCS’s Data Dashboard, we revealed the areas in the UK with the most and fewest solar installations.
We looked at the percentage of households with solar PV installations between 2023 and 2024 by English local authority, Scottish council area, Welsh county, and Northern Irish local government district.
We also used this data to show which areas have had the most significant average yearly increase in solar installations between 2018 and 2019. All data was collected on 21/03/2024 and is correct as of then.
We used ONS data on Regional Renewable Statistics to find the solar capacity in different UK areas and regions.
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 as a percentage of total homes upgraded for all scheme applications to the end of December 2023.
We used Met Office Data to find the average annual sunshine hours in UK areas over 30 years (1991-2020).
In addition, we used Solar Power Portal data to show the ten biggest solar farms in the UK.
When considering solar panels, there are a few different factors to think about. Cost may well be the overriding factor when choosing between solar panels, but some other important aspects to bear in mind are…
The angle of your roof matters when it comes to installing solar panels, as it can impact their efficiency and how much electricity they will produce. The geographical location of your home is also important.
The orientation and angle of your roof determines how much sunlight your solar panels will receive. The optimal angle is between 30 and 40 degrees; studies suggest that solar panels at these angles maximise sunlight exposure and subsequently generate more electricity. You’ll also need to consider which way your roof is facing, as in the UK, south-facing solar panels will generate the most energy and save you the most on energy bills.
The table below shows solar panels’ likely efficiency according to their orientation and the tilt of the roof they’re installed in. The percentages in the table show the efficiency you can expect.
After determining your roof’s angle and orientation, you should also assess how many hours a day (and at what times) your roof is shaded.
To get the most out of your solar panel system, your roof should not be shaded during peak sunlight hours; in the UK, this is between 10am and 4pm. If your roof is shaded during this time, you may not be able to generate enough electricity to power your home.
Installing solar panels for your home is only a lucrative investment if you actually have enough space on your roof for the amount of panels you’ll need. Our researchers found that the average UK household requires a 4kW system, meaning you’ll need around 29m2 of available roof space.
Unsurprisingly, solar panels add a considerable amount of extra weight to your roof. It’s easy to check how much each panel weighs before you make any big purchasing decisions, as every manufacturer discloses this information on their product specification sheets.
As an estimate, though, we’ve calculated that the average solar panel system – based on a typical UK household requiring a 4kW system made up of 16 panels – could weigh up to 280kg.
Deciding which solar panels are best for you to purchase will depend on your energy consumption, budget concerns, installation requirements and more. The best solar panels had to have efficiency ratings of over 20 per cent, and a solid power output of anything upwards of 420W.
In our research into 13 of the top manufacturers, we considered factors such as efficiency, reliability and power output to determine the best options out there. We chose The Project Solar UK Evolution Titan 445 panels as the best on the market.
Some of the things to consider when choosing solar panels are…
For a typical UK family living in a three-bedroom semi-detached house who use around 3,000kW of energy a year, a 4kW solar system is likely to be suitable. Without adding a battery, this system would cost about £7,000, and if you decide to include a battery, the total goes up to £9,000.
The cost of solar panels will vary depending on your region, energy consumption, house size, the installer and manufacturer you choose and whether you choose to add on a solar battery – which can increase your energy savings by up to 90 percent – or a diverter.
Solar panels are a long-term investment for your home that won’t pay out in a few short years. Still, there’s plenty to gain from generating your own electricity. And in the long run, solar panels won’t just pay for themselves, they could even turn you a healthy profit, too.
The Smart Export Guarantee (or SEG) is a government incentive which allows UK homeowners with a solar panel system to sell their unused solar panel energy back to the National Grid in return for payments. It’s essentially like paying for electricity in reverse: you’re selling extra energy to the grid and being paid for it. Lots of homeowners with solar panels opt in to SEG payments as a way to not only save money on energy bills by using their own (solar-generated) energy, but also getting paid at the same time.
The below tables are examples of what you could save on your energy bills based on a 3.5kW system. These figures are from Energy Saving Trust and based on electricity prices as of April 2024.
While there are plenty of benefits to installing solar panels, there’s no denying that the initial investment is costly. You’ll see savings on your energy bills very quickly once your system is installed, but the amount of time it’ll take for you to break even on your initial cost is a little longer.
You can earn money by installing solar panels as well as saving on energy bills by selling your unused solar energy back to the National Grid. By offloading this surplus power back to the grid, your panels will recoup the initial investment you made in less time than they otherwise would.
Including a solar storage battery in your purchase is another way to reduce your break-even point, even though it means an even more costly initial payment. A solar battery allows you to store your electricity to use whenever you need it, including times where there is no available daylight. According to our research, around 90% of homeowners choose to include a solar battery in their purchase.
There are a few other factors that will affect how quickly your solar panels pay for themselves, including:
Break-even point based on system size and cost
| Property size | System size | Number of panels | System cost (inc. installation and battery) | Approximate savings (inc.SEG) | Break-even point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two bedrooms | 2kW | 5 | £7,000 | £480 | 12 – 13 years |
| Three bedrooms | 4kW | 10 | £9,000 | £960 | 9 – 10 years |
| Four or more bedrooms | 6kW | 15 | £10,000 | £1,440 | 6 – 7 years |
The UK’s continually fluctuating energy prices have a near-constant effect on the time it’ll take your solar panels to pay back. Higher energy prices mean that your system will pay for itself much more quickly; lower energy prices, along with lower SEG tariffs, will have the opposite effect.
If you’re looking for solar panel grants and schemes to help with the cost of this considerable investment, there are plenty of options to look into. Government grants such as the ECO4 scheme can offer free solar panels to eligible homes, and there are other schemes and funding options available too, usually for households who are receiving income support or other benefits.
Once you’ve decided to invest in solar panels and researched the best on the market, it’s time to look into installing solar panels for your home. We’ve researched the most important questions, as well as providing a step-by-step guide to installation.
In most cases, you won’t need to get planning permission to install a solar panel system. This is because they are installed under the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO). However, if you live in a grade II listed building or want to install the panels on the ground rather than on your roof, you’re likely to need planning permission.
A 2021 government-commissioned report suggests that six in ten or 61 per cent of participants who were considering installing solar panels reported they would be more likely to install them if the installation process were easier. 55 per cent were also concerned about the ongoing maintenance of panels as a “further potential burden”. However, almost all participants who had installed solar panels (95 per cent) reported that installation was easy.
Step 1: Scaffolding goes up
A day or two before installation begins, a team will put up scaffolding around your house. This allows the installation team safe access to your roof and is a legal requirement. To avoid any unwanted fees, you should make sure the cost of the scaffolding is included in the price when you receive your quote.
Step 2: Roof team turns up
Once the scaffolding is safe and secure, your roof team will arrive with your solar panels. At this point, you should check that they have brought the correct panels: you can do this by locating the sticker on the back, which outlines the model number, make, and output.
Step 3: The anchors are attached
To attach your solar panels to your home’s roof, your installer will first need to attach anchors. The anchors are brackets that hold the rails on which your panels will be mounted. The roofers will first remove a roofing tile for each anchor and screw the anchor brackets into your roof’s rafters. The roofing tile can then be slotted back in as normal and rest onto the long arm of the anchor.
Step 4: Solar panel rails are installed
The frame for your solar panel system is made of lightweight aluminium rails, which are cut on-site by your installer to fit the size of your roof. The rails will be secured to each anchor bracket and secured with two bolts running vertically and horizontally across the roof to form a frame, on which your panels will sit.
Step 5: Solar panels are installed
At this point, your roof has now been prepared and your solar panels can be installed. Each unit will be mounted to the roof frames via a clamp. Once your installer is certain your panels are in the correct positions and are placed at optimal angles, they can be secured and tightened.
Step 6: The electrics are set up
The final step requires a certified electrician, who will connect your pre-wired panels to your solar inverter. Usually, the inverter is installed in your loft. The inverter is what converts the direct current (DC) electricity that’s generated by your solar panels into the useable alternating current (AC) electricity that will be powering your home.
Now you know what to expect from the process, it’s time to look for an MCS-accredited installer. The Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) is an accreditation that quality-assures renewable technology’s products and installers. The MCS was government-owned up until 2018, and has certified more than 4,000 contractors in the UK to date.
The MCS scheme isn’t mandatory. However, by choosing an MCS-accredited installer, you can trust they have the experience needed to do the job well. The new solar panel installation should be registered by the contractor on the MCS Installation Database no later than 10 working days after the commission.
It should also be noted that, in order for your solar system to benefit from the SEG, the scheme which allows you to sell surplus energy back to the grid, your installer must be MCS-accredited.
It takes up to six weeks from the first inquiry to energy generation. An installation typically takes four to five hours, including connection. As long as there’s enough light left once the installation is finished, your panels can start generating energy immediately.
With any new investment or purchase, sometimes knowing where to look – or which manufacturers to trust – is the hardest part.
That’s why we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching different companies, manufacturers, and solar panels to find out which brands can be trusted – and which ones are most worthy of your investment – and compiled them all in our lists of the best regional solar panel installers and the best national solar panel installers in the UK.
How long do solar panels last?
Basis Social report, commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK Rooftop Solar Behavioural Research.
The MCS Service Company, The Solar PV Standard.
There’s no simple answer to whether solar panels will affect your home insurance policy, but you should be aware of the following points:
It’s important to regularly keep up with solar panel cleaning and maintenance throughout their lifespan. Luckily, they are fairly low-maintenance and you only need to check on your solar panels around once a year.
To maximise your panels’ lifespan, essential maintenance includes:
Simply put, yes – and not only are solar panels still worth having, but the need for them will only increase year after year. The UK is moving towards renewable energy, and solar panels can help homeowners rely less on expensive National Grid electricity.
The average household in the UK requires around 16 solar panels, which equates to a 4kW system. The exact amount required, though, will depend on household size and energy consumption.
A solar panel system can power an entire household, so long as the amount of energy they generate 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, like at night.
Homes with solar panels need a lot of direct sunlight to operate at maximum efficiency. However, solar panels do work during the winter months, as well as on cloudy days. If they’re not generating enough electricity to power your property, you can turn to the National Grid to make up the shortfall.
Solar thermal panels, sometimes known as solar thermal collectors, are roof-mounted panels that use sunlight to heat water, which is then stored in a cylinder and used to heat your home’s water and inner spaces.
Solar thermal panels can provide up to 90 per cent of your home’s hot water requirements in summer, save you between £135 and £255 on your energy bill, and prevent up to 930kg of greenhouse-gas emissions every year.
This also means that, should you decide to sell your home, you could recuperate nearly half of your initial solar investment.
Yes, you do need to notify your electricity supplier. Usually, your installer will register your system with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) at the time of installation. You should check who this responsibility lies with during your installation to be sure.
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, so you’ll save less money. They also might not last as long, meaning you’d need to replace them much sooner than if you’d paid a bit more initially.
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. Recent research conducted by FirstPort found that potential buyers are seeking eco-friendly features; and they’re willing to pay, on average, £2,038 more for a home with solar panels already installed.
