uSwitch
Solar panel electricity systems -- or solar pv panels -- capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic cells and convert it into electricity for you home. These cells don’t always need direct sunlight to work, and can still generate electricity on cloudy days.
If you can afford the up-front costs of solar panels, it’s better to buy them yourself. You’ll get 100% of the income generated from creating your own green electricity using a Feed-In Tariff scheme (FITs). You can also consider a loan for solar panels, as the profit from the electricity should cover the repayment amounts -- with money to spare.
If your home qualifies, you could get free solar panels through schemes referred to as “rent-a-roof.” Solar companies install the panels free of charge, and they pay for any maintenance and connection charges. Then they collect any profit from the green electricity that is generated. You from the free electricity generated from the panels, without any of the cost.
How can I earn money from solar panels?
When you purchase your own solar panels and use the government-backed Feed-In Tariff scheme, you can earn 15.32p/kWh (£397/yr), plus 4.5p (£57/yr) for every unit contributed back to the National Grid. If you opt for free solar panels, then the solar company provided the panels takes this income.
How have you calculated the solar panel savings and cost figures?
All of our numbers are based on a standard 3kW, 12-panel system, with a roof tilt of 30 degrees, south facing, with no shading and a 0.8 constant (used to make the calculation accurate for UK conditions), which will generate 2,572,2kW of electricity a year.
Will the quality of my electricity suffer?
No. You won't notice any difference. If the panels aren't producing much electricity, you'll just use electricity from the Grid instead.
Where can I find reputable solar panel companies?
There are now many companies installing solar panels in different areas of the UK. We recommend choosing a company that is registered with the Renewable Energy Association.
We know it's a big decision, so we've tried to cover any remaining questions you have in our guides below.
Solar panels cost: get the lowdown on solar panel costs and decide if they're right for your home. See our guide
The Feed-in Tariff scheme means you can get money for earning renewable energy. Find out more with the uSwitch guide to Feed-in Tariffs. See our guide
Solar panels information from uSwitch - get the lowdown on solar panels and decide if they're right for your home See our guide
Find out about the different types of renewable energy and whether would suit the type of property you live in. See how you can benefit from microgeneration. See our guide
Want to know more about renewable energy? Get the facts about renewable energy suppliers from uSwitch now See our guide
What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and when do you need one? How can an Energy Performance Certificate help you to be more energy-efficient? See our guide