If you’re a homeowner in Essex, Kent, Surrey or the surrounding South East, you’ve probably wondered: are solar panels on homes really worth it?
With energy prices still high and continuing to rise, over 1.6 million UK homes are already generating their own electricity with solar panels. Home solar panels can cut your electricity bills, reduce your carbon footprint and even earn you money through export payments. The key is understanding the costs, savings and a bespoke system designed for your property.
At SolarTherm UK, we design, install and maintain solar panels on homes across Essex, Kent, Surrey and the wider South East, providing detailed quotes and estimates, helping you make an informed decision before committing to a solar investment.
Quick Overview: Solar Panels on Homes
- Save £100s a year on energy bills – by using the electricity your solar panels are generating during the day, many households see a reduction of up to 70% on their energy bills – for most that is over £700 a year!
- Get paid for surplus electricity – any excess electricity that can’t be used in your home can be exported to the grid for payment under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
- Payback typically 6-10 years – the exact break even point depends on the system you have installed, how you use your self-generated energy and how much you sell to the grid, but most domestic solar systems are now paid back within 10 years.
- Trusted local installers – SolarTherm UK provides MCS certified installations on homes in Essex, Kent, Surrey and the surrounding area, with clear EPVS verified quotes and performance estimates, honest advice and ongoing aftercare.
How Do Solar Panels on Homes Work?
Solar panels, also called solar PV (photovoltaic) panels, convert daylight into electricity. Daylight hits your solar panels and electrons inside the PV cells move creating DC (direct current) electricity. A solar inverter connected to your solar panels converts the DC electricity into usable AC (alternating current) electricity for your home, to run appliances, lighting and your EV charger (if you have one). Any surplus that you don’t use can be stored in a battery or exported to the grid for SEG payments. Modern solar panels are efficient for the UK climate, working well even on cloudy days, as they just need daylight, not heat to generate electricity.
What Are the Main Benefits of Solar Panels on Homes?
Lower electricity bills
Every unit (kWh) you generate and use yourself is one you don’t have to buy from your supplier. For most solar owners, they see a reduction of up to 70% off their energy bills.
Protection from rising energy prices
Once your solar panels are installed, the energy they generate is effectively free electricity. The more of this you use the less you buy from the grid, protecting you from future bill increases.
Payments for exported electricity
Through the Smart Export Guarantee you can get paid for the electricity you don’t use if it is exported back to the grid.
Reduce your carbon footprint
The typical home solar PV system saves around one tonne of CO₂ emissions per year by producing clean, renewable energy.
Attractive to future buyers
More home buyers are now looking for renewable energy as part of their perfect home. A home with lower energy bills and solar panels already installed can make up to 14% more on the market than a similar home without.
How Much Do Solar Panels on Homes Cost?
At SolarTherm UK we don’t believe in a one size fits all approach to solar and custom design every system we install for the property and energy needs. The cost of your solar investment will vary depending on the system size, roof type, any additional features such as battery storage, EV charging or a solar diverter, and the products you choose to install. As a ballpark figure a typical installation for a three bedroom home starts at around £6,500 without battery storage.
How Long Does it Take to Break Even?
The payback period for solar panels on homes is usually around 6-10 years depending on the cost of the system. You can reduce your payback period by increasing how much of your solar energy you use, by choosing the correct energy tariff and SEG rate and by adding in a solar battery so you can self-consume more of your solar energy. The more of your solar you use the less you are buying from the grid so the quicker you will payback the cost of you investment. Using smart times and plugs so your high energy appliances are running while your solar panels are generating free electricity can also cut your payback period. Homeowners who are at home more during the day tend to see shorter payback periods than those who are out of the property for most of the day.
Getting Paid: Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
To earn money from the energy you don’t use, you need to register with a supplier for an export tariff. Different suppliers pay different rates, so it is worth shopping around for the best rate. Most suppliers pay preferential rates to those who import electricity through them or are already customers.
To qualify for SEG you must have a valid MCS certificate and approval to export from your DNO (Distribution Network Operator). You’ll also need to have a smart meter fitted if you don’t already have one, that is set up to send export figures every 30 minutes. As SolarTherm UK is an MCS certified installer and only installs MCS certified products, your solar PV system will be ready to start earning you money through the SEG almost immediately (there is usually a short delay from commissioning of your system to receiving your MPAN number from your DNO).
Are Solar Panels Right for Your Property?
Your home in Essex, Kent, Surrey or the wider South East is likely to be suitable for solar, it’s very rare now with the efficiency of modern solar panels that there isn’t a solution for most properties. To make solar worthwhile, you need to have a roof that is south facing or east and west facing (or any orientation between) and has enough space to fit a minimum of 6-8 panels on. You roof does need to be in good structural condition and able to bare the weight of your panels.
In most cases, solar panels can be installed under permitted development rights, unless you are in a conservation area or live in a listed building, then you may require Listed Building Consent.
At SolarTherm UK we carry our a free, no obligation feasibility study for your property, to ensure that your property is suitable for solar. We’ll check for shading, roof condition, orientations and space and recommend the best system for your home.
What About Solar Batteries?
A solar battery lets you store your excess electricity generated during the day for use in the evenings or when needed.
Pros of adding a solar battery:
- Increase your self-consumption
- Reduce what you are buying from the grid
- Extra resilience if the grid goes down (if you have EPS backup installed)
Cons of adding a solar battery:
- A battery incurs an extra upfront cost
- It can lengthen your payback period slightly
SolarTherm UK can design a solar and battery system tailored to how you use your energy and provide a detailed report on expected savings, returns and payback period for your to use to make an informed decision on whether a solar battery is worth adding to your solar PV system.
Maintenance, Warranties and Lifespan
When investing in solar, it’s not just the payback period and savings you need to know about. Knowing what maintenance is involved, the length of any warranties and how long your system is expected to last, also helps you decide if solar is worth it or not for your property.
The good news is that as solar panels have no moving parts, they require very little maintenance, just a regular visual check and cleaning with a hose and soft cloth every few years or when you notice a reduction in production. Solar panels are cleaned naturally with rainfall and it will only be occasional that you need to clean them to remove stubborn dirt or debris.
Modern solar panels are built to last, with most lasting a minimum of 25 years and usually working efficiently up to 40 years. Your solar inverter may need replacing every 10-15 years. There are ways to increase the lifespan of your solar system, including regular servicing and monitoring, tracking energy production so any issues are resolved sooner and keeping the areas clean, dust free and well ventilated.
Most solar panels come with a minimum 25 year warranty, at SolarTherm UK we install Bovill.tech all black panels that come with an industry leading 99 year product warranty. Most inverters come with a 8-12 year warranty and solar batteries come with a 5-10 year warranty.
Avoiding Solar Scams
Unfortunately, there are companies out there that use pressure selling or misleading adverts. To protect yourself always choose an MCS certified installer and avoid anyone who can’t clearly explain costs, savings and payback in writing. Be wary of “too good to be true” offers, time sensitive offers or unsolicited calls.
SolarTherm UK has long standing experience installing solar panels on homes in Essex, Kent, Surrey and further afield, with transparent pricing and no hard sell, just clear, friendly advice.
Why Choose SolarTherm UK for home solar?
- Local experts in domestic solar panel installations
- MCS certified systems eligible for SEG export payments
- Tailored designs for homes across Essex, Kent and Surrey
- Options for battery storage, EV charging and pigeon proofing
- Honest, accurate guidance on payback periods, verified by EPVS
Ready to Find Out if Solar Panels are Worth it for Your Home?
If you’re thinking about installing solar panels on your home, SolarTherm UK can help. Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
