Solar panel systems have become an increasingly effective and savvy investment for homeowners, both new and old. In 2026, it will be common knowledge that installing solar panels on residential properties over several years can result in significant financial savings. A large contributing factor to this is how much more affordable solar panels have become
Myth 1: The more solar panels you install, the faster you will earn back your investment
This myth is incredibly common with solar panels. Two of the main points of attraction are recouping your initial investment in an environmentally sustainable way and then having noticeably reduced energy overheads.
What is important to remember is that to maximise your financial return without suffering diminishing returns, you want to calculate how many solar panels you need to break even on your energy consumption, and not exceed that number.
Doing this will help you save the most on your energy bill in conjunction with a cost-effective solar panel installation.
You should take this approach because any unused energy, beyond your own consumption, will be exported back into the national grid. However, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rates at which you sell electricity are relatively low compared to the rates at which you buy electricity.
The payback you receive from installing additional solar panels beyond covering your own energy consumption would not outweigh the initial investment costs (even over a two-decade period).
Myth 2: Solar panels are space inefficient
Over the past 10 years, panel efficiency has increased significantly, improving the Watt peak (Wp), meaning you may not need as many panels as before to meet your high consumption rates.
Watt-peak, also known as peak power, is the maximum output power a Solar module can produce when exposed to full solar radiation (under set Standard Test Conditions).
If you wonder how many panels your home’s roof can hold, keep in mind that the average solar panel is 1m x 1.6m.
For standard installations, using the average size of 1m x 1.6 square metres, it would be possible to install around 12 solar panels on a roof with a surface area of 20 square metres. Find out more about a solar PV installation.
Whenever feasible, it is better to estimate lower than higher when your calculations do not result in a perfect whole number.
If you want to increase the efficiency of the available space even further to match a higher energy usage rate, you can instead choose a panel type with a higher Wp.
Myth 3: Without subsidies, solar panels are not financially beneficial
Solar panels are a wise long-term financial investment – with or without subsidies. They enable you to reduce your imported energy bills significantly and may even generate additional income by exporting unused, clean electricity.
The system installed, and where you are situated in the UK, will determine how quickly you can make a return.
A good point of reference is that a typical-sized home with a 4kW solar panel system will cost around £6,000-£8,000.
Every year, you may expect to save approximately £270 on energy bills. When combined with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), you could expect to achieve the break-even point in approximately 15 years.
Keeping in mind that the average lifespan of a solar panel is between 25 and 30 years, you are very likely to be paid a noticeable amount more than your initial investment.
For additional context, as interest rates are at an all-time low, investing in solar panels can yield a much higher return than simply putting money in the bank.
They also add to a home’s resale value, an attractive feature to include when putting your property on the market, according to a UK government press release, which states that making energy-saving improvements could increase the value of a property by 14% on average, up to 38% in some parts of England. According to Solar Energy UK, a typical home could increase the sale price by at least £1,800 with a solar PV system.
Building on your options even further, rather than buying a solar panel system individually, you can receive the most competitive prices possible through the Solar Togethers group-buying scheme. This would drop the break-even length to 12 years!
After this, any power generated after that is pure profit – a welcome offer indeed!
Myth 4: You generate more energy on a hot summer day
Heat has little impact on the amount of green energy your solar panels generate.
Solar panels generate electricity from light rather than heat, and whilst hot summer days offer more hours of sunshine, they typically don’t reach optimal efficiency on these days.
In fact, excessive heat can reduce efficiency because the photovoltaic cells do not operate as efficiently. Solar panels can reach 65°C, at which point solar cell efficiency and overall output will be significantly reduced.
The days when solar panels generate the most revenue are summer days, which are crisp, sunny, and cloud-free.
On top of this, you will likely consume less energy in the summer than your solar panels generate. During the winter, on the other hand, you will require more energy for heating.
The great thing about Solar panels is that rain or shine, winter or summer, they will continue to generate clean electricity.
To track this, you can check your electric meter (including a smart meter) to see how much electricity you consume. You can use a monitoring system to access your meter through a phone or tablet through this modern app.
Myth 5: Solar panels are bad for the environment after their maximum lifetime is reached.
Nowadays, solar panels are built to last at least 25 years before they can be recycled. (Some panels can last even longer.) Solar panel recycling is essential for the energy sector as it addresses the environmental and economic concerns associated with disposing of old solar panels. As the global installation of solar energy increases, many panels will reach the end of their lifespans in the coming years, leading to waste.
Recycling solar panels prevents landfill pollution, recovers valuable materials, and creates green jobs. It also conserves resources, eases supply chain limitations, and reduces the need for raw material mining.
Ready to Join the Solar Revolution?
Contact SolarTherm UK 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.
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