What are the benefits of solar panels?
As energy bills rise and climate concerns grow, more people are turning to solar power as a way to take control of their energy. But beyond cutting costs, solar panels offer a whole range of benefits for your home, your finances, and the planet. Read this blog to understand the key benefits of solar panels.
Solar panels lower your energy bills
Once your panels are installed, the electricity they generate is completely free. This clean energy is usually diverted to power everything from your lights and washing machine to your EV charger and heat pump.
The more of that clean, self-generated power you use, the less you’ll need from the grid. That means smaller bills and more predictable energy costs, even as wholesale prices fluctuate.
And if you pair solar with a battery, you can store excess power for use in the evening or on cloudy days – making your system even more efficient and cost-effective.
Want to know what solar savings look like in real life? Hear from our customers about their systems, their savings, and what inspired them to go solar in our case studies hub.
Solar panels can earn you money
When your panels generate more power than you need (or more that your battery can store, if you have one), that surplus will be sent back to the grid. By setting up an export tariff, you can earn money for every unit of electricity exported.
Through the UK’s Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme, suppliers pay households for every unit of renewable power they export. It’s a simple way to make your solar panels pay you back. And, with Good Energy, you can earn 15p per kWh on our Solar Savings tariff — available to all electricity supply customers — or up to 25p per kWh with Solar Savings Exclusive if you got your system installed by Good Energy.
So, while solar panels are an investment, most people can expect to recoup their money in as little as 7 years – through direct energy bill savings via your own renewable energy generation, and solar earnings through export tariffs.
Solar panels lower your carbon footprint
Solar energy is 100% renewable and produces no greenhouse gas emissions when generating power. Every kilowatt-hour your panels produce replaces electricity that might otherwise have been generated from fossil fuels. And because solar panels last 25 years or more, those carbon savings really add up.
By choosing solar, you’re directly contributing to cleaner air, reduced carbon emissions, and a more sustainable energy system. And, by choosing a B Corp certified supplier like Good Energy, you can be sure your panels are made sustainably too, built using fully traceable components.
Solar panels increase your energy independence
Solar power gives you more control over where your energy comes from. Instead of relying entirely on the national grid and fluctuating energy prices, you can generate your own clean electricity right from your roof.
Additionally, a solar battery lets you store the energy you produce during the day and use it in the evening, during peak times, and – with some models – even when there’s a power cut, helping to keep essential appliances running when you need them most.
That kind of resilience is becoming increasingly valuable as energy demand grows, protecting your home from future price spikes.
Solar panels support the transition to clean energy
Every home that installs solar helps move the UK closer to a renewable future. By generating clean power locally, you’re reducing demand for imported fossil fuels and helping to create a more stable, decentralised energy system.
And with trusted installers like Good Energy, you can be sure your system is designed to perform efficiently for decades to come, backed by 25 year product warranties and 30 year performance warranties.
If you’re wondering what a clean energy future would really mean for your home, read our blog on Net Zero targets here.
Solar panels aren’t just good for the planet – they’re a practical, proven way to take charge of your energy future. From lower bills to long-term resilience, the benefits speak for themselves.
