Answering your questions about solar panels
Good Energy installs solar panels and battery storage across the South of England and some parts of the midlands. Here, our expert team answer all of your questions about solar panel installation.
How many solar panels do I need to power my home?
Our advice is to install as many solar panels as you can fit on your rooftop – money permitting. This is because the bulk of the cost of getting solar panels is your installer’s time and expertise.
A ten panel solar array is the average size for most household customers. Without a battery, this would provide 30% – 50% of a typical household’s annual usage. If you were to add a battery, your solar panels could cover up to 80% of your home electricity usage.
And what you don’t use at home, you can sell back to the grid via an export tariff.
How much do solar panels cost?
Solar installation costs vary based on the size of the photovoltaic (PV) system, whether you are including a battery, your roof type, labour requirements, scaffold needs, and cabling.
A typical cost for a 10 panel system is around £7,000, and including a Tesla Powerwall 3 around £14,300.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
In most cases, installing solar panels is considered “permitted development,” so planning permission isn’t required. However, if you live in a conservation area, a listed property, or a home with specific restrictions, you may need approval. It’s best to check with your local council or installer for guidance specific to your location.
Are there any limits to how many solar panels I am allowed?
Each household in the UK is permitted a maximum of 3.68 kW for their solar inverter size, a limit set by the national grid to prevent overload. This means that an installation of this description is permitted with no application necessary.
Larger solar panel systems can exceed this limit, in which case a DNO (District Network Operator) application is required to ensure your system won’t negatively impact the grid. Managed entirely by Good Energy, this process can take up to 12 weeks, after which time we would be in touch to book in your installation date.
Are there any government grants or incentives available for solar panels?
Government incentives for solar panels can vary by region and are subject to change, as with most government subsidies. Currently, the primary grant available is for those receiving Universal Credit or other benefits.
The most significant incentive available to most homeowners is the 0% VAT on renewable energy systems, which allows you to save 20% on the cost of the entire installation, including battery storage. For the latest information on available grants and subsidies, get in touch.
Can a house run on solar power alone?
Running your home entirely on solar power is possible, but it’s not something that most homes can achieve due to the unpredictability of the weather and the long, dark winter months we experience in the UK.
To go fully ‘off grid’ would require very careful planning and significant finaical outlay – as it is important to recognise that while batteries allow you to use your solar energy while the sun isnt shining, they cannot provide limitless power.
A more easily achievable and financially viable option is to aim for a home that is mostly self-sustainable. This could mean a large solar array on the rooftop and a large battery storage solution such as the Tesla Powerwall 3. The Powerwall 3 provides up to 13.5kWh of storage, which you can charge from your solar panels, or via the grid on a smart dual-rate tariff. The Powerwall 3 could power the average home for one to two days, and provides backup protection in the event of a powercut.
How much can I save on my electricity bill by installing solar panels?
On average, customers can save between £600 and £1,000 annually on their electricity bills after installing solar panels. The exact savings depend on a lot of factors, including:
The size of the solar system: Homes with a larger system can typically save more on their bills each year, as their solar panels will be covering more of their energy usage, and they will be exporting more. However, the financial outlay will be higher.
Roof orientation and local weather patterns: The amount you save is based on how much electricity your panels generate – which is influenced by your roof orientation and pitch, as well as local weather patterns.
Whether your installation includes a battery: As well as helping you to use more of your self-generated power, you can also charge a battery off-peak to provide more low cost power for your home.
Your energy tariff: Energy prices go up and down – as we saw in 2021 during the energy crisis. When prices are high, your solar panels will help you to save more on your bills, and when prices are lower, you will save slightly less.
Your electricity consumption and usage patterns: You will see the greatest savings on your bills if you adjust your energy usage patterns. Run energy-intensive appliances when the sun is shining, and try to use just one appliance at a time if you are limited by a smaller inverter. Read more about this below.
Your export tariff: Joining a high paying export tariff, such as Good Energy’s Solar Savings, will hugely boost your solar earnings. All of your earnings will be added as a credit on your energy account, paying for your energy usage in the winter months.
How can I make the most of having solar panels?
To get the biggest benefit from your solar panels, you need to use your solar power as it is being generated. You will be able to see how much you are generating on your inverter display, or via an app on your smart device. This means scheduling your washing machine, dishwasher or tumble dryer to run during sunny periods. Try to only use one device at a time, as your solar panel output will be limited by the size of your inverter. If you have an electric car, charging up on sunny days is a great way to make the most of your solar power.
Installing a home battery will help make sure that your home can store any solar power not used straight away – for use in the evening or on overcast days.
If you’re registered to the FiT scheme, bear in mind that installing a battery could affect your payments, depending on whether it works by storing solar electricity before or after it has passed through the inverter and been measured by your generation meter. Read this guide to different battery configurations to find out more about this.
Other options for making the most of your solar power include installing a diverter. This diverts electricity that isn’t being used by household appliances to an immersion heater, so that you can use your solar panels to heat your water as well.
Find out more about getting the most from your solar power here.
How does the direction panels face affect how much electricity solar panels generate?
In countries in the northern hemisphere such as the UK, south facing solar panels have the best chance of being exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day.
However, south-east and south-west facing solar panels are still effective – receiving up to 95% of the sunlight received by south facing panels. This percentage reduces the further east or west they turn, but only to around 80%.
North facing panels can receive around 60% of the sunlight of south facing panels. This is because they still receive diffuse light – and may also be placed at an angle where they can benefit from direct sunlight during the summer, when the sun is directly overhead.
It’s important to note that the pitch of the panels also impacts how much electricity they generate.
If you get a quote with Good Energy, our team will be able to share a detailed projection for how much energy solar panels would generate at your home, and how much you can expect to save.
Do modern solar panels produce more electricity than older ones? Is it worth upgrading my panels?
Modern monocrystalline solar panels are more efficient than older polycrystalline models, which enable them to generate more electricity.
If you’re thinking about upgrading an existing solar array and are registered to the FIT scheme, be aware that increasing the capacity of your installation may mean you’re no longer eligible for payments.
Another way to potentially increase the performance of your existing array is changing your inverter. If you have a string inverter – which means all panels feed into the same inverter – a fault with one panel reduces the power output of the whole set. This could also be the case if a number of your panels are frequently in the shade or get covered with leaves.
Microinverters are attached to each panel separately, which means that an individual panel’s performance doesn’t impact the rest of the array. Microinverters are more expensive, but have a longer lifespan – 25 years, in comparison to 10 for a string inverter.
Is getting solar panels worth it without the Feed in Tariff?
When the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme launched in 2010, generators got paid for the electricity they generated, as well as for the electricity they exported to the grid. Even though the FIT scheme is now closed, there are still definite benefits to installing solar panels.
Firstly, you will save on electricity bills because you’ll be generating renewable electricity at home. If you were to install a ten panel solar array plus battery, you can expect this to cover between 50% – 80% of your electricity usage over the course of a year. Secondly, you will reduce your home’s contribution to global warming.
And thirdly, you will be able to sell your excess power via an export tariff. Good Energy offers a leading export tariff, Solar Savings, which currently pays 15p per unit of power.
What is Good Energy’s installation area?
We install solar panels through Good Energy Solar (South West), JPS Group, Amelio Solar and Empower Energy – four established companies that have been installing solar panels for more than ten years. Our area covers the south of England, including London, and extends up to the midlands.
What accreditations do customers need to look out for when getting solar panels?
The first and most important one to look for is that your installer is MCS accredited – which means they adhere to recognised industry quality standards.
Once your solar panels are installed, you’ll need an MCS certificate to sell your power via an export tariff.
The next one to look for is the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) which gives you peace of mind you’ll get high service standards before, during and after your installation.
Finally, NAPIT is the accreditation body for all things electrical. Your solar panels will need to be commissioned by an electrician who is NAPIT or NICEIC approved.
Do you install Tesla Powerwalls?
Good Energy is a premium Tesla Powerwall installer, with our expert teams installing the Powerwall 3 and the Powerwall 3 expansion pack. Paired with solar panels, Tesla Powerwalls store up to 13.5KWh of electricity for you to use later when you’re no longer generating. What’s more, they can be used to power your home in the event of a power outage in your area.
Up to three Tesla Powerwall expansion packs can be added to a Tesla Powerwall, for lower price energy storage.
Can you install a Tesla Powerwall without solar panels?
You can install and use a Tesla Powerwall using standard electricity from the grid. Most customers who do this go on a dual-rate smart tariff that allows them to charge the battery during the night time on a cheap off-peak rate, and then use the electricity stored during peak-times when electricity from the grid is more expensive.
Having solar panels is not essential for your Tesla Powerwall to function, however, solar power can be a lot cheaper than grid electricity so payback periods can be shorter.
How long does it take to install solar panels?
Our teams install solar panels for our customers in around two to three days – and the only time we will need access to the inside of your home is for the electrics. Your scaffolding would be up for one to two weeks.
Can solar panels be installed on all types of roof types?
Solar panels can be installed on most roof types, including flat, sloped, metal, and tiled roofs. Some materials, like slate, may require additional care during installation. If your roof isn’t suitable, ground-mounted systems are another option.
Getting solar panels installed at your home lowers your electricity bills and your carbon footprint. Get in touch with our team today to start your quote
