Solar panel savings explained
Find out how much you could save from solar panels each year
Solar savings for a typical home
Want to know how much you’d save with solar?
Using data from hundreds of Good Energy solar installations, here are some typical savings you might expect:
10 solar panels: Up to £852.85 per year – more if you add a battery
16 solar panels: Up to £1162.45 per year – more if you add a battery
Actual savings depend on multiple factors including system size, tariff rates, system orientation and shading. Read on for our workings.
How much can you save with solar panels?
10 solar panels
A customer with a 10 panel (4.75kW) solar panel system could save up to £852.85 per year with solar panel installation and our Solar Savings* export tariff.
Actual savings will vary depending on system size, rooftop orientation and shading, tariff rates and household electricity use. These average savings increase significantly by installing a battery through Good Energy – which unlocks our Exclusive** export tariff for 12 months.
| 10 solar panels (4.75kWp) (savings on energy bills at a unit rate of 26p / kWh – July 2026 price cap) | £460.12 |
| Solar Savings export tariff (earning 12p per kWh) | £392.73 |
| Total (per year) | £853.85 |
16 solar panels
Good Energy often installs much larger solar and battery systems for customers, resulting in much larger savings. A customer with a 16-panel (7.6kWp) solar panel system, for example, could expect to save up to £1,162.45 per year.
Actual savings will vary depending on system size, rooftop orientation and shading, tariff rates and household electricity use. These average savings increase significantly by installing a battery through Good Energy – which unlocks our Exclusive** export tariff for 12 months.
| 16 solar panels (7.6kWp) (savings on energy bills at a unit rate of 26p / kWh – July 2026 price cap) | £590.92 |
| Solar Savings export tariff (earning 12p per kWh) | £601.52 |
| Total (per year) | £1162.45 |
How long do solar panels take to pay back?
For most Good Energy customers, their solar panels pay for themselves 8 years or less. After which, the electricity they generate is essentially free, with continued savings for decades.
The solar payback periods below were calculated by analysing 157 real customer proposals.
| 7 years or less | 42.7% |
| 8–10 years | 38.2% |
| 11+ years | 19.1% |
How is this calculated?
To see our workings, you can find more information below.
Good Energy installs highly efficient 475W solar panels, meaning a 10-panel solar array will have a total installed capacity of 4.75kW.
This 10 panel system is estimated to generate 5,035kWh per year. This is an average figure calculated using data from 150 Good Energy solar panel arrays installed between 2018 and 2025 with an average system size of 4.76kWp,
Using internal monitoring data, 35% of this power is estimated to be used at home (saving 26.11p / kWh based on July 2026 price cap data), reducing electricity bought from the grid, and 65% is extimated to be exported at 12p / kWh (Good Energy’s export tariff).
This leads to total energy bill savings of £852.85 per year.
If their install included a battery, this household would be eligible for our exclusive rate export tariff for 12 months, currently paying 25p / kWh, and would use a higher percentage of their solar power too.
Good Energy installs highly efficient 475W solar panels, meaning a 16-panel solar array will have a total installed capacity of 7.6kWp.
A 16-panel 7.6kWp system is estimated to generate 7,161kWh per year. This is an average figure calculated using data from 50 Good Energy solar panel arrays installed between 2018 and 2025 with an average size of 7.55kWp.
Using internal monitoring data, 30% of this power is estimated to be used at home (saving 26.11p / kWh based on July 2026 price cap data), reducing electricity bought from the grid, and 70% is estimated to be exported at 12p / kWh (Good Energy’s export tariff).
This leads to total energy bill savings of £1162.45 a year.
If their install included a battery, this household would be eligible for our exclusive rate export tariff for 12 months, currently paying 25p / kWh, and would use a higher percentage of their solar power too.
Good Energy customers can expect a return on investment on their household solar panels in eight years or less. To calculate this, we looked at 157 domestic solar proposals created between 1st March 25 – 20th June 2025.
Of these 157 proposals:
42.7% of proposals had a payback period of 7 years or under
38.2% had a payback period of between 8 – 10 years
19.1% had a payback period of 11 years or more.
All of these proposals were created for homes in the South and South West of England, and involve complex modelling to calculate an estimated annual generation figure, based on system size, orientation, inclination, postcode and shade factor. Estimated annual generation is not guaranteed due to variability in the amount of sunlight from location to location and year to year.
Estimated annual savings from solar panels include bill savings from using solar power directly in the home, in addition to export tariff earnings. Return on investment period is calculated by dividing total system price by estimated annual savings.
Do solar panels save carbon?
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 can 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.
What makes Good Energy different?
We don’t just install solar panels — we design systems you can rely on. Here’s what sets us apart:
Trusted by thousands: With over 11,500 5-star Trustpilot reviews, customers consistently highlight our expertise, customer care and professionalism.
Built to last: Our systems come with long-term product and workmanship warranties, so you can feel confident long after installation day.
Designed properly, not rushed: Every system is carefully designed for your home and energy use — not based on instant estimates or guesswork.
Support beyond install day: From expert design through to aftercare, we’re set up for the long run — so your solar investment is too.
A certified force for good: As a B Corp certified energy supplier, we meet high standards for environmental and social responsibility across our business.
How much do solar panels cost?
Solar packages start from £6,380 (Correct June 2026) including installation. Price varies by property and system specification. See package prices here: Expert Solar Panel Installation for UK Homes | Good Energy
Read case studies
*Solar Savings is a variable tariff, with rates updated from time to time to make sure you receive a fair price. Rates can go down as well as up.
**Solar Savings Exclusive is a fixed rate, fixed term tariff for 12 months. That means once you’ve joined, your unit rate won’t change for a whole year. We regularly review our exclusive tariff rate to ensure it is competitive. This means that the rate available may change for new customers.