How do solar panels work?
Learn how solar energy becomes clean, green electricity that powers UK homes.
Learn how solar panels capture energy from the sun to generate 100% renewable electricity for your home.
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels are made out of photovoltaic cells that convert the sun’s energy into electricity.
Photovoltaic cells are sandwiched between layers of semi-conducting materials such as silicon. Each layer has different electronic properties that energise when hit by photons from sunlight, creating an electric field. This is known as the photoelectric effect – and this creates the current needed to produce electricity.
Solar panels generate a direct current of electricity. This is then passed through an inverter to convert it into an alternating current, which can be fed into the National Grid or used by the home or business that the solar panels are attached to.
Watch: How do solar panels work?
What are some of the benefits of solar panels?
There is 18.1GW of installed solar in the UK – that’s more than four times the capacity of Britain’s largest fossil fuel power station. Here’s some of the reasons why:
1. Solar panels can be installed in a wide range of places. From larger, countryside solar farms that can support local biodiversity by providing an undisturbed habitat for bees, butterflies and nesting birds, to rooftop solar panels in city centres that can help combat fuel poverty.
2. Solar panels don’t create any noise pollution while generating electricity. This means that installations aren’t intrusive – whether they’re in crowded urban locations or quiet rural ones.
3. Solar panels are very safe. They’re mostly made from silicon sheets, and there’s no danger of the photovoltaic cells leaking or emitting any toxins or fumes.
4. Solar panels help you to cut your carbon footprint, by reducing your reliance on the national grid which is still powered by over 25% fossil fuels.
5. Solar panels cut your energy bills, and will pay for themselves through savings and export payments in an average of 8 years*.
Hear from our customers
“Spoke to Chloe (home Team C) with an enquiry about tariffs. She was very helpful, and when she didn’t know something promised a follow up e-mail which arrived within 30 minutes”
“Good communication and timely reply. I have notified them I’m moving out,(Gifty) even reached out to me just after I moved out without the need to contact them. …”
“I’ve recently had solar and battery installed by good energy, the team have been great from start to finish with any problems I’ve had along the way. I …”
“Contacted re removal of gas supply as ASHP going in. Very swift response (Thanks Rafi & Gifty) appointment booked. Entirely hassle-free, as always when dealing with Good Energy”
Trustscore 4.8 | 14,510 reviews
How do solar panels work FAQ
Yes. While output is higher on bright, sunny days – solar panels generate electricity from daylight rather than direct sunshine, so they can still produce power on cloudy days.
One Good Energy customer, Steve, used to think that conditions needed to be optimal for solar panels to work properly in the UK. But, after installing his solar and battery system in winter, he was surprised that “from the very first month our solar panels and battery have covered most of what we are using at home.”
Read Steve’s full story: Steve’s story: Solar panels and Tesla Powerwall | Good Energy
Solar panels typically last 25–30 years or more, meaning you can save on your energy bills for decades by generating your own cleaner electricity. What’s more, Good Energy solar installations are backed by 25 year product warranties, giving you long-term confidence in your system’s safety and performance.
Get a free personalised quote to see how much you could save.
Solar panels require very little maintenance. Occasional cleaning to ensure panels aren’t obstructed by dirt, debris or heavy shading is best practice to keep them performing efficiently.
Many modern systems, including the optimised systems we install at Good Energy, also come with an app that lets you see how each panel is performing. This makes it easy to spot if one panel isn’t generating as expected – something that’s much harder to identify with traditional string inverter systems, where all panels are monitored together.
Learn more: Optimised vs String solar panels: which is better?
In most cases, no. Solar panels are usually considered permitted development in the UK, meaning you can install them without planning permission as long as certain conditions are met.
However, permission may be required if your home is listed or in a conservation area. Good Energy’s solar experts are experienced in guiding homeowners through these requirements, and have designed many systems to complies with local regulations.
For example, in one conservation-area installation in Sevenoaks, our team sourced custom-coloured solar panels to match the home’s roof tiles, allowing the system to comply with council guidelines while still generating clean electricity.
Read the full case study: Mary’s story: Solar panels in a conservation area
Your savings will depend on your system size, how you use power, your tariff rates and more. An average 3-bedroom home with a 10-panel (4.75kW) solar array could save up to £975.90 a year through reduced grid usage and earnings from a our Solar Savings export tariff, or up to £1448.79 with a battery.
Total annual bill savings are based on standard MCS calculations for a 10-panel (4.75kWp) solar system on a 3-bedroom East/West-facing home with no shading. System estimated to generate 4,822kWh per year, of which 2,000kWh is used at home, reducing electricity bought from the grid, and 2,822kWh exported at 15p/kWh through Good Energy’s Solar Savings tariff. Actual savings may vary depending on system size, tariff rates and household electricity use. Solar packages start from £6,250 (including installation). Price varies by property and system specification. See our full workings here.
Additionally, if you install your solar panels and battery through Good Energy, you unlock our highly-competitive export tariff (25p per kWh) for the first 12 months, meaning savings for the same 3-bedroom home with a 10-panel (4.75kW) solar array and battery could save up to £1,730.99 in the first year.
Solar panel installation is quick and, for most homes, can usually be completed in a single day. Scaffolding is typically installed a couple of days before the work begins and removed shortly after the installation is finished.
Installation times can vary depending on factors such as the system size, roof complexity, weather conditions, and whether a battery system is included. Your installer will confirm the expected installation timeframe during your survey.
We’ll design the right system for your home and your needs, to help you achieve a quicker return on investment.
Our proposal data shows that most homes can achieve ROI within eight years, and over 40% can achieve it in as little as seven years.
Based on modelling from 157 Good Energy domestic solar proposals. Payback varies by property. Read how we’ve worked that out here.
Solar panels are suitable for most roofs in the UK. While south-facing roofs typically generate the most electricity, east-, west- and even north-facing roofs can still work well depending on your roof space and energy needs.
For example, one Good Energy customer, Richard, installed panels on a north-facing roof to maximise the space available, and his panels are helping generate extra electricity to power things like hot water and electric vehicle charging at home.
Click here to read Richards story: Installing solar panels on a north-facing roof
Commercial solar panels work in the same way as residential systems. Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into electricity, which is then passed through an inverter to make it usable for a building’s electrical systems. Businesses typically install larger systems on rooftops or nearby land so they can generate clean electricity on-site and reduce their reliance on grid power.
Interested in solar panels for your business? Learn what’s involved in commercial solar panel installation here.
Want to see how businesses are using solar to reduce overheads and increase resilience? Browse our case studies here.
Alternatively, you can call us on 0345 034 0755. Our experts are available on weekdays from 9am-5pm, excluding bank holidays.
Find out more about solar panels
* Based on modelling from 157 Good Energy domestic solar proposals. Payback varies by property. For more information on how we calculate our solar savings, please visit: goodenergy.co.uk/solar-panel-savings.