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Solar panels are made out of photovoltaic cells that convert the sun’s energy into electricity. This direct current 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.

For a better understanding, click here for our straightforward overview. 

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 starts from just £6,120; and including a Tesla Powerwall 3 around £13,600.

You can see the full breakdown of solar panel costs here.

Most UK homeowners won’t qualify for the heavily advertised “free solar” schemes — these are usually aimed at low-income households or social housing tenants. What you can benefit from is the government’s 0% VAT rate on solar and battery installs, which takes thousands off the upfront cost automatically.

You may also be eligible for green finance products from mortgage providers, such as Nationwide’s 0% Additional Borrowing or Lloyds’ Eco Home Reward. And with Good Energy, you can unlock one of the UK’s best export tariffs — earning up to 25p per kWh when you install solar and a battery with us.

For a clear breakdown of genuine support versus scams, read our full guide here.

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
• Roof orientation and local weather patterns
• Whether your installation includes a battery
• Your energy tariff
• Your electricity consumption and usage patterns
• And 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.

If you’ve been wondering whether solar panels are really worth it, the best place to start is by hearing from someone who’s already made the switch. Imogen shares the real savings her family made in their first year with solar – and whether she thinks it was worth the investment – in her case study here.