Solar panels offer an excellent way to make your home energy efficient and good for the planet. Because of their eco-friendly and cost-efficient nature, they are more popular than ever in UK households. Solar panels are an excellent renewable energy source as they convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Solar panels are eco-friendly and leave no carbon footprint. Moreover, they recover their cost in a very short period.
A 1kW solar panel system is the cheapest to install, but you won’t be able to save as much as possible with a 6kW panel. As you can see in the table, the savings per year have increased as the system size has increased from 1kW to 6kW. On the other hand, the installation costs are also increasing as we increase the system size. If you want to install a solar panel for a roof size of 22m2, you’ll need a 3kW panel with 12 panels.
How Much Does Solar Panel Installation Cost?
Although solar panel prices will vary depending on the circumstances, we will help by giving you clear estimates. The estimated costs of solar panel installation in 2022 are as follows.
| System Size | Roof Size | Number of Panels | Suitable For | Estimated Costs | Electricity Bill Savings Per Year |
| 1kW panel | 8m2 | 4 | One adult | ￡1800 to ￡3000 | ￡25 |
| 2kW panel | 14m2 | 8 | Two adults | ￡2700 to ￡5300 | ￡70 |
| 3kW panel | 21m2 | 12 | Family of 3 to 4 | ￡5300 to ￡6000 | ￡160 |
| 4kW panel | 28m2 | 16 | Family of 4 or more | ￡6000 to ￡8000 | ￡270 |
| 5kW panel | 32m2 | 20 | Family of 4 or more | ￡7000 to ￡9000 | ￡320 |
| 6kW panel | 43m2 | 24 | Family of 4 or more | ￡8000 to ￡10,000 | ￡430 |
The price of solar panel installation has fallen drastically over time. Solar panel installation in a household can cause anywhere between ￡5000 and ￡10000. Generally, the more electricity you want to generate from your solar panel, the higher the installation cost will be initially. However, high installation costs also mean you’ll be able to save larger amounts in the future. If you’re looking to renovate your house, you can also check out the house extension costs and services on Bark.
A 1kW solar panel system is the cheapest to install, but you won’t be able to save a lot of electricity with it. As you can see in the table, the savings per year increase multifold as the system size increases from 1kW to 6kW. On the other hand, the installation costs also increase as we increase the system size. On average, you’ll need a 3kW panel with 12 panels for a roof size of 22 metres square.
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What Are the Factors That Affect the Cost of Solar Panel Installation?
Solar panel installation is a big investment, and it can seem overwhelming initially. However, it will be very cost-effective in the long run. Moreover, you can also bring down installation costs by using a few simple tips and tricks we’ll explain later. Following are the factors that affect the overall costs.
The Number of Solar Panels
The greater the number of solar panels, the higher the installation cost. Since each panel sells separately, you’ll have to invest more if you want more solar panels. Additionally, more solar panels also add to the system’s overall efficiency. However, your supplier or trader can help you precisely determine your requirements.
For optimum performance, you should place solar panels in an unshaded area. Since solar panels need light to work, your investment will be useless in the shade or away from sunlight. Instead, you should try to clear the area nearby so that the solar panels can absorb maximum sunlight to generate electricity.
Roof Size And Angle
Although you can’t change the size of your roof or property, you must know that it also affects the installation cost. If you have a large home, you’ll have to install more solar panels, adding to the overall cost. Since larger houses have a greater electricity requirement, a bigger solar system becomes necessary. From our calculations above, you can see that a family of four or more needs around 16 to 24 or more solar panels to power your home. However, for a home with only one adult, only four solar panels will suffice and will only take up an area of 8 square metres.
Furthermore, the type of roofs, such as flat, metal, and shingle roofs, also affect your solar panel installation costs. For an angled roof, installing solar panels is easy, but for flat roofs, you will need to add scaffoldings to angle the panels, which adds to the total cost.
Location and Direction of the House
Another factor affecting the solar panel installation cost is your location. For instance, if you live in or around London, you’ll have to pay more than other locations. Moreover, a solar panel in full sunlight will make more electricity with fewer solar panels than a system in the shade.
Additionally, you should keep weather patterns and climate in mind as they will affect the equipment and system size. Furthermore, you must fix your house’s structural issues before installing solar panels. If not, you’ll have to reinstall the system, which would be more expensive.
National or Local Fitters
Like other services, local fitters are more affordable than national fitters. Since local fitters are more inclined to improve their company’s image, they offer competitive and reasonable rates compared to their national counterparts. Alternatively, national fitters focus on expensive advertising campaigns to get business.
Ease of Access
The cost of solar panel installation will also depend on ease of installation. For instance, if you have a roof in a perfect solar absorbing direction, the installation will be less costly because it will be easier. Whereas if your property has irregular rooflines, difficult angles, and skylights, installing solar panels will be harder. Also, ground-mounted solar panels are more expensive than roof-mounted systems. But if your roof is old and has structural issues, it will be more costly to install a solar panel on it, and a good idea will be to go for a ground-mounted solar panel.
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How Can I Save Money on Solar Panel Installation?
Despite being a big investment, there are several measures you can take to cut down solar panels’ cost of installation. We have compiled a list of a few things you can do to reduce the upfront installation costs. Following are some tips and tricks you may find useful.
Consider the Roof Direction
A south-facing roof is perfect for solar panel installation. If you are buying a new house or building a new one, you must consider a south-facing roof, particularly if you wish to install solar panels. This way, you’ll get the maximum return on your investment as the solar panels will receive direct sunlight for a major part of the day. Moreover, roofs facing southeast and southwest are equally efficient. Conversely, roofs facing west or east are 15% less efficient.
Geographical Location
For people in the UK, if you live towards the north, your house will get less sunlight compared to a location in the South. Again, this factor is useful if you’re looking for a new home and looking forward to installing solar panels on it. Since the country’s South is hotter, a house there will positively impact the solar panels’ performance. Moreover, these solar panels will be able to absorb and collect more energy and have a greater output too. Apart from that, the labour cost also varies for solar panel installation in different areas.
Use Solar Panels on Roofs as Well as on the Ground
These days, solar panels are present on the roofs and on vast farms. They are everywhere; you can see them in malls, factories, shops, and offices because of their energy efficiency. Seeing them on vast farms is surprising as farm owners prefer solar panel installation to grazing cattle or growing crops. If you have installed a Solar panel after April 2019, you’ll notice major savings on utility bills and maximum benefits overall.
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Which Type of Solar Panel Is the Best?
There are three types of solar panels include thin film, monocrystalline, and polycrystalline solar panels. Advanced and high-end solar panels are more energy efficient but have more upfront costs. Thin film solar panels are less expensive than crystalline ones, but they have lower solar efficiency and don’t last much longer either. So, compared to crystalline solar panels, you’ll need more solar panels in the thin film system to produce the same amount of energy.
Moreover, you’ll have to replace the thin film panels sooner too, and the addition of solar panels will add to the total cost of installation. Also, low-quality solar panels will seem cheaper at first, but they will cost more in the future as they are not very efficient in absorbing solar energy.
Advantages of Thin Film Solar Panels
- Cheaper than their counterparts
- They look more attractive because of their homogenous appearance
- They are flexible
- Resistant to shading and high temperatures
Disadvantages of Thin Film Solar Panels
- Require a lot of space (low space efficiency)
- Faster degradation
Advantages of Monocrystalline Solar Panels
- Highest efficiency rates as made up of high-grade silicon
- They are space-efficient
- They yield the highest power outputs and require the least space
- Have a long lifespan (mostly come with a 25-year warranty)
- More efficient in warm weather
Disadvantages of Monocrystalline Solar Panels
- They are very expensive
- Circuit break-down can occur in case of snow or dirt
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Advantages of Poly-Crystalline Solar Panels
- They have high efficiency
- Suitable for small and large scale installations
- Cheaper than monocrystalline solar panels
- More eco-friendly than monocrystalline counterparts
- They are good for large solar farms, traffic lights, and roof-mounted arrays
- Lower heat tolerance and less wastage of silicon
Disadvantages of Poly-Crystalline Solar Panels
- Lower efficiency than mono-crystalline
- Less space efficient
- Less uniform look
What Tasks Are Necessary for Solar Panel Installation?
To start with solar panel installation, the trader or builder will first do the groundwork and make necessary arrangements. Besides that, he will also ensure that the installation of solar panels is permitted in your locality and can prove beneficial in terms of absorbing energy. Following are the main tasks that involve solar panel installation:
Scaffolding
Scaffolding makes it easier to place solar panels on any structure or surface. Using ladders or scaffolds, you can reach heights and install solar panels in places that are otherwise difficult to access. If you want to install solar panels on complex structures like trees, scaffolding will allow you to access and make the overall installation project easier. A scaffold will make the work easier and reduce the solar panel installation time.
Installation of Mounts
Solar panel mounts are necessary for solar panels to rest on. The trader will install mounts and then place the system on these units. Highly skilled and professional traders know how to fit the mounts properly. The mounts should be in a tilt position between 18 and 36 degrees to get maximum sunlight exposure.
Mounts are also available in different types, which include pole mounts, roof-ground mounts, and flush mounts. Using these mounts, you can install the solar panels on a roof, on an RV, or beside a pole. You can also set them up as free-standing units.
Installation of Panels and Wires
After installing the mounts, the installer places the solar panels on them. This way, the trader instals the solar panels on the mounts. After placing the solar panels, they will wire them onto the system. The trader will use the right solar system wires to create and complete the circuit. Specific wires are suitable for solar panel cables; these are resistant to high temperatures, moisture, UV rays, and flames. These cables and wires are also more durable than normal wires. Traders use single wires or stranded wires for the installation of panels.
Battery and Inverter Installation
The battery and inverter play an important role in solar panel installation. Creating an electrical circuit will bring the flow to the inverter to convert DC to AC. A solar battery allows you to store the energy absorbed by the sun and then use it later to convert it into electrical energy. To simplify, let us tell you that solar panels produce DC power and that the batteries store DC power. However, most household appliances run on AC power, so an inverter converts the DC to AC. The different types of inverters for solar panels include solar inverters, battery inverters, hybrid inverters, off-grid inverters/charges, and solar charge controllers.
Testing and Connection
After completing the above tasks, a professional will test the connection and make sure they are working properly. The testing process will ensure they can capture and absorb energy so that the inverter converts it and delivers it to the household appliances. A professional should take care of all the testing tasks and connection settings because these are risky jobs because of high currents.
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How Do I Find a Professional for Solar Panel Installation?
Buying and installing a solar panel is a big investment; thus, you must hire experienced professionals who claim to be the best. There are numerous solar panel installers, and everyone will claim they are the best. Search the directory of Bark to find a professional and hire him to do the solar panel installation. The platform will help you look for the best professionals for your solar panels’ project.
At Bark, you can get free quotes and compare profiles of the solar panel installers. Plus, you can go through the reviews to make the right decision. The process of finding a professional at Bark is straightforward. You can provide information to the platform and help them refine the search by telling your requirements. You’ll then quickly receive free quotes from professionals to choose the best installers in your area. You can also contact the solar panels’ installers directly to decide wisely. The website also contains information to help you choose the right solar panels for your requirements.
Besides that, you can ask your family and friends to recommend a good solar panel installer. You can benefit from the experiences of your acquaintances who recently installed a solar panel at their place. This way, you can also avoid any bad installers if anyone you know had a bad experience with them.
How to Choose the Best Professional to Do the Job?
Choosing a solar panel installer is difficult because you want to choose the best professional to do the job. The professional you choose to hire should be a solar panel specialist and have complete skills, knowledge and experience to do the job. Reliable solar panel installers are registered and certified by relevant organisations such as the Solar Trade Association (STA) and Renewable Energy Assurance Limited (REAL). In the UK, you must consider an MSC-accredited installer.
To choose the best solar panel installer, you must consider the industry-standard certifications and credentials. Also, go for an installer with at least three years of experience in the field. You can ask questions like how many solar panels they have installed or how long they have been working as solar panel installers. Plus, ask for the types of modules they have worked on.
A good idea is to go through the online reviews of the installers and read about their experience with them. Solar panel installers offer different rates for doing the same job, and that is based on their expertise. More experienced professionals will survey your place and give you a quote based on your home’s energy usage, size, and other factors. In the end, ask for references and testimonials from the professionals so that they can prove their transparency. You can also use bark for other services like tree removals.
Final Tips
Solar panels help you save the environment and reduce your energy bills too. Solar energy has the least negative effects on your surroundings and requires minimum maintenance. We have prepared a final checklist if you have decided to install solar panels at your place. Following are the points to consider:
● Ask a professional to visit your place and check if your property is good for solar panel installation.
● Contact the local council and ask if any permission planning is necessary for solar panel installation. This is a very important thing to do because if the installation is prohibited due to some reason, you’ll end up wasting money due to the removal of the solar panels later.
● Make sure there is direct sunlight on your roof, and the area where you want to install the solar panels is free from shades. If any trees create shadows on the roof, you must remove them for maximum efficiency of solar panels. Similarly, remove other objects that cast shadows and cause hindrance in energy absorption and overall performance of the solar panels.
● Make sure that the trader or solar panel installer has registration for MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme). This improves the reliability of the trader and makes them more suitable to perform the solar panel installation.
● Use Bark to find a good solar panel installer or trader. The platform has an extensive directory of professionals to help you with solar panel installation.
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FAQs Regarding Solar Panels
1. Should I have Planning Permission or Building Regulations Approval for installing Solar Panels?
Solar panel installation comes under the category of permitted development; thus, installing it is not a big deal in most cases. However, you must still contact the local council and ensure it is permitted in your area or for your property. We always recommend checking with the local council before solar panel installation. Otherwise, you’ll have to remove the panels later if the local council does not permit it.
2. How to clean the solar panels?
The good thing about solar panels is that they require minimum maintenance. A few maintenance services are needed to keep your solar panel functional. Some companies offer these maintenance services for one or two hundred pounds. Besides that, solar panels also come with a warranty from manufacturers, which you can use if the system breaks.
As far as cleaning is concerned, you must not use any strong chemicals to clean the surface of the solar panels. If you see any dust or debris on the surface, clean it with a soft cloth and biodegradable soap.
3. How many solar panels do I need for my property?
Most houses will need around 12 to 16 solar panels on their roofs. The cost for installing 12 to 16 solar panels will be around ￡5300 to ￡8000. The more the number of solar panels, the higher the installation cost. However, at the same time, these panels will generate more energy and help you save more on your utility bills. You can also contact a professional to determine the number of solar panels required for your home. For a family of four or more, you can choose any system size starting from 4kW to 6kW. You can choose a system with solar panels according to your circumstances. However, the larger the system size, the more roof space is required.
4. What is a Smart Export Guarantee?
Smart Export Guarantee is a scheme that allows electricity firms to improve their production capacity. The guidelines for the SEG came into action in January 2020, which stated that any electric firm with more than 150,000 domestic consumers should provide at least one export tariff for buying surplus energy from homeowners.
5. Is it difficult to sell a property with solar panels?
Solar panel technology is improving and advancing; thus, homes are becoming more energy efficient. There is a chance that in the future, people will be getting electricity for free due to the use of solar panels. Because of their efficiency, solar panels can add value to your property, and thus it won’t be difficult to sell a property with solar panels. Plus, the new homeowners will benefit from the reduction in electricity bills, which is a plus point for them. The estimated cost will be from ￡5000 to ￡6000, and the annual savings will be ￡160. In contrast, a 6kW panel has an installation cost between ￡8000 to ￡10000, allowing you to save ￡430 annually.
6. Do I need a smart metre for solar panel installation?
Having a smart metre is a valuable addition to your solar panel system. This device allows you to check and calculate the energy your solar panel produces and how much you consume. To buy a smart metre, you must tell the manufacturer that you have solar panels at your place so that they provide you with a compatible device. A smart metre is also beneficial for people looking forward to taking advantage of the Smart Export Scheme.
7. How much energy do solar panels generate?
The amount of energy that solar panels produce depends on numerous factors. A typical solar panel will produce 2kWh per day. The energy that the solar panels generate depends on how much sunlight the panels get and the quality and characteristics of the solar panel. The higher the wattage of a solar panel, the more electricity it can produce. Similarly, it can generate more electricity if it receives more sunlight. Solar panels produce more energy in the peak sun hours which means it is beneficial to use them in daylight.
According to an estimate, a 3kW solar panel system will generate around 2,600 kWh annually. Half of this energy will be consumed by the home appliances, while half will be exported. OFGEM states that a typical house consumes around 3200 to 4100 kWh per year.
Wrap Up
Now that you’ve figured out everything about solar panel installation and the total costs, you can get a system of solar panels for your home. Besides using solar panels, you can also make some changes to your daily routine to conserve energy. You can make your home more energy efficient by consuming energy and using home appliances in the daytime because, at that time, solar panels are more effective. In addition, to extend the lifespan of your solar panels, follow the solar panel maintenance and cleaning tips.
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