Solar panels and battery storage has soared in popularity over the last few years, largely due to the money households save on rising energy bills.
Around 970,000 UK households have solar panels installed. That is about 970,000 households saving money and reducing their reliance on the grid.
A home solar and battery system will soon pay for itself in as little as 4.1 years due to soaring electricity prices according to new data from the Carbon Brief.
The average payback period for solar panels in 2021 was 15 years or more! That’s a big difference and saving. These stats are based on the payback period for a £4,300 rooftop solar system, with a power capacity of 3kW.
In 2020, the average payback period was 16.7 years, but under the current price cap, this reduces to 11.1 years. When energy prices increase again, the payback period will get even shorter.
How much do solar panels cost?
A standard 250W solar panel costs £400-£500, but prices vary depending on the brand and size of your whole system.
A popular size for a home is a 4kW solar panel system which costs around £6,400 and will cover around 29 square metres of your roof or land.
Remember this is only the solar panel costs. There are often additional components to buy plus labour and installation costs.
Do I pay VAT on solar panels or battery storage?
No! You also save on VAT because the VAT on energy efficient measures, like solar panels and battery storage was scrapped by the government in 2022.
What types of solar panels are there?
There is an exciting world of solar panels out there to explore.
Most people look at aesthetics, price, value for money, performance, track record, and guarantees when they are choosing.
New products come onto the market regularly so it is best to contact our team who can advise you and give you the most up-to-date information.
Harness your own energy with Aero Renewable Solutions
You can expect your panels to last for at least 25 years. What is more, solar panels don’t simply stop working after 25-30 years.
They will continue to produce electricity, however, at a lower rate due to panel degradation. Panels are designed and continue working way beyond their guarantee period.
Solar panels guarantee
All of our solar panels come with a 20-year guarantee and you also have the option to extend your guarantee to 25 years. Rest assured that your panels are covered for every eventuality for at least 20 years. Once your solar system is installed, keep our details to hand - just in case. We are only a call away and what’s more, being in Birmingham means that we’re local and always near should you ever need us.
How much money will I save with solar/ battery storage?
You cut down on your electricity bills with the use of solar panels.
The more electricity your solar panels can generate, the higher the initial cost will be.
But your savings will also be higher in the long term.
For example, a 4kW solar panel system costs less to install, but you will not save as much as you would with a 6kW system over 20-30 years.
The solar energy that you use during the day when your panels are active is free, and it can result in annual savings of £850 - £1,460.
What is an example of what I can save?
Based on Energy Saving Trust estimates, a typical household with a 3.5 kilowatt-peak solar panel system can knock between £195 and £480/year off bills at Energy Price Guarantee rates (March 2022).
How much you save with your solar panels will depend on a number of factors:
Your ultimate savings come in the long term when you sell your surplus solar energy back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
This is an important question when you are thinking about buying solar panels. Thankfully the time frame is getting shorter and you will break even faster. The exact answer depends on a number of factors including:
Example: It would take a typical household in the UK with a 3.5kW solar panel system that costs £5,500, and 9+ years to recoup the costs of installing panels.
*2023 figures from the Energy Saving Trust. Estimate how long it will take you to break even with the solar calculator.