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Installing Solar Panels now, will be worth it in just a few years

After soaring energy prices, we are all looking for ways to reduce our energy consumption and make our money stretch further. Solar panels have been found to have the shortest payback period on record, which may help in more ways than one!

What kind of savings can you make?

Generating your own energy is one of the best ways to reduce your living costs at home. The amount of installations has surged to a seven-year high, making the market for solar panels more equipped than ever. Solar panels cost on average £5,400 to supply and install. With average annual bills forecasted to ramp up to £4,400 from January 2023 this means solar panels will have the shortest payback period on record. Compared with fully relying on an on-grid provider this means households with solar panels can save approx £900! A further saving can occur when the £99 a year households can make money while selling their energy back to the grid - if they are using the best rate on the market. How much you’ll get paid depends on the Smart Export Guarantee tariff you sign up to. Find out more about the Smart Export Guarantee here.

How do I know what kind of solar panel is for me?

With solar panels lasting on your roof for 20 years or more it’s important to choose the right brand and solar PV system for your home. On top of cutting your energy bills down, this method of generating energy is also helping improve your carbon footprint. According to a recent article (which you can read here) the most commonly owned and currently available brands are:

  • Sharp

  • LG

  • Sunpower

Canadian Solar, Hyundai, JA Solar, Panasonic, REC, Solarworld and Suntech were also popular. In a nutshell each brand has a different product warranty, power output warranty, service warranty and a maximum power output and efficiency. These specialists can assist you with the amount you will need on your house to produce the most efficient energy, the orientation, and the specification. There are some really neat designs that are now available. They are so thin that they look to be part of your roof. For more information on each of these brands please see this article.

What are some top tips to help best utilise my solar panels?

  1. Use your appliances during the day. Take full advantage of those sunlight hours by turning on your heavy appliances during the day. Items like washing machines, dryers and dishwashers can use the power as it's being produced. Free energy!

  2. Stagger your consumption. Try filling your dishwasher at night but then turning it on in the morning. This helps prevent you from drawing from the grid if you need a little extra to finish that load.

  3. Heat or cool your home late in the day. Avoid that extra peak energy rate and use the last few hours of daylight to heat or cool your home.

  4. Check for Shade. Any trees or debris that reduce the amount of sunlight hitting your solar panels can impact your system’s performance, so trim back or clean away these items.

  5. Clean your panels! Getting on your roof can be difficult and dangerous so get a professional in to clean your panels. We don’t want dirt, dust and bird poop to impact the savings you can make.

  6. Swap out your old appliances for efficient ones. Simple upgrades and LEDs can lower your consumption at night, this means you can keep reducing your bills when it's sundown or winter.

  7. Monitor your usage. Getting a good insight into your energy usage habits and how your solar panels perform throughout the year can help you understand the best way to use them. Some energy providers can show you your energy use. Or speak with your specialist installer, they may have an app you can tap into. Knowledge is key!

Here at Method Studio Architecture we can help guide you toward the right system for you. We have completed countless planning applications for PV Panel Installation and have had great feedback from our clients. We are here to help you invest in a small carbon footprint and a future of saving money on energy costs. Talk to our architectural team today to help get the best overall strategy for your home.