How much do solar panels cost to install?

How much do solar panels cost to install? It’s a great question, one that any homeowner interested in purchasing solar panels will see as a key factor in their decision.

In the last couple of decades, there has been a shift from a position in the UK where the sight of solar panels on a domestic rooftop was unusual, to a position where they have become increasingly popular. If you own a property, the installation of solar panels and a solar battery could provide your home with a range of economic and environmental benefits. But how much does installation cost?

The price of the solar panels themselves will vary significantly depending on the number you need and the brand you opt for, but when you purchase solar panels, you should know many solar suppliers will include standard installation for free. 

If you require a non-standard installation due to a factor such as the gradient or positioning of your roof, there may be an additional cost, but you should definitely always check with your prospective solar supplier whether their quoted prices include VAT and installation.

If that’s all the information you need, feel free to head on to check out some of the UK’s leading solar suppliers. If you want any more information on the workings of solar panels, as well as the potential benefits offered by adding a solar battery - more on that later - then we’ve put together a few short sections to provide some more details.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Amongst all the different alternative power sources that domestic properties have looked to utilise in recent decades, the solar panel offers the best chance to be successful at powering your home in an affordable and sustainable way. 

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells (PV). These cells take direct sunlight and convert it into electricity. You can then use the energy from solar panels to replace a significant portion of your traditional electricity usage. In terms of changing your lifestyle, it can have a dramatic effect.

You are immediately reducing your reliance on traditional energy sources, and in turn, reducing the carbon footprint of the household. Mostly, it allows you to significantly reduce your energy bills, which will help to offset the purchase costs and - in time - enjoy the full financial savings once the purchase of your solar panels are so paid off.

Does a Smart Battery Make Sense for My Home?

Whilst the benefits of solar panels are considerable, the key to unlocking and harvesting the full potential of solar energy is found in storing the surplus solar energy generated during the day, in order to make use of it once the sun’s gone down / solar stops generating. Adding a solar battery ensures that your solar panels can not only provide solar power to your home during daylight hours, but that they can also provide some of that power to your home at night.

In fact, the solar battery allows you to use solar power even when the sun isn’t shining. While the solar panels are generating solar power to be used in your home throughout even the cloudiest day, it is even better to know that they are also connected to your solar battery, charging it for use at night.

Should I Get Solar Panels and a Solar Battery?

This is very much a personal choice for each home, based on their current financial position and thoughts on their environmental contributions. 

In terms of getting the best deal for your particular home energy needs, most solar suppliers will want to speak to you in more detail to provide a specific quote, and to provide detailed information about their services with regards to installing solar panels and a solar battery. 

By thinking about not only solar panel installation, but also a solar battery, you’ll have a higher initial cost, but also be plugging into a whole host of long-term savings.

Look for the 25-year guarantee many suppliers offer on solar panels, and 10-year guarantees on most solar batteries.