How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

Wondering if solar panels are worth buying? We have calculated the numbers to help you estimate how much solar panels will cost your home.

Solar panels are not cheap. According to data published in March 2022, the Energy Savings Trust estimates that a three-bedroom, four-person semi-detached home will cost £6,500 to install in March 2022. What kind of energy do you want to create? members can access data showing how much you can pay for different houses.

Solar panels can help you lower your electricity bills, and you can also make money by generating electricity that you can sell to your energy company. This way, you will ultimately recoup your initial investment in lower energy costs.

Read on to find out more about the cost of installing solar panels. Also, find out how much you can earn from solar PV and whether solar PV is a good investment for you.

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solar panel price

According to our survey of over 1,000 solar panel owners, the most popular solar panel system sizes range from 3.6kW to 4kW*. Systems of this size generate an average of 3,750 kWh of electricity per year for owners.

For comparison, according to the energy regulator Ofgem, a house using an "average" amount of electricity consumes an average of 2,900 kWh per year. "High" users consume 4300 kWh per year.

The cost of a photovoltaic solar system depends on:

system size including number of panels
types of solar panels
type of building where they will be installed
quality converter and other components.

We partnered with the Royal Institute of Certified Surveyors (RICS) to find out the average cost of solar PV systems of various sizes. The table below shows how much you have to pay for a solar PV system, including inverter, control and installation.

Only official What? Users can view prices. If you are not a member, why join? for instant access to these and our reviews of Thesolar panel brands .

The cost of solar panels for energy production

The more electricity the system can produce, the greater the energy savings, but the higher the initial cost.

It is important that your system is sized to match your household's power consumption to avoid overcharging.

If you're not sure what size solar panel system is right for your home, we've also listed the price you should pay based on your annual electricity consumption. You can find this on your annual energy report or online bill.

Electricity consumption is based on a typical Ofgem domestic consumption value with an intermediate profile class between use 1 (single-rate meter) and use 2 (multi-tariff meter).

But remember that solar panels produce most of the electricity during the day, so don't use them (unless you have batteries at home). In fact, our survey* of solar panel owners shows that:

12% use less than a quarter of solar energy
34% use a quarter and a half
22% use half to three quarters
13% use more than three quarters.

So you still have to get electricity from the grid, especially on dark winter nights.

Battery packs allow you to store the electricity generated by solar panels until you need them, but buying batteries greatly increases installation costs, meaning your system will take longer to pay for itself. Learn more about solar panels and batteries . Battery charging is not included in the above price.

Cost of solar panels by type of property

Another way to estimate the cost of solar panels is to look at the most common system sizes in different types of homes.

The fees below show the average amount that solar panel owners in our survey paid for their systems.

Which one of? Members must log in to view prices paid by owners . If you are not a member, why join? express charges.

All prices are above average, so you should get a quote from a solar panel company for your specific needs. The three quotes will allow you to compare prices for your specific system and home.

What do we use? Use the Trusted Trader search tool below to find a local solar specialist near you for a quote and installation.

Are solar panels getting cheaper?

The cost of solar panels has plummeted since 2011 and has fallen again in the past two years.

According to statistics released by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in May 2021, the average cost of solar panels dropped by around £250 per kilowatt between 2018/19 and 2020/21. .

He said the average cost per kilowatt of a small solar PV system (0-4 kW) is £1,429.

In 2013-2014 the average price was about £480/kW higher.

When is the cheapest solar panel?

Prices change throughout the year. For example, according to BEIS, the price per kWh from May 2020 to April 2021 is highest in April, May and February, and lowest between August and October.

However, this does not mean that solar panels are always cheaper in summer. In the spring of 2020, Covid-19 will affect prices. November was the cheapest month last year (2019-20).

We recommend that you get three quotes before purchasing to get an idea of the current prices for your installation.

Get paid for electricity from your solar panels

Some energy companies will pay you for electricity that you do not use, but that is produced by solar panels fed into the grid. This is called the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and is backed by the government; however, "guaranteed" simply means that the price you are getting is above zero.

When you export electricity that you don't use, you don't automatically receive it. You must be registered with a power company and your solar PV system must be installed by a registered MCS (Micro Generation Certification Scheme) installer.

Learn what Smart Export Guarantee is, including how much you can earn and which companies offer it.

The SEG replaces the government's Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme, which was closed in March 2019. If you're already registered, check out our discount guide.

Solar Panel Cost Calculation

To calculate average purchase and installation costs based on system size and capacity requirements, the Royal Institute of Certified Surveyors (RICS) analyzes costs from a variety of sources, including surveys, online pricing and retail price data. Combine them with quotes from specialized subcontractors to get the most accurate average price.

The price includes everything needed for installation. This includes materials, labor, preliminary work, contractor fees, VAT, and profits.

Material prices are based on the best average selling price in the country and reflect typical fall 2021 prices. Pay rates are based on existing industry agreements on wages and benefits. Both are affected by the current economic climate and industry pressures.

Information is copyrighted by RICS 2021 and reproduced with permission. Prices are valid until October 2021.

*Which one of? In June 2021, he conducted an online survey among 1,116 people. Connect participants to solar panels.