Given the continual rise of the cost of living in the UK, you might be looking at ways to reduce your monthly expenditure, particularly when it comes to spending money on energy. Many homeowners look to solar panels to reduce their dependence on the National Grid and to get much of their energy directly from the sun. But is solar energy worth it in UK homes? We take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of turning to solar to power your home.
Pro 1: Renewable energy source
Fossil fuels are a finite resource, but we cannot run out of solar energy as it’s a renewable energy source. Therefore, if you install solar panels at home, you can rely on the sun’s rays to power your home, even if fossil fuels are unavailable. Not only is this better for the planet, but it also reduces your dependence on the National Grid.
Pro 2: Reduced energy bills
If you can rely on solar for most (or all) of your home electricity needs, you are able to significantly reduce or even eliminate your electricity bills. This is perhaps the biggest benefit of solar during the cost-of-living crisis. At AceOn, we are pioneering battery energy storage projects throughout the UK to help people store their solar energy, which is likely to have significant long-term benefits for homeowners who turn to solar to power their homes.
Research shows that if you install a 3kW solar panel system at home in the UK, you can save an average of £850 per year on electricity bills.
Pro 3: Low maintenance
Though solar panels can be expensive to install in the short term, they require very little maintenance throughout the year. As such, you don’t need to worry about expensive repair bills. What’s more, most solar panel installations come with a warranty of around 20 years, offering peace of mind and protection should anything go wrong.
Pro 4: Increased house value
Homeowners who install solar panels see an increase in the value of their properties as a result. In today’s competitive housing market, having solar panels is a way to differentiate your property from others and enables you to add to your asking price. So, if you’re planning to sell your house at some stage, the fact that your home has solar is a win as far as your house valuation is concerned.
Con 1: Installation cost
The biggest drawback to solar energy is the initial cost of installation. Although the cost of solar panels is dependent on various factors, it can cost anywhere between £5,000 and £11,000 to install solar panels at your home in the UK. It goes without saying that this is a considerable outlay, even though it delivers significant cost savings in the long run.
Con 2: Weather
It’s fair to say that the weather in the UK isn’t ideal for solar panels. In the winter months, short days mean that there’s not a great deal of sunlight, and from November – March, it can be difficult to power your home on sunlight alone. This is why battery energy storage is so important for home solar installations, as it enables you to generate power from your panels when the sun is out, storing it for use during the hours of darkness or when the weather isn’t suitable for energy generation.
The verdict: Is solar energy worth it in UK homes?
We would say that solar energy is definitely worth it in UK homes. It is a renewable energy source that reduces electricity bills, requires little maintenance, and increases the value of your property. However, it’s so important that you couple solar energy with battery energy storage, as you need to make sure that you can tap into solar power even when the sun isn’t shining.
AceOn Group is one of the UK’s leading residential battery energy storage experts. If you have any questions about how battery energy storage works or would like our help or advice for an upcoming project, do get in touch with one of our battery experts today.
Alternatively, you can read up on how to use battery energy storage without solar panels in the UK – something that many homeowners are currently exploring.
