Solar panels - how much electricity are your panels actually generating?

Screwdriva

apennysaved_4 said:

Laycity said:

Not sure what you’re asking? I don’t think anyone here will claim they are a great financial investment anymore unless they got them 10 years ago.

What are your reasons for installing them? 

My motivation is not really to save huge sums of money in the short / medium term. I've reached the time of life that I have some financial security and want to invest in something like this to do my bit to reduce emissions. I expect to be in this house for the next 10 years at least. I got rid of my petrol car and now lease an EV, so the next logically step is to start generating (and storing) my own electricity. And then get an air source heat pump, but that's another story...

The question is to see if they actually generate the electricity that is claimed. I don't want to spend £000 and then not be able to light a bulb! The next question will be 'what deliver the best kwh for the buck?'

I was exactly in your position -  I invested in solar because I could afford to. I didn't want to be conned into spending on something that didn't deliver. Safe to say, solar delivers...albeit slowly. I don't expect to see a return on my investment for a decade. 

If you have an EV, then smart charging your vehicle on sunny days hastens the payback period. Also, solar the most sense if you have a South facing roof (SE, SW also fine).

Since installing solar, we find that we use our appliances during sunlight hours. We no longer purchase products or services that are harmful to the environment (eg. our blinds are made from recycled ocean plastic, our decking is composite wood made from recycled wood and plastic etc.). Highly recommend this way of life!