Are Solar Panels Really Worth It?

Dogbyte009

As others have said it's hard to know if it's good value without understanding what you're getting for your £12.5k.

Since installing solar panels and a battery in 2020 I've cut my annual electricity bills is half. You have to learn to build your life around solar a bit - put the washing machine on when the sun's out, etc.

Also you should earn from surplus power exported to the grid from day one.

David_Mills

Questions: 1.Do you face between SE and SW?

2. Are you in a part of the country with reasonably high sunshine hours?

3. Will the panels get an unimpeded view of the sun for 

most of the day when it shines?

4. Can you fit in at least 3KwH of panels?

5. Will you be able to clean them if necessary? (which it will be eventually)

If yes to all, definitely worth considering. If and when your system is installed, make sure the inverter is in a cool place, and that you have easy access to data on performance. Our inverter and the important electrics are in our dining room and have been for 14 years of successful operation. ,

debitcardmayhem

David_Mills said:

Questions: 1.Do you face between SE and SW?

2. Are you in a part of the country with reasonably high sunshine hours?

3. Will the panels get an unimpeded view of the sun for 

most of the day when it shines?

4. Can you fit in at least 3KwH of panels?

5. Will you be able to clean them if necessary? (which it will be eventually)

If yes to all, definitely worth considering. If and when your system is installed, make sure the inverter is in a cool place, and that you have easy access to data on performance. Our inverter and the important electrics are in our dining room and have been for 14 years of successful operation. ,

The op has never returned since their first post, don’t expect any answers

N6xxy

Sorry for my rudeness, I was a bit overwhelmed with figures, saving for other things and pressure from hubby to just go for it. Thank you for your responses!

We ended up getting the solar panels through octopus. 9 to be exact, with 2 batteries for £8,500
We are south facing and do not plan on moving. My husband is also keen to have an electric vehicle at some point. So far we are paying around £29 a month in electricity and will hopefully be earning back as we have now had the tariff changed to export to the grid (I'm hoping to get some form of comp as they hadn't changed the tariff when asked and had to be chased before they realized)

QrizB

Thank you very much for coming back to update your thread!

£8500 is a much better price than £12500, and a more reasonable amottonpay for the system you've got (which I'm guessing is 9 x 460 watt panels plus 2 x 4 kWh batteries).

When it comes around to October/November, think about switching tariff to one where you get cheaper electricity overnight; you can then charge your batteries on cheap nighttime electricity and run through the day on that, avoiding any expensive daytime electricity.

Even if you don't qualify for any of Octopus's innovative tariffs, boring old Economy 7 should save you some money in the months when the sun doesn't shine.

N6xxy

Thank you and noted! The Batteries are both 5kWh