With a focus in the UK on moving away from fossil fuel heating and transitioning to more energy efficient systems, low-carbon heating alternatives are becoming commonplace. Solar panels meet this goal perfectly are a great investment for a property if you have the right space on your roof.

Unfortunately, not all homes are ideal for solar panels. To get the most out of solar panels they need to be predominantly south-facing and the roof should be unshaded during the peak period for daylight (roughly 10am-4pm). That said, it is still possible to have east/west facing systems and generate a good 80%+ compared to a south-facing roof. Regardless of the orientation, your roof does need to be in good condition and the space needs to be quite sizeable to accommodate the solar panels, which on average are likely to be around two two square metres each. Diagonal roofs are more effective at catching rays than panels on a flat roof.

The majority of heating systems in the home rely on burning fossil fuel or converting electricity into heat. Solar panels are a great option because they generate electricity for the home using daylight as the source, so are a low-carbon, renewable energy. Not only can the energy produced heat power your home, the excess can be stored in batteries for use later, or can even be sold back to the grid.

The majority of heating systems in the home rely on burning fossil fuel or converting electricity into heat. Solar panels are a great option because they generate electricity for the home using daylight as the source, so are a low-carbon, renewable energy. Not only can the energy produced heat power your home, the excess can be stored in batteries for use later, or can even be sold back to the grid.

Aside from the savings solar households would make by producing their own electricity, it is also possible to get paid for the excess energy you generate. Originally the Feed-in Tariff scheme provided financial incentive by paying for excess electricity from solar. This was closed to new applicants in March 2019, but has been superseded by the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). The Energy Saving Trust estimates solar homes could get paid up to £125 per year for any excess energy that is generated. It should be noted that SEG tariffs can differ widely between energy suppliers and the amount received for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generated from solar panels, but not used. It is therefore recommended that you shop around for the best imported electric rates.

The Government-backed Energy Companies Obligations (ECO) scheme places an obligation on some of the largest energy suppliers – including npower, E.ON and British Gas, SSE, EDF and Scottish Power plus others – to help make British households more energy efficient and help reduce their energy bills.

By offering free grants towards new energy efficient solar PV systems to eligible households helps reduce the cost of heating the home and contributes towards the overall drive to reduce carbon emissions.

Planning permission is not usually required for solar panels. The exceptions are if your property has a flat roof or is a listed building or in a conservation area. In these circumstances, approval might be required from your local authority building control team.

Solar panels that are professionally installed should not make any noise as there are no moving parts within the panels themselves. The inverter, which is usually attached to the side of the property or in a cool place such as a garage or utility room, and converts the current from DC to AC, may make some noise but is likely to be a quiet humming noise that is unlikely to be particularly noticeable. Any signs of loud noise would suggest that some maintenance is required.

The scheme aims to help low income households improve their home energy efficiency and any grants are non-repayable. Those eligible for a grant will either get a grant towards the installation of a solar PV system in their home. In some cases a contribution may be required towards the cost of the installation, but this will be made clear from the outset, following a free assessment at your home.

For residential properties, the installation of solar panels should take 1 day, though slightly larger properties with larger panels might take up to 2 days. Commercial installations can take longer, depending on the site and specific requirements.

It is worth noting that it doesn’t have to be sunny to generate electricity and that electricity will still be produced on dull days, admittedly at a lower rate. When you are not producing enough electricity to meet your demand, your home just draws electricity from the grid in the normal way, as you did prior to solar being installed.

Solar panels should be expected to last between 20-25 years, but some manufacturers suggest in some instances this could be as much as 40 years. Over time efficiency can fall (reducing by about 15% over their lifetime) and inverters may need to be replaced, but in the main, the life and performance of solar panels is a lengthy one.