Are solar panels worth installing on your home?

Start with your roof and your electricity use

Solar panels can reduce purchased electricity, but the financial result is specific to the property and household. Orientation, shading, available roof area and installation cost matter. So does when you use electricity and how much generated power you can use at home.

Energy Saving Trust's guidance and calculator provide a useful starting point. Use your own consumption information and compare written installer proposals. A savings figure from a different house or an old tariff should not become the basis of your investment decision.

Compare generation, self-use and exports

Ask each installer to explain the estimated generation, shading assumptions and expected self-consumption. Electricity used in the home and electricity exported are valued differently. Export payments depend on the applicable tariff and eligibility; future tariff levels should not be treated as guaranteed.

Consider a battery as a separate investment. It can change when electricity is available, but adds cost and has its own operating assumptions and replacement considerations. Ask for an appraisal with and without storage rather than assuming the larger package always offers a better return.

Coordinate with the building project

If you are extending or replacing a roof, discuss solar early. Roof condition, structural suitability, cable routes, inverter location and maintenance access should be coordinated. Installing panels shortly before major roof repairs may lead to avoidable removal and reinstatement costs.

Check planning and heritage restrictions for the property, together with applicable electrical, Building Regulations and network requirements. Use an appropriately qualified installer. The architectural arrangement should also consider rooflights, vents and visual impact rather than treating the panels as a late addition.

Questions for a quotation

• What roof survey and shading assessment support the proposal?
• What generation and tariff assumptions are used?
• Which costs, approvals and scaffolding are included?
• What warranties, maintenance and replacement allowances apply?
• What changes if household consumption or tariffs differ?
• How does the proposal work with future roof or extension plans?

For illustration, a simple payback calculation divides installation cost by estimated annual net savings. It does not capture every future change, financing cost or replacement expense. Ask for sensitivity testing rather than a single guaranteed payback date.

We can coordinate solar considerations with the architectural design and your installer. Bring the idea into the brief early, particularly for a new home, roof alteration or major refurbishment, so the roof and services are designed as a coherent whole.