Solar battery costs are primarily determined by the battery's chemical materials, life cycle, storage capacity, and usable capacity. Typically, in the UK, these factors cause storage system costs to range from £1,200 to £6,000. It is important to note that since a solar battery's lifespan is 5 to 15 years, it may need to be replaced more than once during the 20-30 year lifespan of the solar panels. As a result, the total cost of installing a solar panel system can increase.

However, if you are away from home during peak sunlight hours, a home battery storage system is a valuable investment. Your solar batteries can store electricity for use when you are at home after dark. Although solar battery storage system costs are not cheap, the investment can be worthwhile if implemented effectively. By using batteries, you can become completely self-sufficient and independent in terms of energy.

If you are interested in benefiting from the convenience provided by solar battery storage systems, you can fill out the form above to receive up to three customised quotes from our trusted solar battery suppliers and installers. This service is free and comes with no obligation.

What’s on this page?

1. How Do Solar Panels Work?

2. What’s the average cost?

3. Factors Affecting Solar Panel Costs in the UK

4. Additional Cost

5. How much will you save with solar panels?

6. When will you break even?

7. Is there any funding available?

8. Find the right Solar Panels installer

What are the Benefits of a Solar Battery Storage System?

Pairing solar batteries with solar panels is a new but effective practice that can provide four key benefits:

1. Store energy for later use

2. Significantly reduce energy costs

3. Earn money by selling stored energy back to the grid

4. Become independent from the national grid

Firstly, solar batteries store the energy produced during daylight hours and make it available for use during periods of low or no production, such as at night or on cloudy days. By utilizing photovoltaics, it's possible to power your home entirely with renewable solar energy 24/7, as long as your energy demand does not exceed your battery's supply.

Additionally, solar battery backup power can significantly decrease energy costs. By charging the battery during off-peak hours and discharging it during peak hours, you can avoid paying high electricity rates to your utility company. The savings from this can help offset the cost of the battery system.

Moreover, you may even be able to earn money by selling the energy stored in your solar battery back to the grid when electricity prices are at their highest, if your energy provider allows it.

Lastly, adding a solar panel battery to your solar system can provide energy independence by enabling you to disconnect from the national grid at any time. The number of solar panels required for this will depend on your energy demands and budget.

When Should You Install a Solar Battery Storage System?

A solar battery storage system is most effective when used in conjunction with a solar PV array. Luckily, if you already have a solar panel array installed, adding a solar battery to your system is a relatively simple task. Alternatively, if you don't have either system yet, you can purchase them together to power your home entirely with renewable energy.

The two technologies work together to lower your storage system costs by significantly increasing the efficiency of your solar panel array. If you've been considering going green, now is an excellent time to start taking advantage of the potential savings on your monthly electricity bill.

Solar battery storage systems offer various types of batteries to choose from, each with its own advantages, such as greater eco-friendliness, a longer lifespan, and easier installation.

If you don't have a solar panel system, you can still purchase a battery and charge it with energy from the grid, though this would not be considered a solar battery solution. However, charging your battery during off-peak hours can still help reduce your energy costs.

Grid-connected and Stand-alone PV Systems

Grid-connected systems use the local utility grid to ensure that you always have access to electricity. If your solar panel system generates more electricity than your household requires in a day, the excess energy can be exported back to the national grid. Conversely, if you require more electricity than your solar panels can generate, the grid can supply the additional electricity.

Stand-alone PV systems, on the other hand, do not connect to the grid. Instead, they charge a solar battery system that stores the electricity generated by your panels. This stored electricity is then used to power your appliances. Stand-alone systems are typically more expensive than grid-connected systems because solar batteries are still relatively costly. They are often used in areas that cannot be connected to a grid.

Solar Battery Storage Systems

Solar battery storage systems allow for the storage of electricity generated by solar power, which can be used during periods when solar panels are not producing electricity, such as during the evening hours. This storage technology is applicable for both grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems.

While the cost of solar battery storage systems can be quite high, ranging from £1,200 to £6,000, depending on the size and capacity, advancements in technology may lead to price reductions in the future.

If you already have a clear idea of what you want and don't want to spend any more time searching, just click the button below to receive up to three solar panel quotes. This service is entirely free, and there is no obligation to accept any of the quotes you receive.

What’s the average cost of solar panels?

For a three-bedroom house, a 3.5 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar panel system typically starts at £5,200. On average, the cost of solar panels is £1,600 per kWp. For a two-bedroom home, it generally needs a 2 kWp system which costs around £3,300.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a 4.9 kWp system, which is appropriate for a four or five-bedroom home, costs around £7,600.

While higher quality panels may be more expensive, their increased efficiency and power can allow your home to generate more electricity, as long as they are kept clean.

The costs and CO2 savings are based on data from the Energy Saving Trust, while the amount of solar electricity generated is derived from figures from the European Commission.

The cost of adding a solar battery

The typical expense of a solar battery for a three-bedroom house is £4,500. The price for a smaller house is typically around £2,500 while a larger property may spend £5,500. The larger the battery, the more energy it can hold, and the greater the advantages - but at a higher cost. By incorporating a solar battery, you can save an extra £219 annually on average, boost your use of solar electricity, and decrease your carbon footprint by an additional 15% – equating to an extra tonne of CO2 per year. However, considering the cost of adding a solar battery to your solar panel system, the average three-bedroom home will take an extra nine years to break even on the whole installation. As a result, we do not suggest investing in this expensive item twice over the lifespan of your solar panels.

Kindly be advised that the costs provided are only approximations and are derived from typical industry rates. Therefore, they may not precisely reflect the actual fees charged by a solar panel installer. If you desire a more accurate estimate of the expenses involved, please complete the brief form and communicate with certified solar panel vendors in your area.

Factors Affecting Solar Panel Costs in the UK

The actual cost of setting up solar panels on your individual property will be subject to the subsequent factors:

System Size

Solar panel systems are available in different sizes, and selecting the appropriate size depends on the dimensions of your home and your personal electricity usage needs. In short, larger solar panel systems come with higher installation costs. For instance, a system with an average size of 4kW would require approximately £6,000 for installation. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that typically, the cost per kW reduces as the size of your system increases.

Type of Panels

There are three primary varieties of solar panels employed for residential purposes: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film solar panels. Monocrystalline panels offer the greatest efficiency, albeit at a more expensive price point. If cost is a significant consideration for you, then polycrystalline panels may be a more appropriate option. Typically, the cost of monocrystalline solar panels with higher efficiency is around £1 to £1.50 per watt, while polycrystalline panels cost approximately £0.90 to £1 per watt.

Installation Process

The installation process is another element that influences the overall expense of solar panels. You can either install the solar panels on your own or engage a professional for the job. If you opt for a DIY installation, you will need to consider the number of panels, their angle, and the durability of your roof.

Nonetheless, even if you install the solar panels yourself, it's important to note that you'll need to engage a certified professional if you wish to take advantage of the Smart Export Guarantee, which allows you to earn money by exporting energy back to the grid.

Additional Components to the System

Incorporating supplementary components into your solar panel system during installation may lead to a higher equipment cost, but it can decrease installation expenses. For instance, if you're contemplating installing a solar battery storage system or including features such as pigeon proofing for your panels, it's recommended to bundle them with your panel installation to decrease your overall installation expenses.

Location and Labour Costs

The installation cost of solar panels usually encompasses labour expenses, which can vary depending on the location and the hourly rate of labour in that particular region. Typically, the cost ranges from £300 to £500 per day for an individual, and this amount may be higher or lower based on your location within the UK.

Additional Costs

After utilizing the calculator and provided information to determine the required number of solar panels and whether or not a solar battery should be included, it is important to take into account three potential future expenses.

Solar panel inverter

The conversion of electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) is an essential process in any solar panel system, and it is the solar inverter that performs this function.

Although solar panels typically last 25-30 years, you will need to replace your inverter after 10-15 years. The cost of a new inverter ranges from £500 to £1,000.

Maintenance and repair

Solar panels are highly durable and don't require frequent repairs. They don't have any moving parts and are designed to withstand severe weather conditions like hailstones the size of golf balls. However, accidents can still occur, and your solar panels may be damaged by falling trees, extreme weather, or other unexpected incidents such as stray cricket balls or animals gnawing on wires.

In the event of such mishaps, it's recommended to hire a professional solar panel repair company. Attempting to fix the panels yourself can be dangerous and may end up costing you more in the long run.

Minor damages can be repaired for as low as £80, while more extensive repairs may cost up to £1,500.

Cleaning

In the UK, solar panels are usually kept clean by frequent rainfall, but bird droppings can reduce their efficiency and if your solar panels are located under a TV aerial, birds may perch on them, causing further dirtiness.

If you notice your solar panels becoming dirty, it's important to clean them. You can either hire a professional who will charge around £100 or follow our cleaning guide and clean them yourself.

How much will you save with solar panels?

On average, solar panels can reduce your electricity bill by 46%, resulting in annual savings ranging from £320 to £750 for most homes.

For an average three-bedroom household, this equates to an annual saving of £449 by utilizing only half of the solar power produced. The remaining half is sent back to the grid, unless you have a solar battery or utilize the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme.

By selling your excess solar-generated electricity back to the National Grid through an SEG supplier, you can earn up to 15p for every kilowatt hour (kWh) sold. This could result in an additional £219 in savings if you have a solar battery, or up to £85 per year through SEG payments for the typical three-bedroom household. In total, these savings from reduced electricity bills and SEG revenues could amount to £534 per year.

The amount of money you can save with solar panels is determined by various factors, such as your household's electricity consumption, the timing of appliance usage during the day when your panels are active, the efficiency of your solar panel type, and the potential income generated from solar panel funding schemes.

Maximising the use of your appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers during the day when the sun is shining and your solar panels are active can lead to increased savings on your energy bills. These minor adjustments can result in substantial cost reductions.

When will you break even on solar panels?

On average, it takes 10 years for the typical household to recover the cost of installing solar panels. After that point, solar panels usually continue to function for at least another 15 years, allowing a three-bedroom household to earn a total profit of £7,900 through savings on energy bills and revenues from the Smart Export Guarantee scheme.

Is there any funding available for solar panels?

Government schemes such as the ECO4 scheme and the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) provide funding options for solar panels.

If you qualify for certain benefits and have an electrically heated home, you may be eligible for free solar panels through the ECO4 scheme.

Moreover, the SEG scheme mandates large energy companies to pay you for the surplus solar electricity you generate but do not use.

In addition, residents of Scotland can avail themselves of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan, which provides loans up to £6,000 at zero interest with a repayment period of at least five years.

Find the right Solar Panels installer

If you're looking to purchase Solar Panels for your home, we can simplify the process for you. Rather than spending time researching various suppliers, all you need to do is fill out the contact form. Our trusted suppliers will then provide you with free, no-obligation quotes to assist you in making your final decision.