Are Solar Panels Worth It in the UK?

◆Are solar panels worth it?

For most homes in East Sussex with a reasonable roof, yes. Electricity is expensive, the panels are cheaper than they used to be, and a qualifying home installation is zero rated for VAT. HMRC's guidance says the zero rate runs to 31 March 2027, then reverts to the reduced rate of VAT of 5%. The system pays for itself and then keeps going.

This guide gives you the money side, the things that change it, and the cases where we would tell you not to bother.

◆Where the money comes from

You buy less electricity

The Ofgem price cap sets the unit rate most households pay. It is 26.11p per kWh from 1 July to 30 September 2026, rising to 26.32p per kWh from 1 October. Every unit you take from your own roof instead of the grid saves you that.

You get paid for what you export

Spare power goes to the grid and your supplier pays you for it. The scheme is the Smart Export Guarantee. Ofgem's guidance says licensed electricity suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers are required to offer at least one SEG compliant tariff. Smaller suppliers can join in if they want to.

Each supplier sets its own rate. They run at 4p–15p per kWh. You apply to a supplier, and it does not have to be the one that sells you your electricity. You need an MCS certificate or equivalent evidence, an export meter and an export MPAN, which identifies your export supply.

What that adds up to

Together, a typical home system saves £700–£1,200 a year. A 4kW system costs £6,000–£8,000 fitted. So payback runs from about five years at the good end to about eleven at the slow end.

Where you land depends on how much power you use in the day, whether you have a battery, and which export tariff you choose.

◆Is my roof any good?

Four things matter.

• Direction. South is best. South east and south west are close behind.
• Pitch. Around 30 to 45 degrees suits the UK.
• Shade. Trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings all cost you output.
• Condition. The roof has to be sound. If it needs work, do that first.

An east or west roof still works. The European Commission's PVGIS tool models a 1 kWp array in Eastbourne at a 35 degree pitch. Facing south it gives 1,156 kWh a year. Facing west it gives 915 kWh, and facing east 879 kWh. So an east or west roof makes roughly three quarters of what a south roof makes.

A house with both an east and a west face can often take panels on both. You then generate across more of the day rather than in one midday peak.

◆When solar is not worth it

We will tell you if it does not add up. Solar is usually a poor idea if:

• Tall trees or buildings shade the roof for much of the day.
• You are about to have the roof redone, or you plan to move soon.
• The property is listed, or planning rules where you live restrict panels.
• The only roof you have faces north.

Panels on a house are often permitted development, but the Planning Portal sets out limits and conditions that have to be met. Listed buildings and conservation areas are treated differently. We check this before we quote.

Even so, a free survey is worth having. Optimisers, micro inverters and a split east and west layout get round a lot of problems that look fatal from the ground.

◆Is it worth it if you rent?

You cannot fit panels to a home you rent without the owner's agreement. If you are the landlord, it is worth a look. Solar improves the EPC rating, and the rating matters.

The current rule is set out in the government's landlord guidance. Since 1 April 2020 landlords cannot let a home with an EPC below band E, unless an exemption applies. The government says it aims for as many privately rented homes as possible to reach band C by 2030. That is an aim, not a rule yet.

◆Beyond the money

Carbon

Every unit you make yourself is a unit the grid does not have to make. How much carbon that saves depends on the government's published conversion factor for grid electricity, which changes every year as the grid gets cleaner. The current factors are on GOV.UK.

Some protection from price rises

Making a decent share of your own electricity takes some of the sting out of the next price rise. With a battery and the right inverter, you can also keep some sockets running during a short power cut.

Your EPC

Solar improves the EPC rating, which matters when you sell or let the property.

Our guide to solar panel costs in the UK has the full price breakdown. It covers what moves a quote up or down, and how to compare installers.

◆The short answer

If your roof faces south, south east or south west and is not heavily shaded, solar is worth it. You get payback in single figures of years for most homes, 30-year panel warranties (panel dependent), and a bill that stops climbing quite so fast.

◆Common Questions

How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?

A 4kW system costs £6,000–£8,000 and saves £700–£1,200 a year. That is roughly five to eleven years, depending on your roof, your daytime use and your export tariff. We work your own figure out at the survey.

Do I need a battery to make solar worth it?

No. Solar on its own still pays. A battery raises the share of your own power that you use rather than export, so it lifts the yearly saving. It also adds to the price. We look at both at the survey.

Will an east or west facing roof still work?

Yes. PVGIS models an east or west roof in Eastbourne at roughly three quarters of what a south roof makes. Many homes put panels on both faces, which spreads the generation across the day.

Do I need planning permission for solar panels?

Usually not. Panels on a house are often permitted development, though there are limits and conditions. Listed buildings and conservation areas are different. We check the position for your address before we quote.

Is solar worth it for a rented property?

It can be, for the landlord. Since 1 April 2020 a home cannot be let with an EPC below band E, unless an exemption applies. Solar lifts the rating. Tenants cannot fit panels without the owner's agreement.

◆Next steps

Get a free solar quote and see the numbers for your home →

Use our solar savings calculator →

About our solar installation service →