Wind turbines vs solar panels for UK homes: a practical comparison

◆Quick Comparison

	Solar Panels	Small Wind Turbine
Typical installed cost	£5,500–£9,500	£10,000–£30,000+
Annual output (typical UK home)	3,000–5,000 kWh	1,000–5,000 kWh (highly variable)
Planning permission	Usually not needed	Almost always needed
Works on	Most rooftops	Exposed rural sites only
Maintenance	Low (no moving parts)	Higher (rotating parts, gearbox)
Noise	None	Audible hum possible
Payback period	8–12 years	12–25 years (if suitable site)

◆How Each Technology Works

Solar Panels (PV)

Solar photovoltaic panels convert daylight — not just direct sunshine — into electricity. Output peaks around midday and in summer, with useful generation from March to October. A standard 4 kW system on a south-facing Sussex roof generates approximately 3,600–4,000 kWh per year.

Solar panels have no moving parts, generate silently, and typically last 25+ years with minimal maintenance. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for surplus electricity exported to the grid — currently 15p/kWh with the best tariffs.

Small Wind Turbines

Small domestic wind turbines (typically 1–6 kW rated output) capture kinetic energy from moving air. Unlike solar, they can generate power at night and in winter — but only if the wind is blowing consistently. The critical number is your site's mean wind speed: you need at least 5–6 m/s average to make a turbine financially viable.

Wind output is also highly non-linear: a turbine at 5 m/s produces roughly eight times less power than the same turbine at 10 m/s. This is why siting is everything.

◆Cost Comparison: What You Actually Pay

Solar Panel Costs (2026)

System Size	Installed Cost (inc. 0% VAT)	Annual Generation
3 kW (8 panels)	£5,500–£6,500	2,600–3,000 kWh
4 kW (10 panels)	£6,500–£7,500	3,400–4,000 kWh
6 kW (14 panels)	£8,000–£9,500	5,000–5,800 kWh

Small Wind Turbine Costs (2026)

Rated Output	Installed Cost	Annual Generation (good site)
1 kW (pole-mounted)	£4,000–£7,000	500–1,500 kWh
2.5 kW (mast)	£10,000–£18,000	2,000–5,000 kWh
6 kW (freestanding)	£20,000–£35,000	6,000–15,000 kWh

Output varies enormously with site wind speed. Costs include mast/foundation work but not land surveying or planning fees.

◆Planning Permission: The Critical Difference

Solar Panels

Most residential solar installations are Permitted Development — no planning application required. Exceptions include listed buildings, certain conservation areas, and panels that project more than 200mm from the roof surface. In practice, over 95% of East Sussex residential solar installations proceed without any planning involvement.

Wind Turbines

Domestic wind turbines almost always require planning permission. Local authorities assess applications on:

• Visual impact — mast height, visibility from roads and neighbouring properties
• Noise — turbines must meet BS 4142 noise standards; modelling is typically required
• Shadow flicker — rotating blades can cast flickering shadows into neighbouring windows
• Ecological surveys — bat and bird surveys may be required

In conservation areas and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (like parts of the East Sussex Downs), planning approval for a wind turbine is very unlikely. Budget £1,500–£5,000 for a planning application and pre-application surveys, with no guarantee of success.

◆Is East Sussex Suitable for Wind Turbines?

East Sussex has reasonable coastal and downland wind resources, but most residential properties are not well sited for turbines. Problems include:

• Trees and buildings cause turbulence that significantly reduces output and increases fatigue on turbine components
• Dense settlements — noise and visual impact objections are common in towns and villages
• Conservation constraints — South Downs National Park and multiple conservation areas restrict development

Properties that do work for wind: isolated farmhouses or rural homes on elevated, exposed ground with no planning constraints and neighbours more than 200m away. These represent a small minority of East Sussex properties.

◆Maintenance: What Ownership Really Looks Like

Solar Panels

No moving parts means minimal maintenance. Annual checks include cleaning accumulated grime and bird droppings (especially in spring), inspecting cable connections, and reviewing inverter performance data. Most homeowners do this themselves or book a £100–£150 annual check with their installer.

Wind Turbines

Moving parts mean more maintenance. Annual servicing by a qualified technician typically costs £200–£600 and includes bearing inspection, blade condition check, gearbox oil (if applicable), and brake system testing. Blade replacement after 10–15 years can cost £2,000–£5,000. Unplanned downtime during high winds is also a risk.

◆The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

For the vast majority of UK homeowners: solar panels. The combination of lower costs, simpler planning, no noise, no moving parts, and reliable East Sussex sunshine makes solar the obvious starting point. Add battery storage to capture what you generate and you'll cover 80%+ of your electricity needs in most households.

Consider wind only if: you own an exposed rural property with verified mean wind speeds above 6 m/s, clear planning feasibility, and enough land for a mast that complies with noise requirements. In that specific scenario, a small turbine can complement solar perfectly — especially in winter when solar output drops.

The best of both worlds: Solar + battery storage gives you reliable daytime generation, evening use of stored power, and protection against power cuts — all from a single, silent, low-maintenance system.

Get a free solar assessment for your East Sussex property — we'll tell you exactly how much a solar system would generate and save based on your specific roof and usage.