How Much Are Solar Panels?

The cost for solar panels is around £5,000 to £7,000 per kW including installation. A typical family home will require 2kW to provide all their energy needs.

Cost of a Solar Panel

Historically the inefficiency of photovoltaic technology and the lack of sunlight throughout the year in the United Kingdom has meant that solar power was not a viable source of electricity, however recently the demand for green energy has resulted in breakthroughs in solar panel design and manufacturing costs have come down. The UK goverment has also introduced a feed-in tariff which has incentivised installation of solar panels on the roofs of both domestic and industrial property.

Any additional costs to consider

Photovoltaic solar panels are designed to withstand wind, sun, rain, and freezing conditions so very little maintenence is required. Planning permission is also not usually required with the exception of conservation areas and National Heritage sites. Most installers can check whether planning permission is required on your behalf. If planning permission is required there is usually an application fee for your case to be considered.

You should inform your buildings and contents insurance company of your solar panel installation and your premium may go up slightly.

As long as you make the decision to install the solar panels before December 2011, you can offset the cost of the installation against the government’s feed-in tariff which is backed for 25 years. Once you have covered your investment cost which usually takes 5 to 10 years, you can continue to make a good income as well as making generous savings on your electricity bill.

The investment of installing solar panels is equivalent to approximately 9%, so installing solar panels should be considered as more of an investment rather than a cost.