It’s clear that renewable sources are the future of energy production, but, you may be wondering, how much do solar panels save on electricity bills and is it really worth the investment? Solar panels are a renewable energy source that utilises power collected from the sun. In this article, we explore how solar panels can reduce energy bills, factors that can affect solar panel pricing and the components in a solar panel system.
Solar panels are designed to use the natural energy from the sun to power your home; in a single hour, the amount of power from the sun that strikes the Earth is more than the entire world consumes in a year. While they are a long term investment, the benefits soon start to show after installation. As the solar panels collect and convert power, you can use this electricity around your home working in both bright sunshine and cloudy conditions.
Powering your home with solar energy means you aren’t relying on grid power, reducing your electricity costs. Using solar batteries can further improve the efficiency of your home, while reducing your reliance on the national grid. Monitoring solar electricity consumption enables you to identify where you are using their energy, and calculate your solar panel savings; smart technology devices built into batteries allow you to monitor and utilise the energy stored efficiently.
As the price of energy continues to rise year on year, generating solar energy and using it yourself can have a dramatic effect on your energy bill and could give you a higher return on your investment than a standard savings account. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme, which launched in January 2020, allows households in Great Britain to get paid for the solar energy they ‘export’. This is electricity you generate, but don’t use yourself, which is then sold back into the national energy grid.
Installation process
With our team of experts at Aspecte, we pride ourselves on customer service. Our Solar Panel Installation process is designed to be as seamless and simple as possible, following five simple steps:
- Submit an enquiry to our friendly team, who will schedule an appointment for you straight away.
- One of our qualified electricians will come out to you to complete a survey on your residence and provide advice on the best system to suit your needs.
- After the survey, our team will calculate your estimated generation, consumption and savings via our advanced software and provide a quote bespoke to your needs and budget for the work that needs to be carried out, including any roofing repairs that may need to be completed.
- Once you have accepted the quote, our team will look to complete the work within a time scale that suits you.
- Our customer care team will reach out after the installation to make sure you are happy with your new Solar PV System.
How long do solar panels take to break even?
Solar Panels have been found to become carbon neutral 1 to 3 years after installation, and homeowners can break even on their solar panel system from as little as 5 years. This may depend on the type of solar PV panels installed, if a battery is installed, as well as the overall system size, location of the array and how much the solar panels cost.
What are the Additional Components to a Solar Panel system?
While a solar system can operate exclusively with the panels and a solar inverter, the system can only be used effectively during periods of direct sunlight. The solar power has to be used as soon as it is collected, which can reduce the savings made by the household. Many homeowners choose to add solar battery storage to their PV system.
A solar battery storage system enables homeowners to collect and store their solar energy to use when there is no power being generated from the solar array. This means they can use the energy when it suits them. In instances where grid power may not be available (Such as a power cut), the renewable energy can be used to power household appliances until the national grid power becomes available. Installing solar panels can provide homeowners another stream of income, as excess electricity can be sold back to the national grid.
Does my solar panel system require any maintenance?
While solar panels are low maintenance, we recommend our customers get their solar PV system serviced once a year. This service keeps the solar panel system working, giving a peak power output and also updating any software that might require a refresh. Alongside a regular service, we recommend that our clients get their solar panels regularly cleaned. While rain water does clean the solar panels, it doesn’t remove all the dirt. If allowed to build up, it will reduce the amount of direct sunlight that hits the solar panels; Aspecte can service your new or existing systems and provide a cleaning service to ensure you’re generating to your full potential.
Conclusion
Overall, homeowners with solar panels see excellent savings on their electricity bills, especially since they can break even from as little as 5 years time. If you’re interested in receiving a free, no obligation solar panel quote, contact our team on 01953 660550 or email us on aspecte@aspectgroupservices.co.uk to discuss the benefits of solar energy.