Have you thought about tapping into solar power? Photograph: Andy Rain/EPAĪ diverter can send any surplus energy generated by solar PV panels to an immersion heater. That means running appliances such as the dishwasher during the day, not at night. You will want to change your electricity usage habits to make the most use of your panels. The typical bungalow or detached home in the UK uses about 4,100 kWh a year, so panels producing 3,500 kWh a year will cover much of your usage. Will it supply all my electricity? And heat my water? That would mean the value of electricity produced by a 4kW system would rise to £1,575 or more – suggesting solar panels could in theory pay for themselves in as little as five years.īut electricity unit prices could fall back, while the costs of the panels and installation are likely to rise, possibly steeply, so there are no guarantees. However, the 28p unit price is expected to leap to 45p or more this winter. In practice, the precise payback period will be different for every household and could be significantly more than the seven years if the home is unable to use much of the electricity produced. So if you paid £7,000 for an installation, in theory it’s paying for itself in about seven years. Photograph: EyeEm/Alamy Is it worth it?Ī 4kW system, suitable for the average home, should generate about 3,500kWh (kilowatt hours) of electricity a year across much of England.Īt the time of writing, the average 28p unit price of electricity a kWh means the 3,500 kWh produced is worth £980. The prices of solar panels and batteries are rising. “Premium” panels and batteries (such as Tesla’s) cost more.
Off grid solar kit install#
It all depends on the size of the system (measured in kilowatts), the battery (optional, and can double the price), the diverter (to feed electricity to your immersion water heater), and whether you choose to install an electric vehicle charger at the same time. How much will it cost?Īs little as £6,000 and up to £20,000 for a large house. Keep a close eye on firms’ websites, and also be aware that the prices of panels and batteries are on the march upwards after many years of decline. So if you want to have any chance of getting panels on your roof, you will need to act soon. The panel manufacturers are telling us they shifted as much in the first quarter of this year as they did for the whole of last year.”
“The main issue six months ago was the shortage of skilled labour. “The supply chain is the thing that is holding us all back,” Dudson says.
Many reputable installers say they won’t start taking inquiries again until September – but could close again at any time. The contact us page will open again when we clear the backlog.”
We’re not taking any new inquiries at present. The Solar Shed, based near King’s Lynn in Norfolk, had a similar message: “Thanks for getting this far. Sussex Solar’s director, Amanda Baxter, adds: “It’s absolutely mad at the moment.” We will reopen our contact page towards the end of August …” The supply chain is the thing that is holding us all back The Little Green Energy Company’s Simon Dudson “We are very sorry but due to an unprecedented level of interest in solar panels and heat pumps, we are unable to accept any new inquiries for the time being. Sussex Solar, like many installers across the UK, this week had a blunt message on its website.
Off grid solar kit plus#
The increase in demand, plus supply problems – about 90% of panels are made in China – mean some installers are warning customers of delays stretching out 10 months or more. Then there are the environmental benefits of solar panels.īut don’t expect to have a system installed by your first-choice company this side of winter.
About a year ago, installers were saying the “payback” period was 15 years or more. The soaring price of electricity means a domestic solar panel system can now pay for itself in as little as seven years, and the way things are going, that could go down to five years.
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