Photovoltaic (PV) panels could power your home, reduce your bills and even earn you money, in addition solar electricity is a green, renewable energy and doesn’t release any pollutants.
Find out more about Solar (PV) panels on the Energy Saving Trust website.
Firstly you could consider reducing your electricity consumption through energy efficiency measures such as:
Choosing appliances with better energy ratings.
Is a PV system suitable for your home?
The Energy Saving Trust’s Solar Energy calculator gives estimates based on information you provide, and a number of assumptions to indicate potential benefits. This is to help you decide whether a PV system is for you. Use of the tool and its outputs is not a guarantee that you will see the exact same fuel bill savings from the installation of your planned system.
Planning permission
The installation of solar panels and equipment on residential buildings and land may be permitted development with no need to apply to the Local Planning Authority for planning permission. However, there are important limits and conditions that must be adhered to in order to benefit from these permitted development rights. These are set out in Part 14 (Renewable Energy) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order.
Further information is available on the Planning Portal and from our permitted development webpage.
Find an installer
Once you have an idea of the size and type of system that will suit your home, get various quotes to compare prices of different installers. Also, enquire about how long the work will take and the warranty for their work. Make sure you get binding quotations, preferably in writing.
We recommend using an installer who is certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). Having your solar system installed by a non-accredited installer could mean that you are not eligible to apply for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
You can search for a certified installer on the MCS website.
How to earn money from your PV system
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a mechanism to pay people who generate small amounts of renewable energy for the electricity they export to the grid. It has replaced the Feed-in Tariff scheme. You can find more information about the SEG on the Energy Saving Trust website.