Geography in the News: Solar panel sales boom as energy bills soar

In recent years, with the removal of government grants for renewable energy home improvements, we have seen a slow-down in solar panel installation in the UK. But the cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills are seeing solar panels back in demand!

In July 2020 around 1,000 solar installations were being carried out each week - this has increased to just over 3,000, according to Solar Energy UK. One provider said this month it had seen enquiries about solar panels rise tenfold - https://www.solarpowerportal.c...

Opting for renewable

The fact that renewable energy helps protect the planet has always made it an attractive option, particularly as people get more and more concerned about the climate crisis.

Solar panels are simple - the panels absorb sunlight through photovoltaic cells which convert it into electricity that can be flowed through your home, or into a battery. This process significantly reduces the amount of electricity you will need from the network, meaning you can save hundreds of pounds on electricity bills.

However there is an initial upfront investment of thousands of pounds - but soaring energy costs mean the time it takes to see a return on your investment is much less than in previous years.

The cost

Ten years ago it would have cost around £20,000 to install solar panels to a house, and would take a decade to cover those initial set-up costs. But the cost of solar panels have fallen by more than 60% since then - meaning it now only takes around 4 years to see a return on your investment.

The price is dependent on a number of factors - the size of the system you want, the type of panels used, accessibility and state of repair of your roof, and of course the size of the house. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggests a standard solar panel system costs between £9,000 to £11,700, while Solar Energy UK lists the cost of a "typical" 3.1kWp system for a three-bed house as £3,925.

Can everyone install them?

No unfortunately. If your home is north-facing or largely shaded they would be an unwise investment. The age of your property is also a consideration as the roof needs to be structurally sounds before installation, and you need space in the loft for an inverter (which is about the size of a microwave) - which is a problem if you don't have a loft, as is the case with many modern homes. And if you live in a flat you need to seek permission from the freeholder, and speak to other people in the same building.

Are they worth it?

The amount of electricity solar panels generate depends on the type and size of system and home. Solar Energy suggests that a typical home could cut electricity bills by more than £300 a year. However those homes using expensive electric heating could actually be more than £900 better off. With energy bills rocketing this winter though the value of this is expected to double at least - potentially generating £1,200 worth of energy at current prices, and then up to a further £3,240 following further energy unit price hikes.

And don't forget that if you don't use all of the energy that you generate, you can sell it back to the national grid, and they could make your property more attractive to potential buyers in the future.

Read the full story here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bus...