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https://tradesmencosts.co.uk/solar-panels/[1.04.2021 10:03:20]
Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
2021 UK Installation
On average, solar panels cost between £1800 and £6100 in the UK. The most common size for
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domestic solar panels is a 4kWp system.
Triple Glazing Cost: 2021
Most solar PV panels produce around 250Wp. Therefore, to produce 1kWp, you’ll need 4 panels. Installation Price
So, for 4kWp you’ll need 16 panels arranged into an array. Comparison UK
Boiler Service Cost: 2021
(By the way, you probably noticed we measured the power output of a PV cell in kWp (kilowatt Annual Price & Quote
peak). This is the amount of energy generated at peak performance during the summer). Comparison UK
Kitchen Extension Cost:
But, why are PV panels popular? Let’s start by stating the obvious. Solar energy is clean, and
2021 Rear Price
once the receptor array is set up, it needs very little maintenance. Probably, the most important
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maintenance is to keep the panel surfaces clean. Otherwise, your power output will substantially
Wet Room Cost: 2021
decrease.
Installation & Labour
Prices UK
Next, another obvious advantage is that your energy bills will decrease. And thirdly, if you
produce more than you use, you’ll see an extra income trickling in from sales to the electricity Electric Garage Doors
suppliers. Fitted Prices: 2021 Cost
Comparison UK
Compare Quotes & Save up to 37%: Electrician Prices List:
2021 Hourly Rates &
Costs UK
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Out Charges & Hourly
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Gas Cooker Installation
Cost: 2021 Fitting Price
Cost of Solar Panels Comparison UK
The following table can be used as a monocrystalline solar panel cost calculator. Here, we’ll Wood Burner Installation
explore different solar installation system sizes, the amount you’ll save on your energy bills, and Cost: 2021 Log Stove
how much you can expect to pay. However, the estimates listed in the table are intended to be Fitting Prices
an indication only. As you’ll see later on, the actual power output varies depending on various Solar Panels Cost: 2021
factors. Installation Price
Comparison UK
Remember, VAT on solar panels is 5% at the time of writing.
Conservatory Roof
Replacement Cost: 2021
Solar panel No. of Annual electricity Annual estimated Price Comparison UK
Cost
system size panels output electricity savings
Secondary Glazing Cost:
https://tradesmencosts.co.uk/solar-panels/[1.04.2021 10:03:20]
Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
UK
Solar Panel Pricing Factors New Front Door Cost:
2021 UK Replacement
The various factors affecting the solar panel costs can be summarised as follows.
Prices
RSJ Cost: 2021 Steel
The efficiency of the panel
Beam Installation Price
The best solar panels are those that produce the largest proportion of usable electricity. This Comparison UK
means the best panels depend on the size of your roof and which direction it’s facing. If you have Garage Roof
a small roof, you’ll need a small solar panel that produces as much power per square metre as Replacement Cost: 2021
you can afford. With present technology, the best solar panels achieve about 23% efficiency. UK Price Comparison
With the average being between 15% and 18%. Wood Flooring Cost:
2021 Installation & Fitting
Actual sunlight hours for your location Prices
Electric Boiler Cost: 2021
This is a function of how long your day is and what latitude you live at. For example, if you live in
Best Combi Price
the North of Scotland, you’ll have shorter days in the winter than the far west of Cornwall.
Comparison UK
Conversely, Scotland has longer daylight hours in the summer than Cornwall. Similarly, if you live
Biomass Boiler Cost:
in the far north, the sun will be nearer the horizon than in the south. So, will be providing less
2021 Heating Price
light energy for the panels to collect The power output calculated from this data will help you
Comparison UK
decide which type of PV panels you should consider.
Electric Gates Cost: 2021
Compare Quotes & Save up to 37%: UK Automatic Installation
Prices
Air Source Heat Pump
Get Free Quotes →
Cost: 2021 Installation
Price Comparison
The pitch of your roof Decking Cost: 2021
Garden Fitting &
Although you can generate power with a roof of any pitch angle, the optimum is between 10 and Installation Prices UK
60 degrees. So, within this range, you will achieve the best return for your money.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Cost: 2021 Price
Does your roof point face south or not?
Comparison (per m2)
As you would expect, pointing due south is the best direction for the array to face and generate New Kitchen Cost: 2021
the maximum possible electricity. However, if you can’t manage that, it’s possible to generate Fitting & Installation
substantial amounts of electricity with an east or west–facing slope. So, a south–facing array will Prices UK
give the best power production and a better return on your investment. But, you can achieve a Resin Driveway Cost:
good return in any direction except north. 2021 Bound & Bonded
Prices (per m2)
Compare Quotes & Save up to 37%: New Bathroom Cost:
2021 Fitting & Installation
Prices UK (Updated)
https://tradesmencosts.co.uk/solar-panels/[1.04.2021 10:03:20]
Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
As always, installation charges will vary depending on where you live in the country. Having said Guide (2021 updated)
that, the average MCS certified solar panel installer charges between £150 and £200 per day. New Roof Cost: 2021
Unless you are very unlucky and need major alterations to your roof, most jobs won’t take longer Replacement Price
than about 3 to 4 days. This duration might also vary if you have difficulties accessing the roof. Comparison UK
Loft Conversion Cost:
All installation companies will need scaffolding to provide a safe working platform. Once that’s in 2021 UK Price
place it‘s usually very simple for a professional to install the panels. By the way, make sure you Comparison (Per M2)
are clear about who is organising the scaffolding, and whether the cost is included in your quote.
Garage Conversion Cost:
2021 Price Comparison
The type of roof you have is an important factor that will alter the installation cost. For example,
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An installation on a flat roof will cost less because it’s easier to access than a pitched roof.
Fusebox Replacement
Another factor is if you have a very high roof. Very high roofs are more difficult to work on and
Costs (for 2021)
more dangerous. So, you’ll find that installers charge at the top end of the day rate range.
Double Glazing Cost:
Compare Quotes & Save up to 37%: 2021 Window Price
Comparison UK
Conservatory Prices:
Get Free Quotes →
2021 Fully Fitted Cost
Comparison UK
Additional costs
https://tradesmencosts.co.uk/solar-panels/[1.04.2021 10:03:20]
Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
Block Paving Prices &
Cost Per M2 (for 2021)
There are additional costs which must be included within the overall quote. And, some have to be
factored in at a later date, such as repairs and cleaning. Cost of Repointing
Brickwork – House &
Walls Guide (updated)
Additional factors Average costs
Cost of Rewiring A House
Solar battery storage £1000 to £6000 (2021 Guide)
Scaffolding Hire Prices
Inverter £1000 to £15000
(for 2021)
Roof repairs £100 to £1000 Karndean Flooring Cost –
Including Fitting &
Scaffolding £20 to £40 per day
Installation
Water tank £2000 to £4000 Fitted Wardrobe Costs –
Bespoke Installation &
Solar panel cleaning £10 per panel (subject to a minimum charge)
Fitting
Panel repairs and maintenance £120 to £500 per panel How Much Does A Roof
Replacement Cost?
The panels will already have been assembled by the manufacturer in their factory. So, all that’s
needed on–site, is for the installer to:
1. Screw roof anchors onto the structural roof timbers. The style and strength of these will
depend on the characteristics of your roof, potential snow loading, type of roof tiles, and
locations of the rafters. They will be made from either aluminium or stainless steel.
2. Attach the mounting frame to the anchors.
3. Position the panels onto the mounting frame. And, clamp them in place in the correct
position.
4. Then, feed the DC electrical cables from the panels, alongside the frame to the anchors,
and into the loft space. It’s standard practice for the cables to be hidden behind the panels
as much as possible.
5. Next, you need an inverter connected to the mains electricity supply at a convenient
location within the house.
6. Then, the installer will fit a separate consumer unit and a generation meter next to the
existing consumer unit.
7. When everything is connected, the installation engineer checks the system to ensure
everything operates correctly.
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Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
Solar power is a completely renewable energy source. It requires no fuel except for the sun and
can generate electricity even on cloudy days. The technology can be used in every country in the
world and is available every day. Solar energy can even be stored for use at night.
Your PV system generates electricity which will replace some of the mains power you buy from
your electricity provider. The reduction in mains energy usage will depend on the size and
efficiency of your solar panels and how much electricity you use. Furthermore, not only will you
reduce your energy bills, but you also have the potential to earn money by exporting power to the
National Grid if you generate more power than you use.
Solar panels don’t contain any moving parts and they’re all solid–state electronics. Therefore,
they need very little maintenance. As long as you keep the glass panel clean and free from dust,
soot and other debris, they should be okay. You’ll probably need to clean the panels a couple of
times a year. Typically after winter’s finished and before the following winter starts.
You can clean them yourself if you feel capable of climbing on the roof, But, as specialist
companies charge between £25 and £35 to do the job. It might be better to leave it to them.
Reputable solar panel manufacturers give warranties of around 25 years, and as there are no
moving parts, you shouldn’t have any problems. However, the only thing that might need
changing is the inverter which will last for between 5 and 10 years.
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Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
When you need electricity to power other sustainable energy sources, solar power is ideal. For
example, When installing an air source heat pump, you need electricity to power the pump. Air
source heat pumps extract heat energy from the surrounding air. They use a system of heat
exchangers to transfer the energy into your home to heat domestic hot water and central heating.
You can use solar energy to power the pumps in the heat exchangers and the central heating.
This effectively means that your hot water and central heating are completely free.
Moving on, solar panels will also supplement ground-source heat pumps, solar thermal panels
and wind turbines too. Either by powering pumps and other equipment or by each one feeding
energy into a thermal store.
And what’s more, all these sustainable energy methods qualify for financial help when you sell
excess energy to the electricity suppliers. We’ll talk about this later.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average domestic photovoltaic energy system totals
about 3.5kWp, which will cost around £4800 to buy (including VAT, charged at 5%). In the south
of England, this size system will generate about 3700kWh per annum of electricity. It also saves
about 1 tonne of carbon dioxide every year.
Assume we live in Scotland and use the same size PV system. We will generate about
£2850kWh electricity per annum and save about 0.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
This is good for us, and good for helping the Government comply with its, environmental
obligations.
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Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
Unfortunately, this has closed to new solar PV applications in March 2019. But, for those who
have already joined the scheme, it will last for the remainder of their contract (usually 20 years).
At its height, the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) paid households for generating energy and exporting it into
the Grid. The FIT scheme encouraged people to install solar PV systems with the incentive of
extra remuneration from the government. Hopefully, this scheme has served its purpose and
people now want to install solar for the sake of environmental benefits.
The next scheme to take its place is the Smart Expert Guarantee.
This came into effect on 1st January 2020. The idea is that energy suppliers, not the
government, must pay domestic renewable energy generators for the electricity they export to
the National Grid. It’s not only solar that benefits from this scheme. All small scale, low carbon
generation methods such as wind, and hydroelectric are included too.
The payment rate varies with the energy supplier. The old FIT export tariff used to be 5.24p/kWh
of renewable energy produced. Although the government hasn’t set a rate for energy providers to
buy the electricity, some companies are already offering Smart Export Guarantee rates of more
than 5.24p/kWh. As this scheme starts to gain momentum, we hope that energy companies will
compete amongst themselves and offer ever higher SEG rates.
Under this system, households earning money with solar panels can be paid by either a fixed or
a flexible rate.
A fixed–rate SEG is a fixed rate paid for every kWh of renewable energy exported to the
Grid.
A flexible SEG rate pays varying rates depending on the time of day. For example, there is
a higher demand for electricity in the evening so you would be paid more at this time of
the day compared to the energy supplied in the morning.
To be eligible for SEG payments, you must live in the UK, be generating renewable energy at
home using one of the specified methods, and have an MCS certified installation.
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Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
At present, the best rate, offered by Social Energy is 5.6p/kWh. The next favourable rates are
from Octopus Energy and E.On who offer 5.5p/kWh. The worst at present are Utility warehouse
who pay 0.5p/kWh. Luckily you don’t have to sell your electricity to the company that supplies
you. So, hopefully, there will be plenty of competition over the next few years.
The following table outlines how much annual savings can be made in different parts of the
country. These figures assume you’re out of the house until 4 pm each day and so export all your
generated power.
What is a PV Diverter?
A PV, or solar power, diverter monitors the
It will only divert energy to the Grid if there is a surplus amount of electricity being generated.
The benefit of this clever little gadget is that it assumes everything in your home takes priority of
exporting the power. So, for example, it will make sure your hot water immersion heater has
enough energy before selling on any excess.
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Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
Typical costs of solar batteries in the UK lie between £1200 and £6000. Also, the typical lifespan
of a solar battery can be from 5 to 15 years. This means that the solar battery might have to be
replaced more than once over the typical lifespan of your solar panels (15 to 30 years). As we
can see, a solar battery can be expensive. But, the amount of energy you save over their lifetime
will more than pay for their initial capital cost.
You can buy solar batteries from many sources including most energy suppliers.
Online calculator
There is a particularly useful calculator on Great Home to help you work out how much savings
you will receive from using a solar battery. This calculator also incorporates any payments due
from SEG tariffs.
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Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
The following table itemises the various pieces of data used along with the projected savings on
your electricity bill. And, as a bonus calculates the payback time for your investment.
Installation of solar panels comes under the scope of the UK Building Regulations. Generally,
https://tradesmencosts.co.uk/solar-panels/[1.04.2021 10:03:20]
Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
Government website.
Alternatively, a competent installer will be certified with the MCS.
The solar panel’s lifespan depends on the manufacturer. But, usually, it’s assumed to be
between 25 to 30 years.
Yes, as long as the roof is strong enough to withstand the extra load. Contact the manufacturer
of the equipment to find out the specifications of the panels. And, ask advice from an MCS
certified installer.
The answer to this depends on the size of the PV system and how much electricity you intend to
use across the year. Generally, the average home needs a 4kWp solar panel system to produce
enough electricity. You will also have to incorporate a solar battery into your system. Otherwise,
energy will be going to waste during the day when you are at work and not consuming. And, you
won’t have any electricity at night.
Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. And, if the sun has set, you won’t generate
electricity. However, you can install solar batteries to save excess energy generated during the
daytime, for use at night.
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Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
As long as you maintain the inverter according to the manufacturer’s instructions, your inverter
should last from 5 to 10 years.
Yes. Silicon PV cells appear dark to absorb as much energy as possible from sunlight. Once a
small portion of a panel warms up from the sun, the heat will spread, slowly warming the
remainder of the panel. Eventually, the entire panel will be clear of snow. It’s not unusual to see a
roof completely covered in snow, whereas the panels are snow-free.
https://tradesmencosts.co.uk/solar-panels/[1.04.2021 10:03:20]
Solar Panels Cost: 2021 Installation Price Comparison UK
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