We had our solar panels installed just over a year ago, so it’s high time we shared what we learned and what you should consider before installing them. How much do solar panels cost, and how much energy do solar panels produce? Most importantly, are solar panels worth it?
![solar panels on roof with cathedral in background](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/solar-panels-on-roof-with-cathedral-in-background-804x536.jpg)
With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
Here is everything you need to know about solar panels to be able to decide if they’re right for your home.
What you need to know before investing in solar panels
Not all solar panels are equal, and depending on the setup you choose, there can be huge price differences.
1. You Need An Inverter
All solar panels produce direct current (DC) that must be converted to alternating current (AC), which comes from your home’s sockets and is in the electricity grid.
You need an inverter between your solar panels and your fuse box to convert the direct current to an alternating current. An inverter is a fairly small box – a bit like a fuse box – installed on a wall in your house. In our case, it’s in our utility room (I should say, the room that will be the utility room as it’s still an empty shell full of junk at the moment).
![solar panel converter in storage room](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/solar-panel-converter-in-storage-room-804x1206.jpg)
2. Not Every Roof Is Suitable For Solar Panels
There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding if solar panels are right for you.
How large is your roof, and can you install enough solar panels to produce enough energy? What aspect and angle is your roof? Is part of it shaded by other buildings or trees?
These factors will impact the kind of solar system that will work for you. The solar company you work with will determine the best layout of the solar panels and calculate how much energy they expect the panels to produce.
![solar panels on roof with flat and pitched panels](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/solar-panels-on-roof-with-flat-and-pitched-panels-804x536.jpg)
3. You Might Need A Battery
We currently don’t have a battery, but we will likely install one in the future. Batteries are expensive; without one, you have to plan your electricity usage to use as much as possible during energy-producing hours.
That’s obviously not always possible, and you will still need electricity from the grid, especially in winter, even if you have a battery.
We’re currently in the lucky position that every kWh of electricity we put back into the grid is compensated 1 to 1, which is why we’ve not invested in a battery yet.
Your energy provider’s payment for the electricity you produce and put back into the grid will vary significantly depending on where you live.
![solar panels on roof](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/solar-panels-on-roof-804x536.jpg)
4. Each Solar Panel Produces A Different Amount Of Electricity
Okay, so this probably makes sense, but did you know that depending on the system you opt for, the energy your solar panels produce will be capped at the lowest-producing one?
Here’s a screenshot of our solar panels. As you can see, each is producing a different amount of energy.
![Solar Edge - Layout and current production of solar panels](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Solar-Edge-Layout-and-current-production-of-solar-panels-804x1206.jpg)
The highest amount produced is 1.24kWh, and the lowest is only 0.032kWh. That’s a massive difference, especially considering all panels would be capped at 0.032kWh instead of the total 11.21kWh production.
So, how do you get your solar panels to produce the maximum energy?
You have 3 options when it comes to the type of solar panel system you use.
1. The budget option
The solar panels are connected directly to the inverter. This means that the energy you produce is capped at the level of the worst-performing solar panel.
If all of your panels face in the same direction and there are no obstacles in the way that cast shade over some of your panels, this may work for you. However, as soon as you have panels that face in different directions, this will severely impact how much energy you produce.
2. The mid-range option (this is what we have)
Each solar panel has its own optimiser. As the name suggests, it optimises the direct current before it reaches the inverter. Even if a solar panel produces less energy, it ensures the energy level of the other panels stays the same. This means you’re not capped at the lowest-producing solar panel and get the maximum energy from each.
3. The best option
Each solar panel has its own micro-inverter, and every panel is individually connected to the AC (alternating current) network. If one solar panel breaks or doesn’t produce anything, the others still work independently and aren’t impacted. This is also by far the most expensive option. For us, this option would have increased the total cost of our panels by about ⅓.
![Are solar panels worth it? Solar panels on flat roof](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Are-solar-panels-worth-it-804x1206.jpg)
Do solar panels save money?
Yes! We have only 14 panels, but they produce about double the energy we use. This number will vary significantly depending on many influences, such as where you live and the aspect of the panels.
By my calculations, our panels should pay for themselves in roughly 3.5 years. In most cases, the payback period will be higher.
![Solar Edge Screenshot - Monthly Production](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Solar-Edge-Screenshot-Monthly-Production-804x1206.jpg)
In the long term, we’d like to install a heat pump, and if everything works out, our energy bills should be almost zero.
How long does it take to install solar panels?
We had our solar panels installed by a local solar company. There was a long waitlist of about 8 months until work could start, but actually installing the panels on our roof took less than a day.
How much do solar panels cost?
We have a 5-kilowatt system with 14 solar panels on our roof. Over the course of last year, they produced about 4.5MWh of solar power. If you break it down to the individual solar panels, our highest-producing panel generated 375 kWh (south facing), and our lowest-producing panel generated 283 kWh (west facing) over the course of a year.
Including installation and all parts like the inverter, we paid 6300€ for our solar panels. When we bought our panels, there was a VAT-free incentive.
Solar Panel Payback Calculator
We’ve created a solar panel payback calculator to help you better understand how quickly your solar panels could pay for themselves.
This calculator will only give you a rough guide, as it will depend on how much energy you use directly, any government incentives where you live, and even the weather.
This calculator should help you determine how quickly the financial investment will pay for itself, but don’t discount the environmental benefits when deciding if solar panels are a good investment.
Just enter your current electricity price (there’s no need to add a currency), the total cost of your panels, the estimated annual energy produced by the panels and your current yearly electricity consumption.
Another important metric to be able to calculate how quickly the panels will pay for themselves is how much electricity you directly use. Payback from the grid is usually lower, so the more energy you use while it’s being produced by your panels (or if you have a battery), the better. Lastly, add a number for how much you earn for every kWh returned to the grid.
Please remember that this is a guide value only.
Are solar panels worth it?
After a year of solar energy, I can honestly say we couldn’t be happier. We’re saving money and reducing our carbon footprint – what’s not to love? My only regret is that we didn’t have solar panels installed sooner.
![Solar Edge Screenshot - year on year solar production comparisson](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Solar-Edge-Screenshot-year-on-year-solar-production-comparisson-804x1206.jpg)
Our solar panel app shows the environmental benefits and how much energy we produce. In just over a year of generating renewable energy, we’ve saved a whopping 1768kg of CO2, equivalent to 53 trees planted.
Do you have to clean solar panels?
The solar panels stay fairly clean, but it is advised to clean them occasionally and an annual inspection is probably also a good idea. They don’t require any other maintenance or servicing.
After climbing onto the roof to take these pictures, we cleaned our solar panels for the first time. We didn’t use any cleaning products; we just wiped away the dirt with clean water.
![cleaning solar panels](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cleaning-solar-panels-804x536.jpg)
Do solar panels increase the value of your property?
A recent study in the UK shows that energy-efficient upgrades can add 3% to a property’s value. Depending on where you live, there are tax benefits or other incentives.
How do I see/check if the system is working correctly?
There’s an app that connects to your solar panel system. You can see how much energy you’re producing and how much you have produced and look at the production of each solar panel.
![solar panels of flat roof and pitched roof](https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/solar-panels-of-flat-roof-and-pitched-roof-804x536.jpg)
We noticed that one of our solar panels had an issue (hopefully resolved now) and produced significantly less power than the surrounding panels. It’s always good to keep an eye on your solar energy system and check for any issues regularly.
Orchid Tiling says
Yes! Solar panels are a great way to help the planet, whilst saving you tons of money on energy bills in the long run.
Christine says
We all have to do our bit to save the planet!
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