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Slash your energy bills by installing solar panels
For the average 2-3 bedroom house
Installing solar panels in Erskine can help you save money on your bills, generate an income, and support Erskine’s target to reduce its emission levels. Let’s examine how you too can indulge in the many advantages of solar energy as we discuss the various costs, advantages, and grants associated with solar energy systems.
Finding the right solar panel installer in the UK can take up a lot of your time. Moreover, since the required investment is quite significant, you want to make a good purchase which will keep you happy throughout the entire lifespan of your solar PV system.
What to look for in a solar panel installer?
The solar panel market is crowded with installers all claiming to be the best, which can make it easy to feel overwhelmed if you’re not sure what to look for. To help simplify the process, we’ve outlined some key tips below.
Make sure any installer you select is MCS-certified. Even aside from the assurance certifications provide, it can be important in providing the right grants like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and the social housing decarbonisation fund. You can inquire about the existence of a certificate by using the MCS helpdesk by referencing the address and technology type which helps you verify your installer.
It’s important to understand the warranty terms that come with the solar equipment. Solar panels generally have warranties lasting around 20 years, which is standard. A shorter warranty period may indicate lower panel quality. For storage batteries and inverters, warranties are typically more limited, around 5–10 years. Additionally, most installers offer a workmanship warranty, which should ideally be at least one year.
A reputable installer should be willing to visit your home to assess whether solar panels are a good fit for your property. During this visit, they should provide personalized advice on energy efficiency and offer suggestions to help you save energy. If an installer is unwilling to make the effort to understand your unique needs, it’s likely you won’t receive an installation that fully meets your requirements.
Quality installers don’t rely on high-pressure sales techniques. Some companies may try to push you into a decision with discounts or “limited time offers,” which can lead to costly decisions down the line. If a company pressures you to close the sale quickly, it’s often wise to walk away.
That’s why comparing suppliers is the best way to understand prices and options while ensuring that you’ve picked a reliable solar panel fitter.
GreenMatch offers a network of over 5000 screened and registered companies from across the UK. Most solar panel fitters on our network offer the option to pay by finance. So you can get the green energy technology that you want, while spreading the costs.
You can find up to 4 solar panel suppliers near you on your own (which takes hours of research) or with our help (which takes a few minutes). All you have to do is use our quick and easy form to provide some basic info about your solar installation requirements, and we’ll connect you with Erskine solar panel fitters who can give you quotes to compare to ensure you get the best deal.
Find the best local installer by clicking the button below.
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Solar panels in the UK tend to cost between £2,500 - £10,500, depending on the size of the system. The correct system size will be decided by the size of your home and your electricity demands.
Approximate cost of solar panels | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Household size | System size | System cost + installation | Annual savings | Break-even period | Savings after 25 years |
Small; 1-2 bedrooms | 2kW | £2,500 - £3,500 | £440 | 7 years | £11,000 |
3kW | £4,500 - £5,500 | 9 years | |||
Medium; 2-3 bedrooms | 4kW | £5,000 - £6,000 | £660 | 8 years | £16,500 |
5kW | £7,500 - £8,500 | 10 years | |||
Large; 4-5 bedrooms | 6kW | £9,500 - £10,500 | £1,005 | 10 years | £27,500 |
The estimates above outline the total costs expected for a system where the battery can fully charge to its maximum capacity.
A combined photovoltaic system and battery setup can cost up to £15,500 for an average 2-3 bedroom home with a 4kW solar array and a 9 – 10 kWh battery. In the UK, solar panel labour costs, typically 25-30% of the total, are often included in quotes, averaging £800 for a 4kW system. Total costs range from £5,000 to £6,000, varying with installation complexity and region, with higher rates in urban areas. Insurance, often part of home policies, covers damage, theft, and storms, especially for ground-mounted systems and batteries. Annual maintenance costs £100–£200 with a professional or can be done for free DIY. Component replacements are the most expensive upkeep.
Solar panels can reduce your electricity bills since you can make use of free renewable energy. This can result in savings of £450 - £1,020. This means you can break-even in 7 - 11 years, and get around £6,000 - £15,000 return on your investment. The amount of savings you make will depend on how much electricity you use from your panels, as well as the size of your home and your energy demands.
The break-even time frame for solar panels typically spans from 11 to 10 years. Various factors affect this however, including the scale and cost of your solar panel system, your energy requirements, and current electricity tariffs. It's also worth considering the Smart Export Guarantee program, which can accelerate the payback period by enabling you to earn revenue from surplus electricity fed back into the national grid.
There are numerous available solar panel grants in Erskine, that either help with funding your new solar installation, or help you earn money post-installation.
Solar panel grants UK | |||
---|---|---|---|
UK solar grants | Run time | Potential savings | Who is eligible? |
Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) | April 1st 2022 – March 2026 | Partially or fully FREE solar panel possibility | Low-income households; within D-G energy efficiency band; receiving certain government benefits |
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) | January 1st 2020 – (indefinite) | 1 – 30p per kWh | Customers of participating energy suppliers |
0% VAT | April 1 2022 – March 2027 | £2,300+ on 4kW installation | Everyone |
Warm Homes Plan | 2025 - 2028 | Funding towards new solar installation | Social housing residents, lower-income householders and renters |
ECO4 Scheme
The Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) initiative, replacing ECO3 from April 1st, 2022, until March 2026, allocates £4 billion to enhance UK home energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions. This allows opportunities for low-income households to upgrade to more efficient and eco-friendly heating systems like solar panels.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), effective from January 1st, 2020, provides payments ranging from 1 to 30p per kWh for surplus energy exported to the grid.
All homeowners with regular solar panel systems are eligible, encouraging green home improvements and potential earnings through surplus energy sales. To participate in the scheme, you will need to install a solar battery to store the excess electricity.
0% VAT for Energy-Saving Products
Starting April 2022, homes in the UK benefit from 0% VAT on energy-saving materials and installation, lasting five years. This includes solar panels, solar batteries, heat pumps, and insulation. This helps reduce installation costs significantly.
Warm Homes Plan
Up to 300,000 homes in England and Wales are expected to benefit from the Warm Homes Plan in 2025. The initiative will roll out measures designed to help people save money on energy bills by making warmer homes using cleaner energy. As part of the scheme, social housing residents, lower-income householders, and renters can receive funding for energy efficiency upgrades, including solar panels.
So, how many solar panels do you need for your home Erskine? Generally, a 2-3 bedroom home requires 8-13 solar panels. However, this may not be suitable for everyone. Here’s a guide showing the number of panels you will need per household size in Erskine.
How many solar panels do I need? | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Household size | Electricity consumption per year | Solar panel system size | 450W panels needed | Required roof space (2m2 panels) |
Small; 1-2 bedrooms | 1,800kWh | 2 - 3 kW | 4 - 6 | 10 - 16m2 |
Medium; 2-3 bedrooms | 2,700kWh | 4 - 5 kW | 8 - 10 | 20 - 26m2 |
Large; 4-5 bedrooms | 4,100kWh | 6 kW | 13 | 32m2 |
Trying to figure out how many solar panels you need can be tricky, but the main deciding factors are household size and energy consumption. The average 2-3 person household uses approximately 2,700kWh of electricity annually, so let’s use that as a baseline.
A 6kW solar panel system is recommended for a home with over 4-5 people, while a 5kW solar panel system is typical for a home with 2-3 people. A 4kW solar panel system is one of the most common sizes for domestic photovoltaic systems, as it also suits homes with 2-3 people.
The quantity of solar panels you need will depend on whether your solar system is 2kW or 6kW, and the size of solar panels you will use. For example, if you install a 3kW solar panel system using 350W panels, then you need 8 solar panels. A 6kW system would need 16 solar panels.
The quantity of solar panels you need will also depend on how much electricity you want them to generate; all of your electricity or a percentage. However, there are advantages to excess energy such as giving it back to the grid for some extra cash or storing it. If you’re willing to add solar battery costs to your bill, you could benefit from energy storage.
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It’s completely viable to use solar power in Erskine. There is plenty of sunlight to ensure that solar panels work efficiently and potentially make you savings up to £1,020 annually.
What's more, you can rely on free and renewable energy from the sun. This will help you gain greater energy independence and reduce your carbon footprint. While solar panels already require little maintenance, the lack of extreme weather and damaging environmental factors in Erskine makes them a great investment.
Solar panel sizes can be customised to satisfy different energy demands and roof sizes, and the excess electricity you produce can be sold to your energy supplier to generate an income, thanks to various government grants for solar panels and schemes in the UK.
GreenMatch offers a network of over 5000 screened and registered companies from across the UK. The majority of solar installers on our network offer the option to pay by finance. So you can get the green energy technology that you want, while spreading the costs.
You can find up to 4 solar panel suppliers near you on your own (which takes hours of research) or with our help (which takes a few minutes). All you have to do is use our quick and easy form to provide some basic info about your solar installation requirements, and we’ll connect you with Erskine solar panel fitters who can give you quotes to compare to ensure you get the best deal.
Find the best local installer by clicking the button below.
It only takes 30 seconds
The cost of solar panels depends on your requirements and the size of your home. However, a standard 4kW system will generally cost between £5,000 - £6,000.
Yes! Not only do solar panels drastically reduce your environmental impact, but they can also lower the cost of your bills year-on-year. Installing solar panels can save the average UK household approximately £1,020 depending on the size of the system.
The easiest way to find solar panel installers is to search for solar companies online. However, this will only provide you with companies that are near to you. You will then have to spend hours researching each company by checking its reviews and credentials. That’s where we come in. Use our solar panel form to find solar installers in your area, and we’ll connect you with up to 4 reputable solar installation companies near you.
Various solar panel grants and government programs are available that you can take advantage of. However, to qualify for these opportunities, certain criteria must be met, which can vary depending on the particular grant or program.
We strive to connect our customers with the right product and supplier. Would you like to be part of GreenMatch?