Are solar panels worth it? That’s a question we often hear. And we say the answer is YES. While there are some things to consider before investing in them, these will depend on individual circumstances – so we still think the advantages of solar energy are pretty clear for most homes.
In an uncertain world where energy markets are vulnerable and prices unstable, one of the main benefits of solar panels is that they can help you become more energy independent. And this can help to protect you from energy market fluctuations.
In recent years, energy prices have been volatile because of world events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and more recently the Iran war. At the same time, the price of solar panels has decreased - so it’s probably not a coincidence then that solar panel installations have increased by more than 10% every year for the last three years.¹
In unsettled times like these, solar panels can help to bring a bit of stability to your pocket – which should help you to decide if they’re worth it for you.
What is solar energy?
Solar power has the environmental benefit of being electricity generated from the sun’s rays by solar panels – making it a clean, renewable way to power your home.
If you want to know more about the science and technology of solar energy, our article on how solar works is a good place to start.
What are the advantages of solar energy?
There are plenty, from increased energy independence to saving money and reducing your carbon footprint.
More energy independence
Why rely on energy companies to power your home – and decide how much it’s going to cost? When you could do it yourself – and even get them to pay you for any excess that you don’t use.
By generating your own electricity, you can cut out the middleman. Even if your solar panels don’t create enough to make you entirely self-sufficient, they’ll certainly make you less reliant on buying it.
One of the benefits of solar panels that’s often overlooked is the freedom and independence they give you from fluctuating energy prices. As you won’t need to buy nearly as much electricity from your energy supplier, any price changes won’t affect you as much as they would if you didn’t have your own source of electricity.
And with world events causing volatility and raising prices in the energy market, energy independence can only be a good thing.
Lower energy bills
Probably the biggest benefit of solar panels is powering your home with the energy they generate. That means buying less electricity from your energy supplier – and so lower monthly bills.
Depending on how much energy you use (and when), they could seriously cut your energy costs, especially if you're often at home during the day to use solar power as it’s generated.
And adding a battery could bring even more benefits to your bills. In fact, it’s the single best upgrade you can make to your system.
Sell excess electricity
And it doesn’t just stop at saving money. Your solar panels could even earn money too. When they produce more electricity than you need, you can sell the extra back to the grid and get paid for what you don’t use.
All you need is an SEG tariff, which our friends at British Gas can take care of for you.
Renewable, eco-friendly energy
Is solar energy renewable? Yes, absolutely. It’s one of the cleanest, most sustainable energy sources available. Unlike burning fossil fuels for energy, solar power doesn’t emit carbon dioxide or other pollutants. So installing solar panels could genuinely reduce your environmental impact.
Battery storage benefits
Without a solar battery, any solar energy you can’t use straight away goes back to the grid. But with one, you can store it to use when you need it – like in the evening, when the sun isn’t shining but you still need to power your home.
Using your own stored electricity instead of buying it from an energy supplier makes you even more energy independent. Some batteries can even keep your home running during power cuts automatically.
So while battery storage can add a few thousand pounds to your installation cost, many homeowners find the increased energy savings and independence justify the extra spend. It's a longer-term investment with longer-term benefits.
Quick, easy installation
It’s probably quicker and simpler to install solar panels installed than you think. It’s usually all done in a single day for most homes, depending on the size of your system and how easy it is to access your roof. Your installers will sort out any scaffolding they need and include it in the installation price.
Low maintenance energy
Another benefit of solar panels is that they need very little maintenance. Most systems only need an occasional clean and a routine check-up every few years to keep working at their best.
Solar panels installed by our partners at Glow Green, Effective Home, Infinity Renewables, Greener Energy Group and Sunsave come with a performance guarantee of 25 years or more. Once your system is in place, it’ll keep working quietly away in the background with minimal upkeep – and no regular servicing costs.
Increased home value
As a long-term investment, solar panels could increase the value of your home and help it to stand out in a crowded property market – particularly to eco-conscious buyers.
Potential considerations of solar energy
There are some practical things you should think about before deciding whether solar panels are worth it for your home.
Upfront cost
The biggest consideration is the initial cost. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical solar panel system costs an average of £6,100 or roughly £8,000–£12,000 if you add battery storage.²
But you can bring the bill down - with government, local council and energy provider grants, or specialist low-interest loans.³ And with the Warm Homes Plan announced in January 2026, even more help is coming soon.
Roof suitability
Solar panels work best on south-facing roofs that get plenty of direct sunlight throughout the day. They work well on roofs that face east or west too, but not on north-facing or heavily shaded roofs.
Older roofs or those made with certain materials may need reinforcing or could make mounting panels a bit more complicated, which can add time and cost to the installation. But you don’t need to figure all that out on your own – just leave it to our experts who’ll carry out a free, personalised home survey and talk you through your options.
Weather unpredictability
Solar panels don’t need blazing sunshine to work, but they’ll generate less electricity on cloudy or rainy days than they would do on clear ones. Heat can be a factor too – panels work best on cooler sunny days. That said, modern solar panels are extremely efficient and do a great job of turning all available daylight into electricity even when it’s overcast.
Finally, where you live can also affect how much power you get from your panels – because the south tends to get more sun than the north. For what you need to know about your part of the country, read our guide to the UK’s solar sweet spots.
Kerb appeal
Solar panels have become sleeker with time. Today’s panels are more streamlined and sit lower than they’ve ever done, and black panels with concealed frames can be particularly inconspicuous and even blend in with darker roof tiles.
Looking to install solar panels?
Get started with a free home survey from one of our third-party installers, where they’ll find the best solar power set-up for you and your home, then put together a fixed-price quote.⁴
Learn more about solar power
We crunch the numbers from initial costs to lifetime savings to help you figure out if solar panels are worth installing.
Make sure you get the right solar panel set-up to maximise energy independence and cost savings with our handy guide.
You might think solar panels are pricey, but there’s government help available that can cover some of the cost.⁵
¹ https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/solar-roadmap
² https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-panels
³ Subject to eligibility
⁴ Conditional on no specification changes
⁵ Subject to eligibility
