A few years ago, solar panels were expensive and needed optimal conditions, batteries weren't even an option. Now? Many systems pay for themselves in 7-10 years.

But solar isn't right for everyone. Your roof might not be suitable. You might not be staying long enough. Or you might discover that a battery without panels makes more sense than panels without a battery.

Here's what you need to work out if it's worth it for your home.

Who Solar Works Brilliantly For

Before diving into technical details, here's who typically sees the best returns:

You're planning to stay put - payback is typically 7-11 years, so if you're moving in 3 years, the maths doesn't work as well

You're home during the day - working from home, retired, or running a household during daylight hours means you use the electricity as it's generated

You have an EV - solar charging an electric car dramatically improves the payback because you're using significantly more electricity

You're on a time-of-use tariff - cheap overnight rates mean a battery (even without panels) can save £700-900 per year

Your roof faces the right way - south, east, or west-facing with minimal shade from trees or buildings

If none of these apply, solar might still work - but the financial case will be weaker.

The Basic Setup: Panels, Battery, or Both?

Solar panels generate electricity when the sun's out. An inverter converts this into the type of electricity your home uses. Whatever you're running at that moment (kettle, fridge, laptop) uses the solar power. Anything left over either charges your battery or gets exported to the grid for about 15p per kWh.

A battery stores electricity to use later. Charge it from your panels during the day, use it in the evening when panels aren't generating. Or charge it overnight on cheap rates (7p/kWh) and use it during expensive peak times (30p/kWh).

The crucial bit: panels generate during the day, but most people use more electricity in the morning and evening. Without a battery, excess daytime generation gets exported back to the grid - you're selling low (15p) and buying high (30p).

Do You Need Both?

Not necessarily.

Panels without battery works if you use lots of electricity during the day - working from home, running appliances whilst panels are generating, charging an EV in daylight. You're still exporting excess for 15p, but you're using enough directly to make it worthwhile.

Battery without panels works if you're on a tariff with cheap overnight rates. Charge overnight for 7p, use during the day for 30p - but this depends on cheap tariffs staying available. Perfect if you're in a flat or your roof isn't suitable.

Panels plus battery gives maximum benefit - generate during the day, store excess, use it in the evening. This is what most people installing solar now opt for, but it costs more upfront.

You can also add a battery later if budget's tight initially.

What It Actually Costs

Solar panels alone:

• 4 kW system (10-12 panels): £5,000-£7,000 installed

• Larger 8-10 kW system: £8,000-£12,000 installed

Battery alone:

• 5 kWh battery: £3,000-£4,000 installed

• 10 kWh battery: £4,000-£6,000 installed

• 14-15 kWh battery: £5,000-£7,000 installed

Panels plus battery (installed together):

• 4 kW panels + 5-7 kWh battery: £9,000-£11,000 installed

• 8-10 kW panels + 10-15 kWh battery: £12,000-£15,000 installed

Bundling panels and battery together usually saves £1,000-£2,000 compared with installing them separately.

To put battery capacity in context: 1 kWh is roughly what you'd use running your kettle 10 times, or your fridge for a full day, or a washing machine load. A typical home uses around 10 kWh per day, often peaking in the evening. A 10 kWh battery can power an average home through most of an evening - or a full day if you're careful.

What You Might Save

Savings depend on your energy use, tariff, and setup - here's some typical figures:

4 kW solar panels (no battery): £500-£700 per year

• Use about 40% of what you generate, export the rest

• Best for people home during daylight hours

• Payback: 9-11 years

Battery only (no panels): £500-£700 per year

• Charge overnight on cheap rate (~7p/kWh), use during the day (save paying 30p/kWh)

• Payback: 6-9 years

• Important: This depends entirely on cheap overnight tariffs staying available - if tariff structures change, so do the savings

4 kW solar + 5-7 kWh battery: £900-£1,100 per year

• Store daytime solar to use in the evening

• Less exposed to grid-price swings, faster overall payback when bundled

• Payback: 9-12 years

Larger smart system (8-10 kW + 10-15 kWh battery): £1,700-£2,000 per year

• Ideal for high-use homes, EVs, or heat pumps

• Smart control (e.g. Octopus Flux) lets you charge cheap, use solar first, export at peak

• Payback: 7-9 years (around 6 years in best cases)

These payback periods mean the system pays for itself in 7-11 years depending on setup - then continues delivering those savings for another 15+ years - that could mean tens of thousands of savings in the bank. Solar panels typically last 25-30 years with minimal performance degradation.

If You Have an Electric Vehicle

This changes everything. Charging an EV uses significant electricity - potentially doubling your household consumption. If you can charge during the day from solar generation, you're essentially fuelling your car for free.

Even partial solar charging makes a difference. A 4 kW system on a sunny day might add 20-30 kWh to your car - that's 80-120 miles of range. If you work from home or the car's parked during daylight, solar makes much more sense.

Without solar, EV charging on a cheap overnight tariff costs about 7p/mile. With solar, it's closer to 2p/mile for the electricity you generate yourself.

Is Your Roof Suitable?

Your roof probably works if:

• South, east, or west-facing (east generates morning power, west generates afternoon power)

• Minimal shading from trees or buildings throughout the day

• Roof is in decent condition (if you're planning to replace it soon, do that first)

• You own the property (some leasehold agreements have restrictions)

Your roof probably doesn't work if:

• North-facing only

• Heavily shaded for most of the day

• Listed building with planning restrictions

• Roof needs replacing in the next few years

Even if your roof isn't suitable, a battery on its own might still make sense.

The Installation

Panels go on your roof, connected to an inverter (usually in your loft or garage) that converts the electricity to the type your home uses. The battery (if you're having one) is either wall-mounted or floor-standing, usually in a garage or utility room.

Installation typically takes 1-2 days. Main disruption is scaffolding being up whilst panels are fitted. Once it's done, it's largely fit-and-forget - panels need virtually no maintenance.

Good time to install:

• During other roof work (scaffolding's already up)

• When getting an EV charger installed (electrician's already there)

• As part of wider renovation (electrical work coordinated)

Unlike heat pumps (which work better after insulation), solar works fine regardless of your home's insulation. You can install it whenever makes sense for you.

Common Questions

"Doesn't the UK not have enough sun?" Panels generate from daylight, not just direct sunshine. Yes, sunny days generate more, but they work fine in typical UK weather. Germany has similar weather and some of the highest solar installation rates in the world.

"What if I generate more than I can use or store?" It goes back to the grid and you get paid (typically 15p/kWh through export tariffs). It's less than you pay to import, but it's not wasted.

"Do I need planning permission?" Usually no for standard domestic installations, but listed buildings or conservation areas may have restrictions.

"What about maintenance?" Virtually none needed. Rain washes the panels, and modern systems are very reliable. You might want to check them every few years, but they're largely maintenance-free.

What to Think About Before Deciding

How long are you staying? Payback is typically 7-11 years depending on setup. If you're moving in 3-5 years, the financial case is weaker (though solar does add property value).

When do you use electricity? Home during the day? A battery becomes less critical. Out all day, home evenings? Battery makes much more sense.

What's your tariff? On a flat rate, panels help. On a time-of-use tariff with cheap overnight rates, a battery (even without panels) can save serious money.

Future plans? Getting an EV? Working from home more? These tilt the decision heavily towards solar.

Your roof condition? If it needs repairs, do that first. Panels last 25+ years and it's difficult to fix a roof once they're installed.

Who This Really Works For

Solar and battery storage work best when:

• You're staying put long enough to see the payback

• You have decent roof space facing the right direction

• Your usage patterns match generation (home during day) OR you have a battery

• You have or plan to get an EV

• You're on a tariff where storing/generating your own electricity saves meaningful money

It's not a silver bullet. If you're in a flat, roof faces north, or you're moving in 2 years, it probably doesn't make sense. But for homes where the conditions are right, the financial case is now genuinely compelling.

Planning solar as part of wider home improvements? Solar and battery work best when they're part of a complete energy efficiency strategy - alongside insulation, heating upgrades, and ventilation. We help you work out how solar fits into your overall home energy plan and coordinate everything together. See how Furbnow works.