Solar panels are revolutionising the energy industry, saving people money and lowering their carbon footprint, but are they worth it?

The answer is yes! Solar panels can be a great investment, helping you to save money on your energy bills, lower your carbon footprint and even make money on your solar energy. What they also provide is peace of mind knowing that future energy price rises won’t affect you.

Did you know you can sell your unused energy back to suppliers? The Smart Export Guarantee or platforms such as Social Energy allow you to make money from your solar energy! You can also add an EV charging point to your home, making your home more efficient and further increasing your home’s value, buyers also view energy efficiency as a desirable trait in homes

The use and installation of solar power batteries have surged in recent years, but if you’re still considering whether to adopt this technology, you might be asking: are solar power batteries worth it? The short answer is yes—solar power batteries are a worthwhile investment, although the benefits can vary based on your specific energy usage habits.

Solar power batteries work by storing excess energy generated on sunny days and making it available when you need it. For example, if you’re away during the day, you can still use the energy your system has produced, preventing it from going to waste. In fact, 65% of people with solar power batteries say they installed them for this reason, while around 20% cited money-saving as their primary motivation.

Another reason to consider solar power batteries is their ability to facilitate grid trading on platforms like Social Energy. This allows you to sell and trade surplus energy back to the grid, which means you can not only save money but also earn income from your electricity usage. This added benefit may make investing in solar power batteries even more appealing for you.

One of the most frequently asked questions about solar energy is whether solar power works on cloudy days. Given that the term “solar” refers to the sun, it’s understandable why people wonder if the system relies solely on sunshine.

The simple answer is yes, solar power does work on cloudy days. Solar panels generate electricity by using photons, which are stimulated by any light, not just direct sunlight. As long as there is enough light for you to see the panels, there’s enough light for them to produce power.

That said, solar panels are most efficient on sunny days. This is because the photons move more vigorously when the sunlight, UV rays, and heat are stronger, leading to more electricity being generated. However, even on overcast days, the panels are still capturing and converting light into energy, just at a reduced rate compared to a bright, sunny day.

There can be considerable differences between the cost of different solar panels, but as with many household investments, it’s worth remembering that when it comes to quality, efficiency and operation, you get what you pay for with solar panels. Most people find that striking the best combination of solar panel power output and roof coverage is the most cost effective way of investing in solar power.

The price also depends on the quality of materials used and the power output rating of the panels. Brands who use higher quality or more complex materials in their panels, or who offer higher capacity solar panels, are able to command a higher price per panel. But while they might seem pricey, they’re likely to perform better in the longer term. Cheap solar panels, meanwhile, might seem like a bargain but might not deliver in the ways you expect. The best way of pricing up solar panels is to work out how many you will need. In most cases, you’ll want at least enough panels to cover average household electricity consumption, which is 3,800 kWh. Buying 10 panels each with a 400 kW capacity will be enough to meet that need, all you need to do is choose between the different manufacturers and find the solar panels that fit your budget. Get a free quote from the Solar Man today.