Your solar panel stories: owners share their pros and cons

Adding solar panels to your home reduces your reliance on electricity bought from energy companies. It can reduce your electricity bills and you might even earn money by selling the excess back into the grid.

But with the average system costing around £7,000 to install, the initial outlay is not cheap. 

Whether or not it's worth the investment for you will come down to the specifics of your home and your lifestyle. Plus, it's important to choose the right type and size and use reliable installers for a positive experience.

We’ve quizzed three homeowners with solar panels about the process of getting them installed and how they find them now. 

Here are their pros and cons to help you understand how well they might work on your home.

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‘Our bills have noticeably gone down’

Who are you? Susan Walker, 71, from Scotland

When did you get solar panels installed and why?

'I got an inheritance and it seemed to be a good way to spend the money – although we knew we probably wouldn’t see the return on investment in our lifetimes. Part of our roof is south-facing and we knew having solar panels would help to mitigate our electricity costs. We went for JA Solar panels and we had them installed in June 2023.'

How did you choose the fitters?

'We got four quotes from various companies. The one we went for was recommended by friends. Some of the companies gave us a quote based on pictures of our house they saw on Google Maps and I didn’t have much confidence in that. The installers we chose came out and surveyed the house beforehand and answered all our questions. They were really first class. The installation took three days and wasn’t disruptive at all.'

How much did you pay?

'The total cost was £12,837 including £2,088 for 11 panels, with £1,262 going towards installation and £1,622 on testing. The rest went on the cost of the scaffolding, the mounting system, the cables and the inverter and battery. [Adding a battery adds considerably to the installation cost, but makes a solar panel system more flexible as you can use the energy at other times of day]. 

'Our system is 4.4kWp. We weren’t eligible for any loans or grants.'

Has having solar panels saved you money on your electricity bill?

'The display on our EDF smart meter shows the amount of electricity we are drawing from the grid. Before we had our solar panels fitted, it usually showed around 200-250 kWp/h. After they fitted the solar panels and the sun came out, we saw that drop to zero. In July 2022, before we had the panels fitted, the cost of electricity used - not including standing charges - was £54.77. In July 2023, it dropped to £3.72. In April 2023, the cost of electricity was £54.06. In April 2024 - the wettest April on record - the cost was £14.87.'

'If it clouds over significantly, the amount of energy we produce drops but we can still use energy from the battery, which is charged by the solar panels. In March, we generated 50% of our own electricity and in April, 75%. In July last year, it was 93%.'

What are the best and worst things about installing solar panels?

'Our energy bills have noticeably gone down and, while it’s not a reduction that’s going to change our lives, there is satisfaction in knowing we’re benefiting the environment. I can’t think of any bad points at all. They look fine, they’re not in sight of the street. I was fortunate to have the money to get them.'

Buying advice for solar panels:  Our essential solar panel guide, including how to find a solar panel installer and tips from experienced owners

 ‘We are barely using any mains electricity during the day’

Who are you? Neil, 74, and Frances Inglis, 75, from Reading

When did you get solar panels installed and why?

'We had 40 Trina solar panels installed on a slope in our garden in November 2023. Our garden is around an acre and the slope is 35 degrees and south-south-west-facing, so it seemed ideal. We wanted to cut our electricity bill because our home doesn’t run off mains gas and, with electricity prices going up, we decided to invest. The total size of the system is 16.8kWp [the average domestic installation is nearer 4kWp].'

How did you choose the fitters?

'We decided to install solar panels back in 2021 but it took us another two years to apply for planning permission and to find a company to install them. If you choose to mount solar panels in the garden, you can install a small array (up to nine square metres) without planning permission but a larger array does need it. 

'There were lots of companies that would put solar panels on your roof, but far fewer that would install them in your garden. Eventually, after lots of research, we found a company that was comfortable with mounting them and happy to do the size of installation we wanted.'

How much did you pay?

'In total, we paid around £43,000, with installation costing just over £13,000 and the materials £30,000. We weren’t assisted by any grants or loans. To install the panels at ground level, we chose to design and install a concrete lintel framework ourselves which saved us a few thousand pounds. 

'The installation process took around two weeks: one week to put the solar panels in and another week to install and test the batteries. We didn’t find it too disruptive because we had a pre-laid duct for the wiring across the garden to the house.'

Have the solar panels saved you money on your electricity bill?

'Yes - our electricity bill used to be around £570 a month. In January, with the solar panels in place, that had dropped to £170. It’s now gone down to around £40 a month. We have a tariff with Octopus which is a little bit like Economy 7, which offers us a cheaper rate of 7.5p per kWh at night. We use this time to charge our electric car, run our heat pump and top up our batteries, if the solar panels haven’t fully filled them. 

'Then we run the house off the batteries during the day. Once the batteries are topped up, we export electricity and we get 15p per kWh for anything we export.  We are finding we are barely using any mains electricity during the day.'

'We chose Huawei batteries and inverters which were recommended to us by one of the installers we shortlisted. The size of the batteries was based on our calculations of our use during the 18 hours of daytime tariff - approximately 10% larger than our daytime tariff electricity use. We wanted to make sure we could usually run during the day using only the battery as the electricity source, as opposed to needing to use the mains at daytime rates.

'It makes me think there must be people who can’t put solar panels on their home, but could still install a battery and make savings by charging it up overnight on a time-of-use tariff, as we are doing, to run their home during the day.'

What are the best and worst things about installing solar panels?

'We are really pleased with our solar panels. We thought about installing them for a number of years but had put the idea on hold. But with electricity bills going up so much and Octopus offering really good tariffs, we decided to go ahead and we’re glad we did. 

'Clearly, finding the money for the initial outlay is a disadvantage. But you begin to see the benefits quickly. We haven’t sat down and done the maths as to exactly what the payback will be, but we believe it will be less than seven years which is really good.'

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‘We were angry and kicking ourselves’

Who are you? Anne-Marie Nicol, 74, a retired youth worker and counsellor from Perth

When did you get solar panels installed and why?

'We had them installed in September 2022. We got 14 solar panels, with two batteries and a wireless hot water system. The solar panels are 6kWp.'

How did you choose the fitters?

'At that time, a lot of firms we approached said they were too busy. Eventually, we approached a firm following a recommendation. The rep came out to visit us and was very personable. He told us we would be able to export excess energy to the grid and be paid for it.

'We went ahead and the panels were installed, along with a Growatt inverter, two 3.3kW batteries and a solar water heater. The panels have worked without problems since then.

'However, after the installation, my husband tried to register the installation with our energy supplier, Octopus, to take advantage of the feedback tariff.'

'It was only then we were informed we required an MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) in order to get payment for exporting energy to the grid. Subsequently, we found the installers were not registered at the time of our installation. We were justifiably angry and kicking ourselves but, after consulting a legal service, Trading Standards and the Citizens Advice Bureau, we accepted there was nothing that we could do to rectify the situation.

'About a year later, we heard Octopus were doing a trial with non-MCS solar panel owners to see if they would be suitable to sell electricity back to the grid (a Non-MCS Export MPAN Application).

'We contacted Octopus and were advised there would be a fee of £250 for them to assess our installation and its suitability. If we did not meet their criteria, part of that fee would be returned to us.'

'We paid the fee in October 2023 and completed the application. Despite several emails chasing Octopus for information, we did not hear from them until February 2024 when we were asked to provide a Building Control Certificate. But our local Building Control Department advised our type of installation was deemed to be a permitted development and therefore no Building Control Certificate was required.

After many emails back and forth between ourselves and Octopus, we took Which?’s advice to write to the CEO and emailed the head of Octopus’s export services division. Within 24 hours we had a reply apologising and our application to the Non-MCS Export MPAN scheme was approved. On 11 April we received our Export MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) and our exports to the grid for payment went live.'

How much did you pay?

'We would prefer not to state the overall amount. We paid a total amount without any split between installation, panels, inverter or water heater. The installation took one day and the contractors were so efficient. We live in a bungalow so there wasn’t any need for scaffolding.'

Has having solar panels saved you money on your electricity bill?

'Our electricity bills from May through July 2022 (before the panels were installed) averaged £82 per month including standing charge.  From May to July 2024 (with the panels installed) our electricity bills averaged £28, including standing charge.'

What are the best and worst things about installing solar panels?

'If you have the money, without a shadow of a doubt, getting solar panels - particularly with batteries - is a great idea. They are absolutely brilliant at keeping energy costs down - obviously more so in the summer - and they’re good for the planet. Even in Scotland, where we have only seven hours of daylight in the middle of winter, we still get some energy out of them.'

'The worst thing has obviously been our experiences with the installer and the MCS certificate and the hassle and additional expense involved with Octopus in being approved for an export MPAN without an MCS Certificate.'

Which? contacted Octopus to ask about the issues with exporting electricity from solar panels that have been installed by a non-MCS registered installer. Octopus Energy told us: '[Octopus is] one of the only suppliers that allows customers with non-MCS-certified installations to earn money from their exported solar energy. 

'We have worked hard to create this feature because we believe that everyone who invests in solar panels should benefit, regardless of certification status.

'Each customer without MCS certification is unique, which can make the connection process a bit longer. While this specific case took a bit longer, we’re glad we managed to get it approved.'

Smart Export Guarantee explained: How much money could you earn from your solar panels and other renewable energy? 

How to choose a solar panel installer: expert tips

Sarah Ingrams, Which? energy expert

'Picking a solar panel installer is an important decision as it will often also determine the brand of solar panel you buy. Most owners chose their solar panel brand because it was the only one offered by their installer, according to our research.

'Try to get at least three visits and quotes from different installers. You’ll get a good idea of the going rate for the type of system you want in your area. It might also show you the choice of different products or set-ups that would be possible for your home.

'Check quotes are itemised so it’s clear how the costs are broken down and what you’ll get for your money.

'Make sure you get a breakdown of how any claimed energy savings are calculated. If they seem too good to be true, query them.

'The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certifies installers to a range of criteria and demonstrates compliance with industry standards. Using an installer who's registered with MCS will give peace of mind, as well as open up easier access to the government's Smart Export Guarantee scheme, through which you can be paid for excess energy returned to the grid.

'You can check whether a firm is certified through the MCS website.'

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