Essex Solar Panel Guide: Costs, Savings & Benefits | EPC

Residential solar panels enjoyed a boom in popularity in the early 2010s, thanks to government incentives and declining costs. This trajectory has continued to rise in the decade since. The cost and planet-saving benefits of solar panels have been much-publicised, and for good reason.

In this article, we will explain these benefits in greater detail and highlight the savings that you can make. We’ll even explain how your solar panels can start generating income for you. 

The concept of solar panels is pretty easy to get your head around. They absorb the sun’s glorious rays and turn them into electricity for your home. The technology behind solar panels? Well, that’s slightly more complicated.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Solar panels contain photovoltaic cells (PV) made of semiconductor materials, most commonly crystalline silicon. When sunlight hits the solar PV cells, tiny particles known as photons are absorbed within the silicon. This excites the electrons that co-inhabit the space, freeing them from their atoms. 

The solar cell collects these freed atoms, which creates an electric DC current. This DC electricity gets passed through an inverter, turning it into AC electricity. This is the form of electricity that powers our homes, appliances, and gadgets.

Now that we’ve got the science out of the way, let’s dive into the benefits that solar panels can offer you.

1. Reduced Energy Bills

The rise in energy bills has had a damaging effect on homes across Essex. Many homeowners have dramatically cut their usage just to get by each month. This is where solar panels have the most noticeable impact. 

Solar panels can cut your electricity bills by a whopping 85%. With a solar panel installation, you’ll produce most of your own electricity, reducing your reliance on the grid. This means you’ll be able to save over £1000 a year, depending on the size of your solar panel system.

2. Generating Income

As well as helping you save money, solar power can also generate it for you. The UK Government-backed Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) allows you to sell excess electricity back to the grid.

The money generated from the SEG scheme won’t be life changing, but it will provide you with a pleasant quarterly bonus. All you'll need to do is apply for an SEG tariff with an energy supplier. The sun will do the rest of the work for you.

3. Storing Electricity

You aren’t required to sell excess electricity back to the grid. If you add solar battery storage to your system, you can store electricity for later use. This will help to lower your bills in winter, when your panels won’t be able to generate quite as much electricity. 

4. Lowering Carbon Emissions 

Solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, a renewable, clean energy source. They work without relying on fossil fuels such as oil and gas. This means that they don’t emit CO2 while in use, helping you to reduce your carbon footprint and do your bit for the planet.

5. Increased Home Value

Having solar panels installed on your home is an attractive prospect for potential buyers. The above financial and environmental benefits will increase the value of your home when you come to sell it. 

Solar panels don’t command any running costs once they’ve been installed. However, there is the initial cost of installation to consider. This can feel like a significant hurdle to some. 

The cost of solar installations will vary depending on the size of your home and the type of panel you want. Here is a rough guide of what you can expect to pay:

The costs of solar panels vary depending on a number of factors. These include:

• Company pricing: Different companies will charge different fees. While it may be tempting to pick the cheapest option, a below-par installation will likely cost you more in the long run.

• Installation size: The bigger the job, the more it will cost to complete it. If you live in a large, four-plus bedroom house, the number of panels, resources, and increased installation time will cost you more.

Type of installation: Some jobs are easier to complete than others, and will therefore command a lesser fee. For example, it’s much harder to install solar panels on tall buildings, which will add to the installation cost.

Solar panels require maintenance. This involves semi-regular checkups to make sure your system is working as efficiently as possible. Annual service costs vary, but you can expect to pay upwards of £150 per visit.

Your panels will also require regular cleaning. Removing dirt and dust from the panels will allow them to absorb the maximum amount of sunlight. Panels will need to be cleaned every six months or so, usually at a cost of around £15 per panel.

Theoretically, you could clean the solar panels yourself. However, hiring a professional cleaner will be a smarter option, because of the high-up location of solar panels. They will have the required credentials and safety equipment to work at height. 

[Interested in solar panel installation with EPC? Check out our case studies]

Along with the Smart Export Guarantee mentioned above, further savings can be made on your solar panel installation. 

Until the 31st of March 2027, the UK Government has applied a 0% VAT rate on so-called ‘energy saving materials’. These include solar panels, as well as ground and water source heat pumps for residential properties. This is a large reduction from the standard VAT rate of 20%. 

Starting from the 1st of April, the UK Government will increase the VAT rate to 5%.