Solar power is becoming an increasingly popular way for UK households to generate their own renewable energy and rightly so. We’ve done some quick maths to give you an idea of how much energy you can expect to create.
Solar power is becoming an increasingly popular way for UK households to generate their own renewable energy and rightly so.
With growing concerns over climate change, rising energy bills, and a push toward sustainability, more homeowners are turning to solar panels because they work and while there are a few myths out there stating they don’t – they are backed by the UK government and such sites like Money Saving Expert.com. But, one of the most common questions is: How much energy can solar panels actually produce for the average household in the UK?
What Affects Solar Panel Output in the UK
Solar energy production is influenced by several key factors in the UK, including:
- Location and Sunlight Hours
The UK is not as sunny as some parts of the world. As sad as this is and as much as we’d love to be a tropical country, we aren’t – but it still receives enough sunlight to make solar power a viable option. The amount of sunlight you get will vary depending on where you live. For example, southern parts of the UK generally receive more sunlight than northern regions, and cities like London and Brighton are better positioned for solar energy production than places residing in Scotland.
- Roof Orientation and Tilt
The way your roof faces and the angle at which the solar panels are installed will affect how much sunlight they can capture. South-facing roofs are ideal, but east and west-facing roofs can also work well, particularly if you live in areas with higher solar exposure. One of the many myths of ‘my roof is facing the wrong way’ is half true as North-Facing roofs aren’t suitable.
- Panel Efficiency
The efficiency of your solar panels will also play a role in how much energy they can generate. Modern panels typically have an efficiency rate between 15% and 22%, meaning they can convert that percentage of sunlight into usable electricity. This does, as you’d expect, deteriorate over time but not significantly enough to worry about – around 0.5% a year so at the end of a 25-year lifespan, you’d still have around 88% of a panel’s capacity to perform.
- Seasonality and Weather
The UK experiences significant variation in daylight hours throughout the year. Summer months (May to August) have longer days, which means solar panels can generate more energy. In winter, the days are shorter, and there’s often more cloud cover, which reduces solar output. It isn’t true that you need sunlight for solar to work, you just need daylight.
Average Energy Production for the Household
To understand how much energy solar panels can produce, you need to look at the typical setup for an average UK household.
Average Solar Panel System Size
Most UK homes opt for a solar panel system between 3-kW and 4-kW in size. A 3 kW system generally consists of around 8-12 solar panels, while a 4-kW system might have 12-16 panels. For a typical family home with an average annual energy consumption of about 3,800 kWh, a 3-kW system is usually sufficient to cover a large portion of the household’s energy needs. Simple maths!
How Much Energy Does a 3-kW System Generate?
On average, a 3-kW solar system in the UK can generate around 2,500 to 3,000 kWh of electricity per year.
Over the course of a year, you can expect an average daily generation of about 6-8 kWh per day, depending on the specific location and system efficiency and time of year (summer vs winter).
For context, an average UK home uses about 8-10 kWh per day. This means a 3-kW solar panel system could cover around 60%-80% of your household’s annual energy needs, with the potential for more if you’re able to store the electricity in a battery for use when the sun isn’t shining.
Can Solar Match Your Energy Needs?
While solar panels can significantly reduce your reliance on the grid, it’s unlikely that a typical household in the UK can be completely off-grid unless they have a very large solar system combined with energy storage (batteries). However, many homes use solar power to meet a substantial portion of their energy needs, particularly for daily consumption during daylight hours.
For example, if your solar panels generate 3,000 kWh a year and your household consumes around 3,800 kWh annually, you could reduce your energy bills by up to 80%. If you have a battery storage system, you could store excess energy generated during the day to power your home during the evening or on cloudy days, further reducing your reliance on grid electricity.
Solar Panels and Energy Savings
The financial savings from solar panels depend on your energy consumption, the size of your system, and whether you take advantage of government incentives like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which allows homeowners to sell any excess energy they produce back to the grid.
Here’s an example of potential savings:
If your solar panels cover 80% of your energy consumption, that could mean a saving of £400 to £600 per year on energy bills.
If you sell excess energy back to the grid through SEG, this could add an extra £100 to £200 per year to your savings, depending on energy prices and how much you export.
While the amount of energy solar panels can generate in the UK depends on various factors such as location, roof orientation, and panel efficiency, a typical 3 kW solar system can produce enough energy to cover a significant portion of a household’s energy needs – potentially up to 80%. With increasing electricity prices and growing environmental awareness, solar energy offers a promising solution for reducing your carbon footprint and cutting energy costs.
While solar energy in the UK may not completely eliminate your dependence on the grid, it can certainly make a substantial impact on both your household’s budget and the environment. If you’re considering solar panels, it’s worth consulting a professional installer to determine the best system for your home and energy needs.
To find out how much energy you can create and in turn, how much money you can save on your energy bills just click here to fill out a quick form and we’ll get in touch!
