What the figures say
- The government estimates savings of up to £110 a year, and up to 20% of average home electricity use. [gov.uk]
- Which? quotes £70 to £110 a year (the government estimate) and up to 720 kWh a year. [Which?]
- Which? estimates payback of roughly 3.6-7.1 years, depending on the kit and your home. [Which?]
- Which? says a typical warranty is 10 years. [Which?]
- The Energy Saving Trust says savings will vary from home to home. [gov.uk]
Worked example (estimate only)
A £650 two-panel kit saving £70 to £110 a year would take roughly 6 to 9 years to pay back. This is our own estimate from the figures above. Your result depends on direction, shade, your tariff and how much power you use in daylight.
Are plug in solar panels any good?
They're best if you have an unshaded spot facing roughly south and use power during the day. Spare power you export earns nothing for most people (see export payments). The downsides: small savings, one kit per home for now, no batteries, and bans on timber balconies and some claddings. [solar.org.uk]
Questions
Are plug-in solar panels worth it in the UK?
They are a modest saver: £70 to £110 a year according to government figures quoted by Which?, with payback in roughly 3.6 to 7.1 years.