If you’re thinking about installing solar panels, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is “How much could solar panels save me?”
The answer depends on several factors, including how much electricity your household uses, the size of your solar PV system, your roof, and whether you choose to install battery storage.
A professionally designed solar PV system can significantly reduce the amount of electricity you need to buy from the grid by generating renewable electricity from daylight. The more of this electricity you use within your home, the greater the potential reduction in your electricity bills.
Every property is different, which is why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. In this guide, we’ll explain what affects solar panel savings, how they’re calculated, and how you can estimate the potential savings for your own home.
What Determines How Much Solar Panels Could Save You?
Several factors influence how much you could save after installing solar panels.
Your Electricity Usage
One of the biggest factors is how much electricity you use and, just as importantly, when you use it.
Solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours. If you’re at home during the day, work from home, or regularly run appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers or electric vehicle chargers while your panels are generating electricity, you’ll generally use more of the energy you’re producing yourself.
Using your own electricity instead of buying it from the grid is where much of the financial benefit comes from.
If you’re away during the day, your system may export more electricity to the grid instead. While you may receive payments through an export tariff, using your own generated electricity is often where the greatest value comes from.
The Size of Your Solar PV System
Larger systems can generate more electricity, but bigger isn’t always better.
The ideal system size depends on your property’s annual electricity consumption, available roof space, roof orientation and future plans, such as installing an electric vehicle charger or heat pump.
Rather than simply filling every available section of roof with panels, a well-designed system should be sized around your home’s requirements.
At Menai, every solar PV system is individually designed using specialist software to ensure it’s suitable for your property and your energy usage.
Your Roof
Your roof plays an important role in how much electricity your solar panels will generate.
Factors that affect performance include:
- Roof orientation
- Roof pitch
- Shading from trees or neighbouring buildings
- Available roof space
- Chimneys, roof windows and other obstructions
South-facing roofs generally achieve the highest annual generation, but east and west-facing roofs can also perform extremely well.
During the design process, professional modelling software is used to predict how much electricity your system is expected to generate throughout the year.
Battery Storage
Battery storage can increase the amount of solar electricity you use yourself.
Without a battery, any unused electricity generated during the day is usually exported to the grid.
A battery stores this excess electricity so it can be used later in the evening when your solar panels are no longer generating power.
This can reduce the amount of electricity you need to import from the grid and help you make better use of the renewable electricity your system produces.
Electricity Prices
The price you pay for electricity also affects how much value you receive from your solar panels.
As electricity prices change over time, generating your own electricity can help reduce your reliance on buying electricity from the grid.
While future energy prices can’t be guaranteed, producing some of your own electricity gives you greater control over a portion of your household’s energy use.
Example Solar Panel Savings
Although every property is different, the table below gives an example of how system size may affect annual electricity generation.
*These figures are illustrative only. Actual generation depends on the property’s location, roof orientation, shading, system specification and weather conditions.
The best way to understand how much your own home could generate is through a professional survey and system design.
Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?
Yes.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that solar panels only work in bright sunshine.
Solar panels generate electricity using daylight, not direct sunlight.
Although they’ll usually generate less electricity on overcast days than during bright sunshine, they’ll continue producing electricity whenever there is daylight.
This is one reason why solar PV continues to be a popular choice across North Wales and the rest of the UK.
Are Solar Panels Worth It in North Wales?
Absolutely.
Despite our reputation for wet weather, North Wales receives plenty of daylight throughout the year.
Modern solar panels are designed to perform in the UK’s climate, generating electricity across all seasons.
Long daylight hours during spring and summer can produce significant amounts of electricity, while winter generation continues to contribute towards reducing electricity imported from the grid.
A professionally designed system takes local conditions into account, helping ensure your installation performs as efficiently as possible.
Can You Get Paid for Excess Electricity?
If your solar panels generate more electricity than you’re using, the surplus can usually be exported to the electricity grid.
Many electricity suppliers offer export tariffs through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which allows eligible homeowners to receive payments for electricity exported from their solar PV system.
The rates available vary depending on your supplier and tariff.
Export payments can provide an additional benefit alongside the electricity you use yourself.
How Menai Calculates Your Potential Savings
Every property is different, which is why we don’t rely on generic online calculators.
Our design process considers factors including:
- Your annual electricity usage
- Roof size and layout
- Roof orientation and pitch
- Shading analysis
- Future energy requirements
- Battery storage options
- Estimated annual electricity generation
Unlike online solar calculators, every proposal from Menai Heating is based on your actual property. We use specialist solar design software to model your roof, shading, electricity usage and expected annual generation before recommending a system.
This enables us to provide realistic performance estimates tailored to your home, rather than relying on generic averages or assumptions, giving you the confidence to make an informed decision.
Find Out How Much Solar Could Save Your Home
The only way to accurately estimate how much solar panels could save you is with a system that’s designed specifically for your property.
At Menai Heating, we’ll assess your home, understand your energy usage and design a solar PV system tailored to your needs.
Whether you’re just starting your research or ready to explore your options, our team is here to help.
