Solar panels

Thinking about solar panels?

We’re here to help.

Looking for independence from the energy grid – and a source of your own renewable power? Then turn your eyes skyward. Because solar power is becoming more popular than ever. Here’s everything you need to know about investing in solar panels.

Want to be first to hear about our upcoming solar products?

What are solar panels?

Quite simply, they’re panels that turn sunlight into electricity. You see them all over rooftops, and the most common are photovoltaic solar panels (often called “PV”). The best thing about solar panels is they don't even need direct sunlight to work – so they’re perfect for the grey old UK. Phew.

What are solar panels?

What are solar panels?

Quite simply, they’re panels that turn sunlight into electricity. You see them all over rooftops, and the most common are photovoltaic solar panels (often called “PV”). The best thing about solar panels is they don't even need direct sunlight to work – so they’re perfect for the grey old UK. Phew.

What are solar panels?

Smaller bills. Lighter footprint. Check out the brilliant benefits of solar panels

Smaller energy bills

By generating your own electricity you could cut hundreds of £s off your energy bills each year.

Get money back

You can sell any excess power back to energy companies, helping to green up the grid as you go.

Easily maintained

Thankfully, they only need to be cleaned occasionally to keep them super powerful.

Help our planet

Solar is a renewable source, so as well as helping tackle climate change it reduces air pollution too.

brilliant benefits of solar panels

The cost of solar panels

Solar panels are an investment and the exact costs will vary. It all depends on the number of panels and quality of materials you choose. Over the long-term, they can help protect you from rising energy prices and even add value to your home.

The average cost for a solar panel system, according to the Energy Saving Trust, is around £4,800². And they can range up to £11,700³. For a more accurate idea, you can try the Energy Saving Trust’s Solar Energy Calculator.

The cost of solar panels

The cost of solar panels

Solar panels are an investment and the exact costs will vary. It all depends on the number of panels and quality of materials you choose. Over the long-term, they can help protect you from rising energy prices and even add value to your home.

The average cost for a solar panel system, according to the Energy Saving Trust, is around £4,800². And they can range up to £11,700³. For a more accurate idea, you can try the Energy Saving Trust’s Solar Energy Calculator.

The cost of solar panels

How solar panels work

The science (and magic) behind sunny solar power

It’s all pretty simple. When the sun shines down on a solar panel, the photovoltaic cells absorb its energy.

You know those black squares you see on solar panels? They're the cells. Each is made up of sandwiched layers of semiconducting materials. Every layer has different electronic properties, which energise when hit by photons from sunlight – creating an electric field. See? Magic.

One panel usually has around 30 cells. How much electricity it generates depends on things like its size, how bright it is that day, and a few other factors – such as temperature.

How solar panels work

How solar panels work

The science (and magic) behind sunny solar power

It’s all pretty simple. When the sun shines down on a solar panel, the photovoltaic cells absorb its energy.

You know those black squares you see on solar panels? They're the cells. Each is made up of sandwiched layers of semiconducting materials. Every layer has different electronic properties, which energise when hit by photons from sunlight – creating an electric field. See? Magic.

One panel usually has around 30 cells. How much electricity it generates depends on things like its size, how bright it is that day, and a few other factors – such as temperature.

How solar panels work

Store your power – or sell it!

Your solar panels will probably generate more electricity than your home can use in the daytime. In fact, a home that uses a “medium” amount of electricity consumes 2,900kWh a year⁴ (according to energy regulator Ofgem) – while an average solar panel system can generate around 3,750kWh of electricity!

So that means you’ll want to either store that extra power to use overnight – or sell it back to the energy grid. The choice is yours.

To store the extra power, you’ll need a battery storage system – which is something worth thinking about.

Or, if you don’t store the power, you’ll need to buy electricity for the evenings. But you’ll be selling power back to the grid, which should help with that cost. It’s all useful to know, when weighing things up.

Store your power – or sell it!

Store your power – or sell it!

Your solar panels will probably generate more electricity than your home can use in the daytime. In fact, a home that uses a “medium” amount of electricity consumes 2,900kWh a year⁴ (according to energy regulator Ofgem) – while an average solar panel system can generate around 3,750kWh of electricity!

So that means you’ll want to either store that extra power to use overnight – or sell it back to the energy grid. The choice is yours.

To store the extra power, you’ll need a battery storage system – which is something worth thinking about.

Or, if you don’t store the power, you’ll need to buy electricity for the evenings. But you’ll be selling power back to the grid, which should help with that cost. It’s all useful to know, when weighing things up.

Store your power – or sell it!

A ray of light for planet Earth

See how solar panels can cut your carbon footprint

Did you know that a typical home solar system can cut between 1.3 and 1.6 tonnes of carbon a year?

Amazingly, that’s the same as 24 trees can absorb over 10 years⁵.

Now just imagine if every home on every street had solar panels…

You see, solar power is more than a good financial investment. It’s investing in the future of our planet too. And it’ll play a big part in helping the UK reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Want to be a solar panel pioneer?

At OVO, we’re passionate about the power of the sun – and how it can help us change climate change. If you’d like to hear about the exciting solar products and the pioneering trials we’ve got in the pipeline, sign up here.

Register your interest
Want to be a solar panel pioneer?

Want to be a solar panel pioneer?

At OVO, we’re passionate about the power of the sun – and how it can help us change climate change. If you’d like to hear about the exciting solar products and the pioneering trials we’ve got in the pipeline, sign up here.

Register your interest
Want to be a solar panel pioneer?

Get even more info

Check out these blogs for all the knowledge you need:

Home solar panels: how much sunlight does it take to power a home?


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How solar panels can reduce your carbon footprint

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Smart Export Guarantee explained: how much could you save?

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Popular questions about solar panels


Sources and references:

1solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/solar_pv_costs_fall_82_over_the_last_decade_says_irena

² energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-panels/

³ which.co.uk/reviews/solar-panels/article/solar-panels/solar-panel-costs-aDxBY2v7kr60

⁴ ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2020/01/tdcvs_2020_decision_letter_0.pdf

⁵ This calculation is based on statistics showing that, on average, each tree will absorb 0.060 metric tonne of CO2 per tree over 10 years: epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#seedlings