Should you get solar panels? 5 reasons to add them to your home

Being more environmentally friendly and combatting the high cost of grid electricity were among the biggest reasons people bought solar panels, according to our recent survey.

Others were motivated by reducing their reliance on grid electricity, prompted by local council or government schemes, or because they wanted to charge their electric vehicle sustainably.

We surveyed 2,039 Which? Connect panel members who have solar panels in April 2024. Most were very positive about theirs. In fact, 80% said that they would be likely to install solar panels again if they moved home.

Here are five reasons they gave us that persuaded them to invest in solar power for their homes. 

Find out how much solar panels cost.

1. Generating 'free' electricity for your home

Very high energy prices in 2022 and 2023 prompted many people in our survey to install solar panels. 

The upfront cost of installation can be many thousands of pounds, but some owners felt that, with increasing inflation, solar panels were an investment opportunity that offered a better return than a savings account. 

The electricity generated by solar panels costs you nothing to use and owners felt that making the most of this gave them more control over their energy bills.

If you have a solar PV diverter – using excess electricity to heat your water – you can cut your gas use, too. Several people in our survey revealed that they don't need to use any gas to heat their water in the summer months as a result.

Those who installed storage batteries alongside their solar panels found that they could also take advantage of newer energy tariffs to buy grid electricity at cheaper rates overnight, as well as charging their battery with their solar panels.

Read more: are solar panels worth it?

2. Cutting your carbon footprint with solar panels

Playing their part in minimising climate change was a concern for many in our survey.

Using electricity generated by your solar panels guarantees that your home is running on renewable power. This isn't the case for renewable electricity tariffs sold by energy suppliers.

Adding solar panels improves the energy performance of your home, too, and can boost your energy perfomance certificate (EPC) rating. 

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3. Using less electricity from the National Grid

Reducing their dependence on grid electricity and the country's dependence on imported electricity was the motivation for some owners to fit solar panels on their home, according to our survey.

Installing a battery can help you use more of the power the solar panels produce and buy less from the grid – for example, if you're at work during daylight hours when they're producing electricity. 

If you're looking for backup power in the event of a power cut, solar panels and a storage battery can sometimes help. One owner told us that frequent power cuts at their rural home prompted them to install solar panels.

However, these systems are usually designed to switch off automatically in the event of a power cut. So you'd need to talk to your installer about whether the system can be set up so that it can stay on safely if the power's out. 

Some, but not all, battery storage systems can be set up to provide electricity to your home during a power cut. Again, it needs to be specifically set up to do this, so let the installer know that you want this option.

Use our expert guide to solar panel battery storage.

4. Making the most of solar panel grants and incentives

Financial help in the form of grants and other incentives from government, local councils and local authorities were mentioned by lots of respondents as being part of their decision to have solar panels. These can take several forms, including:

• Financial incentives such as grants
• Group-buying schemes where participants get a discounted price
• Free solar panels for those in certain circumstances
• Interest-free loans.

If you're tempted by one of these schemes, check that the installer is MCS-accredited and the products to be installed are also certified by them. 

Check what else you need to know with our buying advice for solar panels.

5. Charging your EV from solar panels

Charging an EV at home can be pricey, depending on your electricity tariff.

Some owners installed solar panels to be able to charge their EV for less, while others fitted them in preparation for a future EV.

Find out more about electric car charging at home.