Power up and save all year round with solar
Installing a solar panel system could save you up to £630 a year(1).
Why should I install solar panels?
Solar tech has advanced in the past ten years, with panels now cheaper and more efficient. With energy costs up and solar panel prices down, it's the perfect time to consider a solar panel and battery system.
How affordable is solar energy?
We estimate the cost of installing a system for a typical 3-bedroom house to be £6,650. This system includes:
- 8 x 400-450W solar panels
- all installation and scaffolding costs
- 10-year battery and inverter warranty
- costs of virtual and technical surveys
- system monitoring and performance app
Already have solar panels? Why not install a battery? This allows you to store the energy you don't use and save it for later.
For the system above and a 5.12kW battery, we estimate the cost to be £9,125. Get an accurate quote after a free home survey.
To find out more information about solar panel costs, visit our cost guide.
Are solar panels suitable for my home?
Solar panels are suitable for most homes, however the size of your roof, the direction it faces, and the pitch angle will ultimately determine whether a solar panel system is the right option for you.
Size – The more panels you have on your roof the more energy you will be able to create. An average system will typically take up around 15-20m2 of roof area.
Direction - Ideally your roof should be south facing and not have any trees or buildings shading it. You can still install panels on east or west facing roofs however they will produce less energy compared to a south facing roof.
Pitch- You'll need a diagonal roof as we cannot offer solar panels for flat roofs. The best pitch angle is between 30-40º (this is the typical angle of most UK rooftops).
Hear from one of our happy customers
What made you consider solar panels?
I began to get concerned about the rising cost of power and investigated several companies that supplied and fitted solar panels. The marketplace is a minefield for the unaware. Fortunately for me, part of my job before retirement was to look after energy spending with a large multinational company. This gave me a good understanding of what to expect from a potential supplier in this field. I had almost seen enough "too good to be true" suppliers and had virtually given up the task until I saw EDF were recommending a company. I made the phone call and was really surprised with the outcome.
What happened after your phone call?
Effective Home did a quick survey online to establish my potential requirements. With this done, they were able to cost the system. There was a cost involved in getting a surveyor out to confirm the roof strength, position of the panel, etc. This was fair enough as the surveyor's time and travel had to be paid. This came off the bill. Scaffolding was arranged, the engineers came on time to install the panels and wiring, inverter, battery, etc. and the rubbish was collected. The scaffolding was removed, and now I am generating power for myself with the surplus going to the grid. The whole project was thoughtfully managed from start to finish, and I am very pleased with the outcome.
Why would you recommend Effective Home?
The price for the project may not have been the cheapest on the market, but the fact that Effective Home kept to their promised schedule kept me informed of everything that I needed to know and ensured all certification was provided in a timely manner was worth paying for. I would therefore recommend Effective Home as a top-rate company for the supply and fitting of solar panels.
Andrew S Tremain
Apps to monitor your solar panel system
We offer access to one of two apps to help you check your solar system's performance. Both apps have been developed to help you get the most out of your solar system. The app you get will depend on whether you have a battery in your solar system. The apps track how much energy your panels generate in real-time, giving you the information you need to increase your savings and reduce your energy spend.
- detailed and custom reports
- automatic alerts for any system issues
- view environmental savings
- accessible from your phone or desktop
Monitor your solar system anytime, anywhere (as long as there is an internet connection).
Frequently asked questions about solar panels
How do solar panels work?
- solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are made up of many layers of semi-conducting materials (ours are made of silicon)
- the panels absorb the sun's rays and create a flow of electricity
- the electricity is then passed through an inverter, which changes the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC)
- this electricity can then be used to power your household appliances, charge your battery, or be exported to the grid
What do the panels look like?
We use the most aesthetically pleasing panels in the market. They are black panels that are roughly 1.8m by 1.1m.
Will my solar panels work when it’s not sunny?
Solar panels require daylight to work, not direct sunlight. This means even during cloudy days, your panels will still work.
I have some shading, can I still have panels fitted?
It depends how much of your roof is shaded. Panels are installed in “strings” – they are all connected to each other. If there is shading, it can affect the perfomance of the other panels, not just the one that is shaded. If there is shading, we can install the panels in areas that aren't shaded and install microinverters - these are individual inverters on each panel, connecting to a central unit.
Find out more about solar PV and battery storage in our blogs
Our solar panel guide
If you’re thinking about getting solar panels, you will want to know what you’ll spend and save. Solar panels are far easier than you may think to install. As soon as they’re up you can start benefiting from solar power! We're here to help you discover everything you need to know about cost and installation.
Our guide to renewable energy sources
Read our article on what renewable energy is. How it can help us reduce our reliance on gas, reduce our CO2 and how they work.