Renewables generated a record 30% of global electricity last year. Playing a key role in this rapid expansion is solar power.
In the UK, well over a million homes have solar panels installed. And there are plenty of good reasons why solar is leading the way and replacing fossil fuels.
Most of us are familiar with the headline benefits of solar power – lower energy bills and reduced carbon footprints to name the top two. But there’s much more to these clean energy generating machines.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the well-known benefits of solar panels but also highlight some of their less obvious benefits. From unexpected financial boosts to positive environmental impacts and even potential health benefits, solar panels are quietly supporting the green energy transition.
The well-known benefits of solar panels
Before we take a look at the less obvious perks, here’s a quick recap of the main benefits that have made solar panels so popular:
Reduced energy bills
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has confirmed that solar energy is now the cheapest form of electricity in the world. With costs always a primary driver, solar is an increasingly attractive option for homeowners who consider their savings over the long term.
In the UK, solar panels can cut your monthly energy bills by up to 70% on their own. Even more so when combined with battery storage, which can collect and store any excess energy you generate to use later on. Just how much you can save depends on how many panels you’ve got and how much energy they generated, but it’s thought they can save anywhere from £200-£800 on your annual electricity bill.
At a time when energy prices in the UK have increased substantially over the last few years, solar panels offer a positive way to reduce these monthly costs and limit your dependency on the national grid. For most homeowners, this is the biggest advantage to solar panels.
Lower carbon footprint
By generating clean, renewable energy from just the sun’s light, solar panels significantly reduce your household’s carbon emissions. It’s likely that you’ll still have to tap into the grid at times, but you’ll be using a lot less energy generated from coal, oil and gas.
On average, a typical residential solar panel system can save around 1 tonne of carbon emissions per year according to the Energy Savings Trust. This is the same as driving 3,600 miles. Over the 30+ year lifetime of solar panels, this carbon saving really adds up.
Low maintenance
Once installed, solar panels require very minimal maintenance and upkeep. They don’t need annual servicing and the electrics don’t need checking unless there’s a problem.
In terms of cleaning, the rain does the majority of this for you. You may opt for an annual clean to help maintain the highest possible efficiency with your panels, but the only time they need a real clean is when they are covered in dust or dirt.
Less obvious benefits of solar panels
Now, let’s take a look at some of the less talked about benefits of solar panels for homeowners.
Increased Property Value
Installing solar panels can boost your home’s resale value. Studies have shown that homes with solar installations can sell for up to 4.1% more than comparable properties without solar.
In places like London, this can be as much as £90,000. But even in less expensive locations such as the north west, solar panels can add around £30,000 onto your home’s value. This added value can help protect your investment and give you a return even if you’re planning to move in the near future.
24/7 Power Potential
Solar panels only generate electricity during daylight hours. This is true. But, pair them with a battery storage system and you’ll be able to use your own clean, renewable energy during the evening and throughout the night to keep essential appliances running. You can even charge the electric vehicle from it depending on the capacity.
This combination of solar panels and battery storage is a powerful one. During the height of summer, your battery storage system will quickly charge up during the day, meaning it’s possible for you to go off-grid for days and sometimes weeks. This will dramatically reduce your monthly bill and associated carbon emissions.
Future-proofing against rising energy costs
The average gas and electric energy bill in 2013 for UK households was £1,306. In 2023, this was around £2,500. As traditional energy prices continue to climb, your solar panels will provide a buffer against future increases.
You won’t need to worry as much about fluctuating prices as the majority of your electricity will be self-generated. And aside from the initial outlay to get the panels installed, there are no on-going costs with solar-generated electricity.
Smart Home Integration
As the electrification of homes continues, it’s becoming more common to integrate solar panels with smart home systems.
This allows for more efficient energy use. For example, some energy hungry appliances, such as the tumble dryer, can be automatically programmed to run when solar production is at its peak. Extra efficiency can create lots of small energy wins around your home, moving you from energy efficient to energy intelligent.
Earn from excess energy
With solar panels, you have the ability to earn money too. This is through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme.
During the week on sunny days, much of your solar energy will go unused by your home. Unless you have a battery storage system in place, this energy gets sent to the national grid. Under SEG, you get paid for any surplus electricity your panels generate and send to the grid. Depending on your supplier, this can range from a few pence per kilowatt up to around 30p.
This can turn the solar panels on your roof into a small revenue stream, helping to speed up the offsetting of your initial investment.
Long-term reliability
How does decades of free, clean energy sound?
Most solar panels come with a 25-year warranty. As a baseline this is very good, but as technology advances and panels improve, 30-year guarantees are not uncommon.
This is just the warranty though. Many solar panels will continue to work effectively for years after this, some up to 40 years. By this time, the initial investment will be well paid off, you will have saved thousands of pounds and actually made money under SEG. As a solar panel benefit, this shouldn’t be underestimated.
Versatility
Solar panels are versatile pieces of kit. They can be installed on standard sloped roofs, flat roofs or even mounted on the ground. All you really need is a space that receives enough sunlight to make them worthwhile. All of this makes solar energy highly accessible to a wide range of property types.
As your energy needs grow, it’s relatively easy to scale up your system by connecting additional panels to your existing array. This flexibility allows you to adjust your energy production to match your consumption over time.
If you can’t install the standard, sturdy solar panels for whatever reason, you can get thin flexible panels. These aren’t as efficient, but are perfect for things like boats and campervans.
Extra benefits of using solar panels
If we zoom out a little further from the domestic advantages associated with solar panels, there are plenty of wider benefits for the environment and society. Here are some of the most important.
Water Conservation
Traditional power plants, whether fuelled by coal, natural gas or nuclear energy, require vast amounts of water for cooling. For example, coal-fired power stations use around 5,000 litres of water per megawatt-hour of energy generated. It’s thought that fossil-fuel powered energy plants in the United States use more than 500 billion litres of fresh water a day!
On the other hand, solar panels don’t need any water to generate electricity. By shifting to solar, we can significantly reduce water consumption in energy production. This is an important consideration as water scarcity becomes an increasing global concern.
Energy security contribution
Solar panels, especially when combined with large scale battery energy storage systems, can improve national energy security. It’s because they help to decentralise energy production, which creates a more robust, resilient energy system that’s less vulnerable to disruptions or price fluctuations in global energy markets.
As more homes install solar panels and battery storage, each can act as a mini power-station to create a smarter, more flexible national grid. These advanced systems can better manage the variability that comes with renewable energy, leading to a more stable energy grid for everyone.
Improved air quality
Public Health England have published evidence to state that air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK. Long term exposure to air pollution causes between 28,000-36,000 deaths a year. Particularly in urban areas, bad air quality is linked to the development of coronary heart disease, strokes, respiratory disease and lung cancer. Quite astonishing really.
By reducing reliance on the burning of fossil fuels, solar energy helps decrease air pollution on a wider scale. In fact, at the point of energy generation, there’s zero air pollution with solar panels.
Job creation
From manufacturing to installation and maintenance, solar energy creates a wide range of jobs across various skill sets. By 2035, the UK plans to increase solar capacity five-fold on 2022 levels. A report by Solar Energy UK shows that increasing 40GW of operational solar capacity will lead to around 13,000 new jobs.
Solar panels don’t just exist on their own though, they are part of the wider green energy industry. Currently, this sector employs over 600,000 people. This is great, but there’s so much more potential there.
An advancement in one area tends to have a knock-on effect in another. For example, as solar capacity increases, there’s a greater need for more efficient energy storage which pushes on advancements in battery technology. This can then positively impact the EV sector, which encourages more people to buy electric cars and so on. By becoming a renewables leader, the UK can create hundreds of thousands more jobs to replace the ones lost from the reducing fossil fuel industry.
Multi-use innovations
Solar technology is being used alongside a wide range of structures and surfaces. And why not?
For example, solar carports can provide shade for vehicles whilst generating electricity. Shading for cars used to be something for hotter climates only, but it’ll become more important as the average temperature in the UK rises.
There’s no reason why all rooftops and unused surfaces shouldn’t have solar panels on them to generate free electricity.
Community energy Projects
Solar panels can be a catalyst for community energy initiatives. These projects are where communities collectively invest in renewable energy technology, such as solar panels and battery storage.
Community energy projects bring multiple benefits with them, including a sense of shared purpose, cheaper energy, improved energy efficiency and can even generate income for community projects.
Educational opportunities
Solar installations, particularly in schools and public buildings, can serve as powerful educational tools. They’re a great talking point and provide real-world examples of renewable energy in action.
This can help to educate the next generation about sustainability, inspiring future innovations in clean energy technology to give us all a brighter future.
Mental health boost
There’s growing evidence that taking positive action against climate change, such as installing solar panels, can have psychological benefits. It can reduce eco-anxiety and provide a sense of empowerment and purpose, leading to improved mental health.
Wrap up on solar panel benefits
From the obvious to the unexpected, solar panels offer a wealth of benefits. Although their primary job for homeowners is to generate clean energy and cut energy bills, they’re one of the main ways in which society is going to switch to a more sustainable, resilient and healthier future. So, whether you’re motivated by financial savings, environmental concerns, or the desire to be part of a cleaner, greener world, solar energy provides a powerful solution.
