Why Choose Solar PV – The myths debunked

Why Choose Solar PV – The myths debunked

Why choose solar energy?

In a world facing steep electricity price rises, many of us are looking for renewable, sustainable and independent sources of power. So why choose solar energy, and specifically, solar PV?

• Generate your own electricity. You can also store electricity if you install a battery.
• Protect yourself from rising electricity prices.

Let’s look into each of these solar power benefits in more detail.

Generate your own energy…

Why Choose Solar PV – The myths debunked. A well-sized PV solar energy system – combined with storage if the usage is primarily in the morning/evening – can cover a significant portion of your home or building’s annual electricity usage, up to 70-80% in many cases.

What this means is that for the majority of the year the building will be powered by 100% clean solar electricity, much to the annoyance of your electricity supplier!

Alongside the grid independence and environmental benefits, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) provides an economic incentive. Any excess solar energy generated by a PV system can be exported to the grid. The electricity exported to the grid is remunerated at a fixed or variable rate determined by the supplier, which is likely to be in the region of 5.5p/kWh. Assuming 50% export and at a rate of 5.5p/kWh, this roughly equates to an extra £27.50 per year on top of the electricity savings for every 3 or 4 panels installed.

Britain imports around 35% of the energy we use (BEIS, 2020). Solar power is contributing to the recent downward trend in import, so by installing panels you will be playing a part in the UK’s return to energy independence.

Protect yourself from rising electricity prices…

Everyone knows electricity prices go up over time. The graph below shows inflation-linked electricity prices from 2005-2019. Although prices decreased from 2014-2016, they started rising again in 2017 amid escalating global oil prices.

Data source: BEIS.

A solar PV system will give you protection against rising energy prices as you are in effect purchasing your power in advance. Overall the lifetime cost of domestic solar electricity is now around 10p per kWh (which is well below the typical 19p domestic tariff rate!).

In fact if prices rise much further owning solar panels will be like owning a mobile phone… you just can’t afford not to!

Find out more about solar PV in our expert guide: