For most homes with a sunny, unshaded roof, yes: the Energy Saving Trust estimates panels on a south-facing roof pay back in 9 to 12 years, and they last 25 years or more. They make less sense on a north-facing roof or if you plan to move soon.
The short answer
For a typical home with an unshaded south-facing roof, the Energy Saving Trust estimates solar panels pay for themselves in 9 to 12 years, and they keep working for 25 years or more. East or west-facing roofs make 15 to 20% less, so take longer. That leaves well over a decade of cheaper electricity.
How much electricity they make
UK solar output varies with the weather. Government figures for 2024/25, a dull year with the fewest sunshine hours since 2012/13, work out at roughly 800 kWh a year for each kW of panels. A sunnier year produces more. The South West and East of England do best; London did least well that year.
Using it yourself is where the savings are
Every unit you use yourself saves you buying it, at around 26p per kWh on the current price cap. Units you don’t use are exported and earn much less. So the more you use during the day, the better solar pays.
MCS lookup tables give the share of solar power a home uses itself. For a home using 2,500 to 2,999kWh of electricity a year (Ofgem’s typical home uses 2,500kWh) with a system making about 3,600 to 3,900kWh:
- Someone home all day: about 23%, rising to 54% with a battery of 4 to 5kWh usable capacity
- Home half the day: about 19%, rising to 52% with that battery
- Out all day: about 14%, rising to 48% with that battery
These are MCS estimates for similar homes, not a forecast for yours. See our battery guide for more.
How long they last
The Energy Saving Trust says panels should last 25 years or more. The inverter, which converts the power for your home, usually needs replacing once, after about 12 years.
Does solar add value to a house?
A study of about 1.5 million UK homes on Zoopla found homes with solar were listed 6 to 7% higher. It compared asking prices, not sale prices, and couldn’t prove the panels caused the difference, so treat it as encouraging rather than certain.
When solar is not worth it
- North-facing roofs: the Energy Saving Trust doesn’t recommend them. East and west roofs produce 15 to 20% less than south, but are usually still worthwhile.
- Heavy shade from trees, chimneys or nearby buildings.
- Moving soon: with a payback of around a decade, you are unlikely to earn the cost back through savings if you move within a few years.
The way to know for your home
An installer will look at your roof, its direction and shading, and your electricity use, and give you a figure for your home rather than an average.
Ready to see what it would cost for your home? Answer a few quick questions below and we’ll match you with an installer who covers your area. It’s free and there’s no obligation.