Cost of Solar Panel Kits: What to Expect When Investing in Renewable Energy

Solar power is within your grasp; new technology allows you to take advantage of lower costs.

12:39 25 February 2013

If you have not had the opportunity to look into solar power for a while, you may be surprised at the diversity you will find. There are different solar panel sizes, styles, looks, and of course prices. You will not want to automatically choose the least expensive solar panels though. Your choice should depend on what you intend to use your solar power for.

 

If you are trying to convert your entire household to solar power from other forms of power, such as electricity, then you will want to look for a high efficiency solar panel.  

 

High efficiency solar panels mean that one solar panel will provide more power to your home. Look for an efficiency as close to 20per cent as possible. That way, you will not have to invest in the same number of solar panels as you might have to for a lower-efficiency panel. 

 

How do you figure out the number of panels you need?

 

Many solar panels give output numbers in the form of kilowatts per hour. It is a good idea to search online for a converter and then grab an electrical bill to see how many watts your average monthly use entails.

 

Many websites for solar panel retailers have formulas you can use to calculate based on the efficiency of their particular panels. Unfortunately, there is no standard answer, but the costs of setting up a major solar panel system for your house will typically run between £5,500 and £9,500.

 

When you consider that you may save or generate up to £600 within a year, this is an investment that pays for itself very quickly. 

 

Check out the Feed-In Tariff scheme to get more information. To apply for the programme, you will have to have an Energy Performance Certificate first.