4 Things You Should Know If You're Still On the Fence About Installing Solar Panels

There are lots of reasons to go for solar panels on your home, but it's a big decision that can take some time to get your head around. Here are four things you should know before you make your decision. You don't have to live in a sun spot It's a common misconception that a home has to sit in a wide open space capturing direct sunlight for 8 hours a day in order to produce enough electricity for its occupants. Back in the very early days of solar panels, this may have been the case, but it's certainly not true any more. In reality, even indirect sunlight – say, during a cloudy day – will generate electricity, which means a well-fitted domestic solar system can meet most of a household's needs even in the depths of winter. The export tariff isn't life-changing money, but it's a great bonus The export tariff is a scheme offered to domestic and small-scale commercial energy producers (basically, anyone with solar panels below a certain capacity) whereby they can sell any excess energy they produce back to the grid. It's a useful scheme, since most solar systems overproduce energy (and only a certain amount fits in battery storage), but it's important to be realistic about the amount of money you'll make. Most homeowners can expect to make between 15p and 25p per kWh, which will equate to between £100 and £400 per year (on average). Nevertheless, this is energy produced by the sun – an abundant source – without any work from you. Who you work with really matters Solar panels have come on in leaps and bounds over the last fifteen years, and panels are far more efficiently designed and simple to install than they once were. Nonetheless, it's important to remember that it's all relative, and that just because solar pv is simpler, doesn't make it simple. Working with the right company – one with extensive experience in the industry, years' of practical knowledge and insight, and the ability to tailor the design to the exact needs of your property – is as important as it ever was. For instance, Gloucestershire-based GSM renewable energy specialists have more than thirty years of experience in this area, and never take a 'one size fits all' approach to installations. More and more people are searching for homes with solar There's no single data point for how much value solar adds to a home, and it's likely that this figure would always vary by location – and the real estate market as a whole. What we do know for certain, however, is that more and more property search platforms like Zoopla are reporting increased searches for homes with solar panels and EV charging. Housebuyers are aware of the benefits of increased self-sufficiency, and most of us are sick of paying for bills that feel inflated far beyond what is reasonable. Since the energy crisis shows no signs of slowing, it's clear which direction this trend is headed in.