As energy bills rise and our climate becomes increasingly warm, solar panels are continuing to be a serious consideration for anyone building, extending or renovating a home.
But, when it comes to choosing the right type, there isn't a one size fits all approach. There are different types, factors which impact installation, varying costs and pros and cons that all need to be taken into account.
Energy expert David Hilton breaks down everything you need to know about including this renewable energy source in your plans.
What are the different types of solar panels?
There are three main types of solar panels: photovoltaic (PV), thermal and photovoltaic thermal panels, or solar PVT:
- Solar PV panels generate electricity from sunlight that you can use to power your home
- Solar thermal panels generate heat for use in your domestic hot water cycle
- Solar PVT, also known as hybrid solar panel which are a combination of solar photovoltaic panel and solar thermal panels in one module
Each type of solar panel works in a different way, and choosing the right one for your project depends on what you are looking to gain out of this energy source.
Most common in the UK are solar PV panels, which can help reduce your home's reliance on the National Grid for electricity.
How does each type of solar panel work?
For a more detailed look at the ins and outs of each type, you can take a look at our guide on how do solar panels work, but in summary, each type absorbs the same sunlight, but then uses it in a different way to create power or heat.
Solar PV panels have very thin silicone cells that are doped in chemicals to make them sensitive to light. The light causes a reaction between the cells and an electric current is produced. The brighter the sunlight the greater the energy generation. This electricity is then transferred via a solar panel inverter into the correct voltage for use in the home and used immediately, or stored in a solar battery for use later on.
Monocrystalline is the most common solar panel choice in the UK with high efficiency, good in low light and a longer lifespan making them the default choice for all new solar installations, say the experts at E.ON Next.
Solar thermal panels on the other hand have a dark coated metal sheet in them that has copper pipe attached to it, with water running through it. There is insulation behind the pipes, and therefore any heat that is absorbed by the dark panel is then reabsorbed by the fluid in the pipe and moved to a hot water cylinder, where it can be used for baths, showers or general domestic hot water requirements.
Solar PVT on the other hand features both of the above types, but as they are a more costly version, tend to be less popular.
What are the pros and cons of solar panels?
When considering installing solar panels as part of your self-build, renovation or even extension project, it's not uncommon for homeowners to ask the question: 'are solar panels worth it?'
The answer is of course entirely dependent on the specific nature of your home, needs and project, but your decision-making process can be helped by taking a look at the main pros and cons of solar.
Pros of solar panels
1. Eco-friendly
If building an eco-home is important to your household, then there's no doubt that including solar panels in your plans will always be a positive. Reducing your requirement on mains-powered electricity is a big plus point and one that can't be overlooked.
But, in general, it tends to come down to weighing up the costs for adding solar vs potential savings to be made.
2. Cost savings
In the age of the original Feed-in Tariff (FiT), solar panels were an exceptionally good investment. Not only did you get paid for the generation but you could use it too, therefore saving on buying in the electricity and balancing out the initial cost of solar panels.
However, even though the scheme closed, one of the main pros of solar panels is that if you have the right tariff, you can still make money from the electricity you generate, thereby still offering the opportunity to get a 'payback.'
"Once you're generating your own electricity with solar panels, you can get paid for what you don't use through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)," explains Richie Atkinson, head of future energy homes at E.ON Next.
"Rates depend on your supplier, but if you add a battery and a smart tariff like Next Optimise, you can go even further still, storing any surplus electricity your home isn't using and drawing on it later when you need it."
This is of particular appeal to most homeowners now given the increasingly expensive electricity bills most of us face.
If you are using solar thermal to replace an oil or LPG heating system, then savings are also likely to be significant, especially as the per-unit fuel cost continues to rise.
Cons of solar panels
1. Costs
Solar panels aren't a budget buy, so some homeowners may have to question if they are worth the initial outlay.
However, with plans in place to make them compulsory on all new build homes as part of the Future Homes Standard, even if you move within the next few years, it's worth remembering that having solar panels will put your property at a level pegging with newer homes, and could therefore potentially increase the value of your home.
2. Appearance and space requirements
Also, while living with green energy is definitely a good thing to do in terms of the environment, solar panels might not be to everyone's design tastes. Alternative solar panel ideas could be to hide panels on a flat roof, or to install them elsewhere, such as on a garage or in the garden.
Solar PV panels will require a solar battery if you're looking to store the energy generated and solar thermal panels need a hot water cylinder. Both of these require a certain amount of storage, which not every home can afford.
As E.ON Next’s Head of Future Homes, Richie Atkinson and his team are helping to transform homes up and down the country, improve people’s comfort, lower energy bills and make homes more sustainable and fit for the future. Richie has worked at E.ON for over 13 years and is now responsible for bringing greener, cleaner and more sustainable solutions into people’s homes.
Assessing your home for solar panels
Getting the most out of any solar panel installation involves looking at the suitability of your property and comparing the potential energy output to your needs. And, while the effectiveness of solar panels is weather dependent, there are ways to optimise their efficiency to get closer towards a fully solar powered house.
One of the best starting points is assessing the roof and orientation of your home. If you are building from scratch, you may have some control over this, but if adding solar to an existing build, it's important to know that according to the experts at E.ON Next, south-facing roofs generate the most electricity, but east- and west-facing roofs are also suitable as they give peak output at times households tend to use most energy – namely the morning and evening.
In terms of the type of roof you have and its suitability, as an example, E.ON Next installs on roofs with a pitch between 20 and 50 degrees and a surveyor will confirm suitability as part of the quote process.
While you don't need blazing sunshine for solar panels, with PV panels, it is crucial to avoid any shading – even when one panel is in the shade, such as behind a chimney stack, this could cause the whole array to stop generating energy.
And, don't forget that the roof design must also be structurally sound enough to take not only the weight of the panels, but also the wind lift that may be caused by wind getting behind them.
Budgeting for solar panels
Unlike the Boiler Upgrade Scheme where all homeowners considering upgrading their heating system to a heat pump, there are no longer any unique solar panel grants available.
That said, solar is now included under the umbrella of the Warm Homes Plan, which means eligible households can claim financial support, with solar panel loans also an option for those homes that don't fall into the low-income category.
"With regards to costs for solar PV, a 6-panel system (2.85 kWp) starts from £4,995 and a 12-panel system (5.70 kWp) from £6,495," according to the experts at E.ON Next. This will include installation, but solar battery costs will be an additional expense.
If the panels are integrated into the roof or are made to mimic the tiles or slates then these costs can also rise.
Solar thermal systems on the other hand, will also usually require a new cylinder as you need two coils in it, one for the solar panel circulation and the second for the back up heater such as a boiler (gas, oil or biomass), or a heat pump.
Depending on the roof access and the cylinder location the cost to install a solar thermal system is also likely to start from at least £5.000.
However, with regards to savings once you've paid for your installation, experts at E.ON Next say they could potentially save you up to £777* per year on your energy bills, depending on your home and energy use.
By exporting any extra electricity back to the grid via the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) you could also earn an additional £412, depending on your tariff, while helping reduce the carbon footprint of your home.
*These are example figures only, based on standardised MCS calculations. Savings are based on property fitted with a south-facing solar array in central England on a roof with a 35-degree tilt and no shading, with electricity consumption of 4,000 kWh per year (with the customer Home all day), at a tariff rate of 26.11p/kWh (the Ofgem Energy Price Cap rate from 1st July 2026). The solar array contains 12 x 475W panels (5.70 kWp) generating 5,330 kWh/year, fitted with a 5.3 kWh (4.8 kWh usable) battery.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
In most cases, solar panels will often fall under permitted development rules so you usually won't need planning permission for solar panels. These rules include, amongst other details that the panels must not protrude more than 150mm off the profile of the roof, must not be higher than the highest part of the roof (not including the chimney) and must not face the road.
In all other situations then advice should be sought from the local authority before proceeding. Listed buildings and properties that fall within conservation areas or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) will also have separate rules when it comes to the planning permission to fit solar panels.
FAQs
How long does solar panel installation take?
Solar panels are installed either on the roof above the roof cladding, integrated into the roof either mimicking the cladding or as panels that are flush with the cladding.
Roof hooks are fixed to the roof trusses or rafters and aluminium rails are then fixed horizontally to the hooks. The panels are then bolted to the rails and (with PV) all the wires fed back to a device known as an inverter, which converts the generated energy into useable electricity for use in the home.
Solar thermal panels are also bolted to roof hooks but will have pipes connecting to a cylinder in the home.
"Most installations take one to two days, depending on your home, and our MCS-accredited installers take care of everything from the grid connection through to commissioning," says Richie Atkinson. "It's simpler than people think and the savings can be substantial."
How many solar thermal panels do you need?
Solar thermal panels are actually around 80% efficient so you would expect to fit one flat panel (or 10 tubes) for every 100 to 120 litres of hot water storage capacity. Therefore if you have a 240 litre cylinder you would have two panels but a 300 litre cylinder may require three panels or 30 tubes.
For more information on solar panels, before you make a final decision. take a look at some of the most common solar panel problems, and whether the arrival of plug-in solar panels in the UK could be a suitable option for your home.
