You’ve heard about solar panels, “PV (photovoltaics),” battery storage systems, and heating your water with solar power… There are lots of hype words around solar panels but what’s less common to hear about are the advantages and disadvantages of fitting solar panels on the average home in Northern Ireland.
Now when we think of the “average” home considering solar panels in Northern Ireland, we have to look at a few things: electricity expenditure, roof suitability and budget! In 2022-2023, homes on average spent £1,303.39 on their yearly electric bill – (Power To Switch has a great read on this topic – see this post for a town-by-town breakdown). With regards to roof suitability, the average domestic home is usually either a concrete tile or slate roof with the occasional metal tin shed/garage. The roof also needs to be structurally sound and large enough to fit the number of solar panels your bills need, with minimal shading issues and a perfect orientation facing south, but east and west facing roofs are also suitable. Then if we think of the budget, of course each home and situation is vastly different!
Advantages and Disadvantages of Investing In Solar For Your Home
So for the “average” home, what are the pros and cons of getting solar panels? We’ve laid some of the major advantages and disadvantages of solar energy in the table below:
| Advantages of Solar Energy | Disadvantages of Solar Energy |
| Electric Bill Savings Can be over £1,000 per year! Savings vary depending on your electric use, usage profile and system design, but First Class Solar use industry-leading software to calculate the expected savings for your home, taking those individualised characteristics into account. PLUS, over your system’s 25+ year lifetime, these savings become even more significant! | Upfront CostSolar panel systems nowadays are bought and owned outright by the homeowner, as opposed to the “rent-a-roof” scheme several years ago, which can make the system more expensive upfront. First Class Solar offers finance options for homeowners. |
| Energy Independence By creating your own electricity, you rely less on the grid. | Roof SuitabilitySome roofs are too small, have too many dormers, or are unsuitable in other ways (structure, shading, orientation, tilt). However, there are still options for ground-mounted or flat-roof systems! |
| Environmental ImpactSolar panels don’t have any emissions, noise-pollution or water requirements when operating. | Payback Period & Moving HomeWe recommend getting solar panels if you plan to stay in your home long enough to recoup your initial investment in savings! With current electricity costs and solar system pricing, this is around the 6 year mark. Moving in three years? We don’t recommend solar for you, unless purely for environmental reasons. |
| Increased Property ValueHomes with solar panels tend to sell faster and at higher prices. | Night-TimeSolar panels produce electricity when the sun is out, so you wouldn’t get production at night. However, many domestic systems in Northern Ireland make use of solar batteries and use their stored day-time electricity in the evenings! |
| 0% VAT on Residential SolarWith 0% VAT until 2027, this means savings for the average homeowner of around £1,000 on the system cost. | Solar Panel Production & RecyclingManufacturing solar panels generates hazardous waste, and recycling solar panels is not as readily available or easy to access for homeowners. |
| Homeowners Are PAID for Excess Electric Current rates are 10.32p per kWh from Power NI, while Action Renewables also offer individualised export rates. | DIY InstallationWe strongly advise against this, unless you have the required roofing and electrical skills and experience – rather, put your trust in an expert installer like First Class Solar. |
| Maintenance Requirements are Minimal We recommend a yearly visual check for any debris build-up on your panels, and a professional clean every 5 years. An electrician visit is recommended at year 10 and every 5 years after this. Apart from this, rain does most of the job cleaning the panels! |
Making the switch to solar energy is a long-term solution – it makes sense to think about the pros and cons, and to have all the information before making this decision. If there are still some things you’re not sure of, or if you’d like to check your home’s suitability to solar, get in touch with our friendly team at First Class Solar today and we can offer you free, professional advice.
