More than half of adults in London would consider solar panels if money were no object – are misconceptions shading your savings?

The sun is out and the stats are in, Energy Saving Trust sheds light on solar installations and savings.

As the year’s longest day approaches, bringing more sunlight than any other time, you might be thinking about installing solar panels – harnessing the sun’s rays to not only power your home but also reduce your energy costs. If this is you, you’re not alone – in 2024, there were 142,791 new solar panel installations in England¹ and 15,418 in Wales².

A new Energy Saving Trust poll found that 55% of adults in London would consider installing solar panels if cost were not a concern³. The survey also revealed that 16% of respondents who hadn’t considered or switched to solar panels were unsure if they would lower their energy bills, while 37% were worried about the installation costs³.

Experts at Energy Saving Trust have updated solar installation costs, savings figures and solar calculator to help you determine whether solar panels might be right for you.

Joanna O’Loan, Knowledge Manager at Energy Saving Trust said: “Installing solar panels on your home is a fantastic long-term investment that not only lowers your energy bills but also significantly reduces your carbon footprint. We want to dispel the myth that solar panels aren’t effective throughout the UK – they absolutely are, and their impact is maximised when combined with other low carbon technologies. The net zero home of the future will make use of a mix of technologies, such as solar, heat pumps and battery storage, depending on what works best for each home.”

Catch some rays and cut your costs

According to research carried out by Energy Saving Trust, almost 70% (67%) of adults in London would install solar panels to reduce their energy bills³. The good news? Sunlight is free!

Installation costs are around £6,100 for a typical 3.5 kWp domestic solar system and once up and running, your electricity expenses will decrease. Depending on your daytime energy usage, annual savings compared to a home paying for its electricity from the grid in London could range from £160 to £380 a year. If your home is in Manchester, you can expect annual savings of around £150 to £360 while in Aberystwyth, you’d be expecting a saving of between £150 – £370.

While solar panels primarily generate electricity during the day, any surplus energy can be exported back to the grid, contributing to a lower carbon electricity supply for the UK. To encourage this, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme mandates larger electricity suppliers to offer tariffs, allowing homeowners to get paid for the electricity they export. This can be further optimised by combining solar panels with battery storage and smart time-of-use tariffs.

When asked what other energy saving measures they’d consider installing if money were no object, 45% of respondents would like to install solar battery storage³.

Solar panels work best when paired with other renewable technologies. Instead of exporting surplus electricity, you could store it for later use. Battery storage allows you to save your solar energy for when your panels aren’t generating, such as when it’s cloudy, reducing the need to import electricity from the grid, especially during peak times.

Battery storage systems typically cost between £5,000 and £8,000.

Lower your carbon footprint

47% of respondents said that the positive environmental impact of solar panels would be a reason they would install them. The good news is that depending on where you live in the UK, installing solar panels could save you between 700-850 kg of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent of driving from London to Bristol 26 times!

The proof is in the panels

When asked if they thought solar panels are effective in generating energy regardless of where you live in the UK, only 16% of adults in London think that solar panels are very effective³.

Solar panels effectively generate energy for homes across the UK, regardless of location. While areas with more sunlight may generate slightly more energy, solar technology is designed to work even on cloudy days.

Tim, who installed solar panels with batteries for his Grade II-listed cottage in Somerset, said: “Investing in solar has been absolutely worthwhile and even better than I expected. By time-shifting and charging my batteries at cheaper slots overnight, I’ve significantly reduced my electricity costs. Using a flexible tariff that adjusts with wholesale energy prices has saved me £1,200 in 2024 alone. My solar panels generate over £900 worth of electricity each year, with some stored in batteries and the rest sold back to the grid.”

Beth and Martin, who invested in 14 solar panels to provide electricity for their home in Malvern, said: “Our house is comfortable and we’re really happy with how everything works. During the day, our home battery is topped up by our solar panels, and any excess energy is sold back to the grid. At night, we charge our EV and battery using our cheaper off-peak tariff. It did take a few small changes, like running the washing machine and dishwasher overnight, but now it’s second nature. To anyone considering solar, just go for it! It’s good for you, good for the environment and good for your wallet.”

Find out how solar panels could benefit your home with Energy Saving Trust’s updated solar panel calculator. Answer a few questions about your home to see just how much solar panels could save on your energy bills. You’ll also see estimated installation costs and how much you could get by selling extra electricity to the grid. Try the solar calculator here.

For more information and advice on installing solar, visit the Energy Saving Trust’s website.

1  Solar photovoltaics deployment – GOV.UK

2 Wales Leads UK in Solar PV Adoption – Green Economy Wales

3 Poll carried out for Energy Saving Trust by YouGov Plc – sample size 2,087 adults, of which 263 are from London. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). Fieldwork carried out between 16-19 May 2025.

Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, low carbon transport and sustainable energy use. We aim to address the climate emergency and deliver the wider benefits of clean energy as the UK transitions to net zero. We empower householders to make better choices, deliver transformative programmes for governments and support businesses with strategy, research and assurance – enabling everyone to play their part in building a sustainable future.