This is not an exhaustive or a complete subject. It is likely to change over time, with edits, additions and deletions, and is simply a collection of my thoughts based on many years of experience. You should follow your instincts, and you must always seek your own professional advice.
We are all encouraged to do our best to be environmentally friendly and to try to use renewable energy sources where possible. One way we can do this at home is to install PV on our roofs. Of course, this is not always possible and restrictions such as Listed Building Consent, orientation of the roof and shade from buildings or trees would need to be considered.
PV has been an option for many years and whether it is worth it or not very much depends on whether the installation includes battery storage. Many years ago, early ‘adopters’ would be eligible to receive a generous ‘feed-in tariff’ from the National Grid. This is a payment for electricity that is generated from the PV panels and then exported back to the Grid. In recent years, the tariff has dropped and it is now just a token payment.
So, assuming that it is possible to install a PV array, with all necessary Consents being in place, you would need to budget for battery storage too. With battery storage in place, while the initial cost of installation would be higher, the time required for the costs to be paid back from the electricity generated would be quicker.
In our own house, we calculated the payback period to be about five years.
PV works best during the summer months, for obvious reasons.
Disclaimer: Anything posted in this Blog is for general information only and it is not in any way intended to provide any advice, legal or otherwise, on any general or specific matter that you can rely on. You should always seek your own legal and surveying advice.