Are solar panels a good choice for your roof?

If you want to cover as much as your energy needs as possible, especially if you have a large family, the most powerful solar panels may be your best choice – provided your roof is sturdy enough (you might want to invest in a storage battery, too).

Can solar panels be installed on a roof?

Your installers will usually need to erect scaffolding to install solar panels on your roof. Once this is up, solar panels can be installed in a day or two. The inverter will usually be fitted in either a loft or garage. This converts the DC your panels produce to AC that you can use in your home.

How many solar panels can be installed on a roof?

Your roof will need to be large enough to fit a suitable number of solar panels, as there’s rarely much point putting just two or three panels up there. The average solar panel takes up 2m², and your installer should leave around 40cm on each side of the array, as well as 3cm between every panel.

Can a UK roof support solar panels?

As long as your roof is pitched, has enough unshaded space, and doesn’t contain spray foam insulation underneath, it should be suitable for solar panels. The large majority of UK roofs are more than capable of supporting solar panels for as long as you need them to.

How long do solar panels last on a flat roof?

Most UK roofs are strong enough to hold solar panels for their entire lifespan – which can last 40 years or more. This is because a solar panel system usually weighs about 20kg per square metre, which the great majority of roofs can hold. However, flat roofs may not always be strong enough for solar panels.

Do you need a roof lease for solar panels?

If you rent or lease solar panels from a third party, you'll be required to sign a roof lease so that ownership of the solar panels doesn't pass to you once they're installed. This is because in English property law, unless a roof lease is in place, ownership of the panels would automatically pass to the property owner once installed.