Generating your own renewable energy is something that increasing numbers of homeowners are doing. Lots of people want to produce power using renewable sources to reduce their carbon emissions. Producing your own renewable energy can also earn you money.
Installing solar panels is a fairly easy way to generate renewable energy for your property. They fix onto your roof and use energy from the sun to make electricity to power your property.
The 1kW system is one sort of domestic solar panel installation available. But should you fit one on your roof? To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of their benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits
Produces free electricity
One of the main plus points to solar panels is that they produce free electricity. Sunlight doesn’t cost anything, and so neither does the power it generates. The 1kW system provides property owners with a great chance to generate free power, especially when you take into consideration the high prices that energy suppliers charge.
Slashes your electricity bill
Another advantage to solar panels is that they can slash your electricity bill. This is because the free solar power you generate replaces some of the electricity that you would purchase from an energy provider. So buying solar panels will lower the amount of electricity you have to purchase and slash your bill.
Brings in money
Solar panels also give you the opportunity to make some money. Through its Feed-in Tariff scheme, the UK government will give you a certain amount per unit of electricity that you generate, whether you use it or send it back to the grid. The amount you receive usually depends on when you register your installation, and this is likely to stay the same for the next 20 years.
To find out current Feed-in Tariff rates, see the Ofgem website.
Cuts your carbon emissions
Another benefit to solar panels is that they can help you cut your carbon emissions. The way that most energy providers generate electricity releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. By replacing the electricity you buy from an energy provider with energy generated from solar panels, you’re lowering your carbon emissions.
Cheapest system
An incentive to install a 1kW system is that it’s the cheapest domestic solar installation available. So it can be a good choice if you don’t have much cash upfront but want to start generating solar power as soon as you can.
Drawbacks
System that earns the least
You can earn money with any solar panel system, but the 1kW system is the one that will earn you the least. So if you’re fitting solar panels with an aim to make as much money as you can, you should probably consider a bigger system.
Low total profit
The 1kW system is the system that will make you the lowest total profit. Larger installations are more expensive but in the long run will make you more money. So if you have the money available to fit a bigger system, it makes sense to do so.
If you want to buy a solar panel system and are looking for someone to install it, we can help. Complete our online form and we’ll connect you with up to 4 local professionals.