If you’ve ever considered trying solar power, now is the time to give it a go. With the sun at its strongest, the summer months are obviously the best for solar panels.
And right now you can also make the most of a new Feed in Tariffs scheme that pays you for all the solar electricity you generate.
If you don’t have the budget for solar panels, you can still save money on your energy bill with the latest solar-powered gadgets.
Solar panels work by trapping the sun’s rays and converting them into energy that can be used to make electricity or heat your hot water. It takes only a surprisingly small amount of sunshine to power solar panels – they will work on a cloudy day wherever you are. However, they work more effectively and store more power in full sunshine, which means the winter months may see a lower amount of energy being produced.
Find out more about solar power >
There are two main types of solar power – solar electricity and solar water heating.
Solar electricity systems Use photovoltaic (PV) cells to capture the sun's energy. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting. The Feed in Tariff scheme can provide more information about getting paid to generate your own electricity through solar electricity.
Solar water heating system Use solar panels, called collectors, to capture the sun’s energy. This energy is then used to heat your home’s water.
The installation costs differ for each system. Solar electricity systems are more expensive, but you can save more on bills and earn money from them. Solar water heating systems take up less room on your roof, so are a good option if you have limited roof space. Both systems benefit from being positioned on a south-facing roof. You may need planning permission to install the panels, so check with your local government first.
Solar panels are not right for every home. You need to consider the size and direction of your roof, and if it is strong enough to support the weight. Planning issues are also worth considering, especially if you live in a listed building. Use our Home Energy Generation selector tool to find out if solar is suitable for your home.
The new Clean Energy Cashback (Feed in tariffs (FITs)) scheme lets any household or community that generates electricity with solar electricity panels or wind turbines get paid for their efforts by energy suppliers. The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by your system – regardless of whether it is sold to the grid, or not. If you have excess energy, you can receive additional payments by selling this to the grid.
Find out more about ‘Feed in tariffs’ >
Use our Cashback Calculator to find out how much you could earn and save on a solar electricity system with the Clean Energy Cashback (Feed in tariff) scheme.
You can reduce your electricity usage and save money on your energy bills by using solar powered gadgets for the home. There are solar powered alternatives for many common household items, such as lighting, clocks, radios, torches, doorbells and chargers. The items come with a solar panel, which you leave in sunlight to charge and do away with the need to plug into a socket to drain electricity. More and more goods are being converted to solar power, so check online or at the shops before you replace household items. Something like a solar powered pond pump can save you loads on your electricity bill.
There are stacks of options out there, here are a few to get you started.
For the home
Solar chargers >
Solar DAB radio >
Solar clock >
For the garden
Solar garden lights >
Solar fountain >
Solar insect killer >
Solar panels
Find out more about generating solar electricity >
Find out more about solar water heating >
Find out if solar is suitable for your home with our Home Energy Generation selector tool >
Find out more about ‘Feed in tariffs’ >
Go to Cashback Calculator >
Solar gadgets
Solar chargers >
Solar DAB radio >
Solar clock >
For the garden
Solar garden lights >
Solar fountain >
Solar insect killer >
It's packed with:
