Are solar panels worth it in the UK? Build your own answer
A roof-first framework for generation, self-consumption, export value, finance and battery choices.
Reviewed 5 August 2026 · CoolCompare Editorial
The roof decides the opportunity
Start with usable roof area, orientation, pitch, shading and structural condition. A high-watt panel cannot compensate for a poor layout, and a sales illustration should show where every module will sit.
Request an annual generation estimate with its assumptions. Ask how shading, inverter clipping, cable losses and degradation are represented. Compare quotes on the same roof and system size.
Separate use from export
Electricity used in the home avoids an import purchase; exported electricity earns the applicable export rate. These two values are rarely identical, so a savings headline that treats every generated unit the same is weak.
Map daytime demand before adding a battery. Working from home, hot-water diversion and EV charging can raise direct use, while an empty daytime home may export more.
Model the complete ownership case
Include installation, scaffolding, inverter, monitoring, warranties, finance and any future inverter or battery replacement. Compare cash purchase and financed outcomes separately.
A battery can increase self-consumption or support time-of-use trading, but it also adds cost, conversion losses and warranty limits. Model solar alone first, then measure the battery’s incremental value.