✔ Roger has a 300 watt solar panel and two 1,080 watt solar batteries
✔ He’s already broken even on the system
✔ The single-panel setup saves him at least £100 per year
We spoke with Roger Wells from Hay-on-Wye about his decision to make the most of falling solar panel prices by getting his own system.
Five years ago, Roger installed a solar panel and battery at his home near the Wales-England border, to take his shed and caravan off grid.
Here’s what he had to say.
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Q: How long have you had your solar panel?
A: “Approximately five years.”
Q: Why did you decide to get a solar panel?
A: “I have an off-grid setup with a shed and a caravan, so I needed power for lights and the caravan’s water pump.”
You can learn more about this type of set-up on our helpful Guide to Caravan & Campervan Solar Panels.
Q: Are you pleased you bought solar panels?
A: “Yes.”
Q: How big is your solar panel system, and how much did it cost?
A: “I have one solar panel – it’s 1,200mm x 800mm, with a maximum power of 300 watts. It cost £150.”
Want to learn more about the price of solar panels? Head to our solar panel cost page.
Q: What was your experience like buying the panels?
A: “Easy – I bought it online, and it came with the complete kit: the panel, mountings, fixings, wiring, and a solar charge controller.”
Q: Do you have a solar battery?
A: “I have two 90 amp hour, 12 volt batteries.”
Learn more: A Beginner’s Guide to Solar Batteries
Q: Do your solar panels generate enough power to cover all your electricity needs?
A: “Yes for most days – I have a small portable 240 volt generator if I need it.”
Where do you want to install solar panels?
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A: “It’s difficult to estimate, as I’m not at the site all year. It uses very little energy and I’m not connected to the grid, but it probably saves me about £100 per year on actual kilowatts of energy. I also save on the standing charge*.”
* The average household’s standing charge comes to £165 per year
Q: Have you managed to break even on your solar panels?
A: “Yes.”
Learn more: Are Solar Panels Worth It?
Q: What’s your opinion of solar panels now?
A: “I have been very pleased with the solar panel, and would like to install more at some point.”
Q: Please can you describe your experience maintaining your solar panels?
A: “I clean it off a couple of times a year – otherwise, there’s no real maintenance.”
Learn more: Solar Panel Cleaning
Q: Do you feel likely to buy other types of renewable technology?
A: “Yes – I would consider getting an electric car, but feel that the infrastructure would need to be better before investing.”
Q: Would you recommend solar panels to other homeowners in the UK?
A: “Yes – with careful costing, consideration, and self-installation, it can pay back and be a great investment.
“It’s a sustainable green energy source, and it’s great being independent from the grid.”
Learn more: National Home Energy Survey – 69% of Brits would buy a house with solar panels, and Wales was crowned the most climate-conscious part of the UK.
Q: Is there anything you wish you’d known before you bought solar panels?
A: “I would have liked more information on how to calculate the energy requirements of my home, so I could’ve better selected a solar system that I’d be sure would provide for all my needs.
“I would also have liked a comparison figure of solar panels and solar thermal panels in terms of energy produced per square metre.”
