One of the biggest ways of reducing your electric bills is by fitting Solar PV.
Since 2012, Solar PV has become a household name. Utilising sunlight to generate an electric field across the cells, it reduces the amount of electric that consumers need to import from the grid through your existing meter.
The technology has existed for quite some time, with an early consumer use being to power calculators. As technology has improved, this is now used to help households make a huge difference to their energy bills.
Although the government subsidy (Feed In Tariff) is a fraction of what it was originally, the installation costs have also decreased dramatically. Additionally, by making small changes in electrical usage, you can maximise the savings that Solar PV can offer.
How much you can save
England, Scotland and Wales
A 4kWp system can generate around 3,800 kilowatt hours of electricity a year in the south of England – that’s the same amount of electricity as it takes to turn the London Eye 50 times. It will save around 1.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. A 4kWp system in Scotland can generate about 3,200 kilowatt hours of electricity a year – that’s the same amount of electricity as it takes to turn the Falkirk Wheel 2,100 times. It will save approximately 1.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
The average domestic solar PV system is 4kWp and costs £5,000 – 8,000 (including VAT at 5 per cent).
Location |
Feed-in Tariff generation and export payments based on a 4kW PV system (£/year) |
Electricity bill savings (£/year) |
Carbon dioxide (kgCO2/year) |
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System eligible for the tariff between 1st April 2017 and 30th June 2017 (Q2) |
System eligible for the tariff between 1st July 2017 and 30th September 2017 (Q3) |
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Cap not reached in previous quarter |
Cap reached in previous quarter |
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| London, South England | £255 | £250 | £235 | £70 | 1,710 kg |
| Aberystwyth, Wales | £240 | £235 | £220 | £70 | 1,590 kg |
| Manchester, North England | £225 | £220 | £210 | £70 | 1,510 kg |
| Stirling, Scotland | £210 | £210 | £195 | £70 | 1,420 kg |
Tariffs will also be subject to an adjustment for RPI (Retail Prices Index) so may change from those stated in this table.
*figures taken from the energy saving trust website.
South Coast Surveying can assess your property and advise on costs for installation, information on any grants/funding available and project manage the installation on your behalf. See our “How can we help” page for more information.