At the end of October 2022, we decided to embrace solar power & invested some of our savings into having a 9 x 450w solar array & single 5.5Kwh battery installed to help us become less reliant on the grid for our energy. This was Phase Six of our remodelling to our family home. You can read the installation review HERE.
Our Solar Adventure: 12 Months Under the Sun – 2023 review
At the end of 2023, I wrote a review of our first 12 month which you can read HERE. We expected to break even in 8.9 years.
12 Months Later – Still Soaking Up the Sun?
It’s been two years since we first flipped the switch on our rooftop solar system and began our journey into the world of renewable energy. Back then, we were buzzing with excitement (and possibly too much caffeine) as we tracked every kilowatt with the enthusiasm of a weather-obsessed pensioner. Now, after another 12 months under the British skies, it’s time to look at how things have shaped up – with real numbers, updated calculations, and our honest take on solar life.
The Latest Stats – What Did We Actually Use and Generate?
Here’s how the past 12 months panned out:
- Total Household Electricity Load: 3,842 kWh
- Solar PV Generation: 3,704 kWh
- Electricity Exported to Grid: 1,433 kWh
- Electricity Imported from Grid: 2,743 kWh
Let’s pause there for a second. Although our generation was slightly down compared to the previous year’s 4,142 kWh, our electricity usage also dropped from 4,811 kWh to 3,842 kWh – either we’ve become more energy efficient or spent less time boiling kettles!
Self-Consumption vs Export: Where the Energy Went
Of the 3,704 kWh we generated:
- Used On-Site (Self-Consumed): 2,271 kWh
- Exported to Grid: 1,433 kWh
That’s a self-consumption rate of 61%, meaning the majority of what we generated directly powered our home. The rest? Well, that got sent back to the grid and helped keep the National Grid’s lights on.
The Financial Breakdown – What Did It Cost, What Did We Save?
Time to talk cold, hard cash – or in our case, warm, solar-powered savings.
- Cost of Grid Electricity Imported (2,743 kWh @ ~30p/kWh): £823
- Export Earnings (1,433 kWh @ ~15p/kWh SEG tariff): £215
- Net Electricity Cost for the Year: £823 – £215 = £608
Compared to the Old Days:
Before solar, our estimated electricity spend was £1,500 per year. So this year’s actual cost of £608 represents a tidy saving of £892 – almost identical to the £895 we saved the year before. Consistent, if nothing else!
Updated ROI Calculation – Any Closer to Payback?
Let’s plug in the new numbers and see how we’re getting on in the long game.
Return on Investment (ROI %)
Formula:
ROI% = (Total Savings to Date – Initial Cost) / Initial Cost × 100
- Initial Cost: £7,973
- Total Savings to Date (2 years): £895 (Year 1) + £892 (Year 2) = £1,787
So:
ROI% = (£1,787 – £7,973) / £7,973 × 100 = -77.6%
Still negative, but that’s expected. Solar is a marathon, not a sprint.
When Will We Break Even?
Let’s update our breakeven estimate:
Years to Break Even = Initial Cost / Annual Savings
= £7,973 / £892 ? 8.9 years
The same projection as last year – though with such consistent savings, it’s good to see the forecast is holding steady. If electricity prices rise, as they’re rumoured to do, we might even shave some time off that breakeven point.
Solar Sentiment: What We’ve Learned After Two Years
1. Consistency is Key
Despite the British weather’s best attempts to play spoilsport, our system is performing reliably. No major dips, no weird outages – just dependable energy generation.
2. Smarter Usage, Bigger Savings
We’ve gotten better at timing energy-intensive tasks (like laundry and dishwasher cycles) to daytime hours when the sun is doing its thing. That’s helped push up our self-consumption and keep costs low.
3. The Export Bonus Helps
It’s not huge money, but getting paid for energy we don’t use is a nice little cherry on top. And with SEG tariffs getting slightly more competitive, we might even switch providers soon to squeeze out a bit more cash.
Boosting Our Battery Power: A Clever Upgrade
When we first installed our solar array back in 2022, we opted to include a 5.5kWh battery as part of the system – a smart move that allowed us to store excess solar energy for use during the evenings or on gloomier days. Fast forward to September 2024, and we decided to go one step further by expanding our storage capacity. We invested in two additional 5.32kWh Sunsynk batteries, bringing our total storage to a healthy 16.14kWh. All Installed by Spectra Solar Ltd from Wigan.
This additional upgrade came at a cost of £3,200, but thanks to a £1,000 Green Living Reward cashback from our mortgage provider, our out-of-pocket spend was reduced to £2,200 – a fantastic bonus that made the expansion much more affordable.
With this increased capacity, we’re now able to make even better use of the energy we generate, significantly boosting our self-consumption and reducing our reliance on the grid – especially during peak hours.
Final Thoughts – Still Glad We Did It?
Absolutely. The numbers stack up, our bills have dropped, and the feel-good factor of generating our own clean energy is worth its weight in gold. With two solid years under our belt, our solar panels have proven to be a sound investment – both financially and environmentally.
If you’re still on the fence, we say: jump in. Even with the odd grey day and British drizzle, the sun is still shining down enough to make it worth your while.
