Why solar panels are a value-increasing asset for homeowners

E.ON Next solar energy — (Image credit: Getty Images)

The number of households installing solar panels is surging as bill payers realise their potential for cutting electricity costs and adding value to a property.

More than 267,000 rooftop solar panel systems were installed in UK homes and businesses under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) in 2025, up from 180,000 in 2024.

With E.ON Next, the cost of a 6-panel system starts from just £4,995 as well, so you don’t have to break the bank to start making savings.

How could solar panels reduce electricity bills?

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity which is used to power your household appliances. They can even produce electricity on cloudy days.

While producing your own electricity, solar panels also reduce your reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels such as gas which are burned to produce electricity for the grid.

Using solar panels also means you are less affected by fluctuations in the wholesale energy market which can drive up domestic bills.

How much do solar panels actually save you though? According to E.ON Next, you could save as much as £926 a year on your electricity bill, based on having 16 panels and a solar battery, which stores unused electricity to be used later on.

As well as making savings, you can also earn income by selling back the electricity your solar panels produce that you don’t use under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which applies to households in England, Wales and Scotland.

E.ON Next is signed up to the guarantee and at the time of writing had four SEG tariffs offering customers up to 17.5p for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity exported back to the grid.

The energy firm says households using one of these tariffs could earn as much as £587 each year from selling electricity back to the grid, based on a home with 16 solar panels and a solar battery.

One advantage to solar panels is that it is relatively low maintenance, although you may want to have a solar engineer check over yours if it’s not working correctly. Services tend to cost between £100 and £200, according to Checkatrade.

You will likely have to replace your inverter roughly every 12 years as well, which costs around £900, according to Checkatrade.

An inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity which powers your home.

How can solar panels increase a property’s value?

Solar panels could boost what people are willing to pay for your property, particularly eco-conscious buyers keen to reduce their carbon footprint.

They will also improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of your home, a standard which tells buyers how energy-efficient a property is.

Improving the EPC rating of your property can have a direct impact on the saleable value of your home.

For example, bumping your EPC rating up from F to C can increase the value of your property by 15% (£56,000), according to research by property portal Rightmove.

How long does it take to make your money back from solar panels?

How long it takes to make your money back from installing solar panels depends on a number of factors including how much electricity you use, how many panels you have and where you live in the UK. The main value of solar is to reduce the amount of electricity you buy from the grid, giving you savings on your electricity bill, but you can also generate income by selling excess electricity back to the grid.

According to calculations by energy advice organisation the Energy Saving Trust, it would take a household where someone is at home all day 10 years to cover the costs of solar panel installation, although you could make your money back sooner if energy prices were to rise significantly.

Solar panels generally last for 25 or more years, so based on these calculations you could be earning money from your solar panels for at least 15 years.

How you can spread the cost of installing solar panels with E.ON Next.

The cost of installing solar panels varies depending on your provider, but starts from £4,995 with E.ON Next. This covers the cost of having six panels and an inverter installed, including scaffolding, roof works, and electrical commissioning.

It costs from £6,495 to have 12 panels and inverter installed, and a battery can be added for only £1,700 when installed with a solar system.

Both these options come with a 25 year manufacturer warranty and 30 year performance warranty on the panels.

The manufacturer warranty covers any defects in the solar panels while the performance warranty states that the panels will have a minimum level of generation at the end of the 30-year window.

In terms of payment options, you can pay for the solar panels in full up front without the need for a credit check.

There is also the option to pay in three instalments which includes a 25% deposit up front, 50% payment when materials are ordered and final 25% payment when the job is completed.

A third option allows you to pay monthly over three years at an APR of 0%.

Households who are existing E.ON Next tariff customers can get a £200 discount off the cost of a system as well.

How long does it take to install solar panels through E.ON Next?

It takes between 2-6 weeks for E.ON Next to complete your detailed solar design, obtain agreement from your local grid operator for connection, and book in your installation.

As for the actual installation, this takes about one or two days, with solar panels mounted on your roof, inverter installed and internal wiring put in place connecting the solar panels to your existing electrics.

Scaffolding, allowing workers to safely access your roof, is usually erected a few days before installation. A scaffolding company contacts you to arrange the date of installation.

Do note, to be eligible for solar panel installation through E.ON Next, you’ll need a smart meter and electrical isolator in your home - but don’t worry, E.ON Next can help sort this for you if needed.