That said, the rate at which solar panels generate electricity varies depending on the amount of direct sunlight and the quality, size, number and location of panels in use. Even in winter, solar panel technology is still effective; at one point in February 2022, solar was providing more than 20% of the UK’s electricity.1
Whether they'll generate enough electricity for your home year-round will depend on: if your solar panel system works in a power cut. It may be more realistic to think about whether you can be self-sufficient for the brighter parts of the year, and then top up your energy use from the grid at other times.
But a quarter of those surveyed told us their panels generated between half and three quarters of their annual electricity. The rest they would get from elsewhere – usually mains grid electricity. Nearly 30% told us that their solar panels provided between a quarter and a half of the total electricity they needed over a year.
When it comes to solar panels, 'power' refers to the maximum amount of electricity a panel can generate (in watts). The panel's ' efficiency ' is all about how effectively it can convert daylight into electricity. Higher power and efficiency mean greater electricity production.
According to Solar Energy UK, solar panel performance falls by 0.34 percentage points for every degree that the temperature rises above 25°C. Plus, the longer days and clearer skies mean solar power generates much more electricity during the summer, even if their efficiency falls slightly. Is solar energy expensive to produce?
The system generates almost 25kWh of electricity each day in May and July, but produces just 4.9kWh per day in December. Broadly speaking, a solar panel system in the UK will produce about 70% of its total output in spring and summer (March to August), with the remaining 30% coming in autumn and winter (September to February).