In recent years we have noticed that the shift towards sustainable living has gained momentum, and one significant step in this direction is harnessing solar power for residential energy needs. In this blog, we’ll delve into the intricacies of running your house on solar power and explore key considerations to make this eco-friendly transition.
How much electricity your house uses
The first step to understanding if you can run your house on solar is your house electricity usage the average house in the UK uses 3638kWh per year and a detached house uses 4153 kWh according to the Energy Savings Trust, but this is just the average if you have things like a hot tub or an EV charger it could be much higher.
We think that it’s important that you have an idea of the energy required to use common domestic appliances.
| Appliance | Power rating (W) | Usage Time (Minutes) | Energy usage (kWh) | Cost £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tumble Dryer (Vented) | 4000 | 180 | 3.333 | 0.967 |
| Kettle | 2500 | 2 | 0.023 | 0.007 |
| Electric Oven | 2000 | 120 | 1.111 | 0.322 |
| Dishwasher | 1800 | 150 | 1.250 | 0.363 |
| Washing Machine | 1200 | 150 | 0.833 | 0.242 |
| Hair Dryer | 2000 | 15 | 0.139 | 0.040 |
| Coffee Maker | 1000 | 45 | 0.208 | 0.060 |
| Air conditioning units | 3500 | 300 | 4.861 | 1.410 |
| Toaster 2 slices | 1100 | 5 | 0.025 | 0.007 |
| Toaster 4 slices | 2200 | 5 | 0.051 | 0.015 |
How much of my electricity usage could be covered by solar panels?
This is dependent on your solar system size but let’s assume you have a 3.5 kW system a very standard system produces around 3,500 kWh per year although this isn’t enough to cover all of your electricity usage if you’re an average house but it covers a significant amount of it to be precise 96% of it.
If you were to get a slightly bigger solar system such as a 4.2kW system you would cover all of your electricity costs and produce a surplus of electricity and have around 500W left over which you could sell using the SEG scheme.
Check out one of our solar installs for a domestic client
Do you need a solar battery?
Absolutely not, however, when it comes to running your house on solar it could be very beneficial. A battery can be used to supply power when your solar isn’t producing an abundance of energy, such as during the night.
Often the solar panels can supply the required energy during the day, with the surplus charging the battery. This is then utilized during the evening and night.
A further advantage of a battery is that with the right tariff, a battery can be charged during the off peak window. This power can then be supplied to the house during peak times. Essentially removing or reducing the need to pay for peak rate electricity.
However, Batteries can be expensive ranging £1000-£3000 depending on the size, but in the long term it pays for itself and more, similar to solar. Modern advancements mean that the batteries which Abbey Renewables recommend come with a 10 year + warranty.
Long-Term Benefits and Environmental Impact
If you are trying to reduce your house’s carbon footprint solar panels are great as they’re a renewable energy source. By reducing dependence on traditional energy sources, you contribute to lowering your carbon footprint and mitigating the impact of climate change. Additionally, as technology advances, the efficiency and affordability of solar power systems and batteries continue to improve.
Get in Contact
With the recent energy crisis and lack of clarity over future costs of energy, self-sufficiency is adding real comfort to many of our customers. Self-generation and reliance provide the ultimate reassurance that future costs won’t become problematic. For a free no obligation quote Get In Contact with our Swindon based team or call us on 01793 780088.