We’ve been approached by a company to give us a free, no obligation quote for solar panels for our electricity.
Does anyone have solar panels? Do they save on electricity bills? Is it worth the initial cost or are we better off just switching off and going off grid for a few hours each day?

Thanks xx

We’ve just moved into a house with solar thermal (hot water) but don’t know much about it.

Had a few chilly showers till we started boosting the heat with 30mins from the gas in the middle of the night (the previous owners said that the central heating system would only boost the hot water if it was dark - otherwise the solar panels try). I have watched the display show the water heating up through the day though - quite magical seeing us get hot water for nothing (as we didn’t have the cost of installing it).

Hoping to switch off the gas boost as we get longer days and sunnier weather…

The electricity solar panels may be cost effective at the moment as there is something called a feed in tariff where you get paid for all the electricity you produce - even the stuff you use yourself. Not sure how this works in practice though and it needs to be a registered installer to get this.

there’s an article in the current permaculture magazine. don’t know if there’s a website, but maybe someone with more tech know how help.  could ask dh to scan it later

Undoubtedly, best to reduce your consumption first before getting photovoltaic panels installed.  Unless they have drastically reduced in price in the last few years the pay back period will be massive.  They are such a ‘techy’ thing I don’t think they tend to last the length of a payback period.  Solar water heating panels are a lot more cost effective. 
Best eco thing to do with your house though is to insulate.  Lag all hot pipes and any hot water storage.  Insulate roof, draught proof windows, doors.  Get things off standby, low energy lights, get an electricity usage thingy, if you haven’t already.
So yeah, in my humble opinion, getting off grid for an hour everyday will save you more

Solar panels on telly right now - DIY SOS. I’m watching it on BBC 1 wales bit may be on normal bbc 1 ?