Solar Reality Check

UK plug-in solar payback estimator

Honest numbers, not solar sales fluff

Are plug-in solar panels actually worth it?

No spreadsheets. No solar jargon. Just a realistic yes/no answer in 30 seconds.

Generation

680 kWh/yr

Likely saving

£95/yr

Payback

6.3 yrs

Your realistic annual saving

£95

Worst

£76

Likely

£95

Best

£124

Worth a serious look

Your setup has a realistic payback window. The numbers look promising if the kit price is accurate.

Calculator inputs

Build your setup

Most plug-in kits are likely to sit around 400W–800W.

800W

Use this as your target budget when comparing kits.

£599

Use your unit rate from your energy bill.

28p/kWh

Panel direction

Daytime usage

The bit most calculators hide

Unused solar energy

Used in your home50%

Used

340 kWh/yr

Likely unused

340 kWh/yr

If you run washing machines, dishwashers, dehumidifiers or charging during sunny hours, your savings improve. If the house is empty all day, payback gets worse.

Compare kits for your result

Your payback depends heavily on the kit price. Compare a few sensible options before buying — cheaper kits can often beat premium ones on return.

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Shareable result

“My plug-in solar setup saves about £95/year.”

Payback: 6.3 years. Unused energy: 50%. Verdict: Worth a serious look.