Solar Panels
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Once they’re on your roof, every unit of electricity they produce is one you don’t have to buy from the grid. On a sunny day, a typical system can generate more than you need allowing you to sell this excess back to the grid, or store it for the evening if your solar system includes battery storage.
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells. When sunlight hits the cells, it creates an electrical current. An inverter converts that current from DC to AC so your home can use it. Any electricity you don’t use is either stored in a battery or exported to the grid.
Even in the UK solar panels work year-round, including on cloudy days. They simply produce less electricity when the sun is lower in the sky or obscured by cloud. A south-facing roof at a pitch of around 30–40 degrees is ideal, but east/west-facing roofs work well too. We model your specific roof before we quote, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
What size solar system do I need?
small
2–3kWp (6–9 panels)
Covers a portion of a low-usage household’s daytime electricity. Suited to smaller roofs, flats with good orientation, or homes with modest consumption.
Medium
3–4kWp (10–12 panels)
The most common residential size. A 4kWp system on a roof in England generates around 3,400–3,800 kWh per year. This roughly matches the electricity consumption of an average UK home.
Larger
5–8kWp (14–22 panels)
For homes with higher usage, electric vehicles, heat pumps, or larger roof areas. Generates more surplus, which makes a battery even more worthwhile.
What solar panels does Voltflow install?
We’re not tied to one manufacturer. We select panels based on your roof, your priorities and the system design.
Aiko Neostar 3S
Available in 485W, 490W and 495W outputs, these pannels use Aiko’s high-efficiency N-type ABC (All Back Contact) cell technology, which removes metal contacts from the front surface of the panel to improve output and create a clean all-black finish. With module efficiency of up to around 24.8%, the Neostar 3S helps maximise power generation from the available roof space, making it a strong option for homeowners who prioritise performance, reliability and good aesthetics.
Panels with built-in microinverters
For roofs with partial shading from chimneys, dormers or trees, we can specify panels paired with microinverters. Each panel converts its output independently, so shade on one panel doesn’t drag down the rest of the array. This is a more expensive option per panel but can deliver significantly better performance on complex roofs.
All-black panels
All our standard panel options come in all-black. No silver frames, no visible grid lines. The array looks clean and consistent on any roof tile colour.
How much do solar panels save?
Savings depend on your system size, your electricity tariff, how much you use during the day, and whether you have a battery.
As a guide: a typical 4kWp system without a battery saves around £300–£500 per year on electricity bills. Add a battery and that rises to £500–£700. With a smart time-of-use tariff as well, some households save £900–£1,300.
We’ll model your expected savings as part of the quote, using your postcode, roof orientation and usage patterns. No generic estimates — numbers specific to your home.
What happens to surplus electricity?
Any electricity your panels generate that you don’t use or store is exported to the grid. Under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), your energy supplier pays you for each unit exported.
Standard SEG rates are currently around 4.1p per kWh, but you can earn more with dedicated export tariffs.
Octopus Energy’s Outgoing tariff pays 12p per kWh. With their Agile Outgoing, rates vary by the half-hour so if you have a battery, you can export when prices peak and earn more.
We help every customer register for SEG as part of the installation process.
How long do solar panels last?
Aiko’s solar panels come with a product warranty of 25 years and are expected to continue producing electricity well beyond that, with Aiko’s power warranty guaranteeing at least 88.85% of original output after 30 years. There are no moving parts and almost no maintenance required.
Inverters tend to have a shorter lifespan, at around 10–15 years. So, they may need replacing once during the system’s lifetime. We’ll explain all of this upfront.
Ready to find out what solar could do for your home?
Every home is different. The right system depends on your roof, your usage and your priorities. We’ll model it, explain it and install it, with no pressure at any stage.
