If you’re considering solar panels for your home, understanding how they actually work is a good place to start. The technology is simpler than most people expect, and knowing the basics will help you make better decisions about system size, placement and whether to add battery storage.
The Basics: Sunlight to Electricity
Solar panels — properly called photovoltaic or PV panels — convert sunlight directly into electricity. Each panel contains cells made from semiconductor material (usually silicon) that generate an electrical current when exposed to light.
The electricity produced by the panels is direct current (DC), which isn’t the type your home uses. An inverter converts this into alternating current (AC) — the standard electricity that powers your lights, appliances, and everything else in your home.
From there, the electricity follows a simple priority order. First, it powers whatever your home needs at that moment. If your panels are generating more than you’re using, the surplus either charges a battery (if you have one) or gets exported to the grid. If your panels aren’t generating enough to cover your usage — at night, for instance — your home draws from the battery or the grid as normal.
Do Solar Panels Work in Cloudy Weather?
Yes. This is one of the most common questions we hear, and it’s understandable given the British climate. Solar panels respond to daylight, not direct sunshine. They’ll generate less on an overcast day than on a bright one, but they still produce electricity throughout the year.
Sussex is actually one of the better locations in the UK for solar, with around 1,900 hours of sunshine annually. Even during the shorter winter months, a well-designed system continues generating meaningful output.
Does My Roof Need to Face South?
A south-facing roof will generate the most electricity, but it’s no longer the only viable option. Modern panels are efficient enough that east and west-facing roofs work well too — you might see 15–20% less generation compared to due south, but the system will still deliver strong returns.
The only orientation we’d generally advise against is north-facing, where direct sunlight is very limited.
Beyond compass direction, shading is the more important factor to consider. Trees, chimneys, neighbouring buildings — anything casting shadow on your panels during the middle of the day (roughly 10am to 4pm) will reduce output. If partial shading is unavoidable, we can fit panels with optimisers. These allow each panel to operate independently, so a shadow falling on one panel doesn’t drag down the performance of the others.
What Size System Do I Need?
System size depends on your electricity usage, available roof space and budget. As a general guide:
A smaller home with lower energy consumption might suit a 3–4kW system (around 7–9 panels). A larger household with higher usage — especially one with an EV or heat pump — could benefit from a 5–6kW system or larger (12+ panels). Each panel takes up roughly 2 square metres, so your usable roof area will determine what’s physically possible.
We assess all of this during a free site survey, designing every system around your specific property and energy patterns rather than offering a one-size-fits-all package.
What About Battery Storage?
Without a battery, any solar electricity you generate but don’t immediately use gets exported to the grid. You receive a payment for this through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), but the export rate is usually much lower than what you pay for grid electricity — so using your own solar power is always more valuable than selling it.
A battery stores your surplus generation so you can use it later — typically in the evening when your panels have stopped producing but your household is still using electricity. This can dramatically increase the proportion of solar energy you consume yourself, which is where the biggest savings come from.
You don’t need to install a battery from day one. We design all our systems to be battery-ready, so you can add storage later when the timing and budget are right.
Do I Need Planning Permission?
In most cases, no. Residential solar panel installations in England and Wales are typically classed as permitted development, meaning no planning application is required.
The main exceptions are listed buildings and properties in conservation areas, where you may need approval from your local council. If this applies to your home, we’ll advise you during the survey.
What Maintenance Do Solar Panels Need?
Very little. Solar panels have no moving parts, so there’s almost nothing that can wear out or break. British rainfall does a reasonable job of keeping panels clean, and beyond keeping nearby trees trimmed to avoid shading, there’s not much you need to do.
The one component with a shorter lifespan is the inverter, which typically lasts 10–15 years before needing replacement. Budget around £800–£1,000 for this when the time comes. The panels themselves are warrantied for 25–30 years and often continue performing well beyond that.
We’d also recommend considering bird deterrent mesh during installation. It prevents pigeons and other birds from nesting beneath your panels — a common issue that’s much easier and cheaper to deal with at the point of installation than after the fact.
Making the Most of Your System
Once your panels are up and running, the single most effective thing you can do is shift your electricity usage into daylight hours. Run your washing machine, dishwasher and tumble dryer during the day. If you have an EV, charge it while the sun is up. Programme timers on anything you can.
Every unit of solar electricity you use yourself saves you the full retail rate. Every unit you export earns you a fraction of that. The more you can align your usage with your generation, the faster your system pays for itself.
Can I Still Switch Energy Supplier?
Absolutely. Having solar panels doesn’t lock you into any particular energy provider. Your electricity supplier and your SEG export tariff provider don’t even need to be the same company, so you’re free to shop around for the best deals on both.
Some suppliers do offer better export rates if you also take your main supply from them, so it’s worth comparing the combined package rather than looking at each in isolation.
Combining Solar with Other Technologies
Solar PV pairs naturally with other renewable technologies. Adding battery storage is the most common combination, but solar also works brilliantly alongside heat pumps (using free solar electricity to run your heating) and EV chargers (fuelling your car from your roof).
When these technologies are designed to work together from the outset, the whole system becomes significantly more efficient than the individual parts. It’s something we consider during every project — even if you’re only installing solar now, we’ll make sure the system is ready for whatever you might want to add later.
Next Steps
If you’re thinking about solar for your home, the best starting point is a proper site survey. We’ll look at your roof, assess shading, understand your energy usage, and give you an honest picture of what a system would cost, what it would generate, and how long it would take to pay for itself.
There’s no obligation and no hard sell — just straightforward advice based on your specific property.
Greener Solar Solutions is the dedicated solar energy brand of A Greener Alternative. MCS certified, NICEIC approved, and serving homeowners across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Kent.Share
