Solar panel myths: five common concerns about solar PV debunked

More than 1.5 million homes in the UK now have solar panels. 

They're a guaranteed way to use truly renewable electricity, but many people are not sure about whether to invest. Some are put off by uncertainty about costs, others are concerned how long they'll take to pay for themselves and many worry that solar panels will be tricky to maintain.

These were among the most common concerns people had about getting solar panels, according to our research in June 2026.

To provide answers, we've looked at the biggest worries and consulted hundreds of solar panel owners to see what their experiences have been.

Ready for solar panels? See what owners think of the biggest solar panel brands.

Myth 1: Solar panel costs are too expensive

While solar panels aren't cheap, the upfront costs can be less than those for other renewable technologies, such as heat pumps. Plus, solar panels can often achieve greater energy bill savings.

According to the latest data from MCS (the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, which certifies solar PV installers), the average cost of installing one kilowatt of solar panels in 2024 was around £1,950. 

And according to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical domestic solar panel system is around 3.5 kWp and costs around £6,100 to install. You'll need to look at your own energy use to see what size of system you'd need.

The cost to install solar panels at your home will depend on various factors, including:

• the size of the system
• the type of solar panels
• the type of building on which they'll be fitted.

Read more: how much solar panels cost. We've worked with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and surveyed more than 1,000 solar panel owners to give you costs by system size, house type and electricity production.

Myth 2: Solar panels will take too long to pay for themselves

How long it'll take for you to 'break even' on your solar panels, and whether you'll live in your home long enough to see it, depends on a number of factors:

• Location, size, angle and orientation of your roof - these affect how much electricity solar panels could generate
• Cost of your solar pv system 
• How much of the solar electricity you use
• Whether you're paid for exported electricity, and how much.

As a guide, you could expect it to take between 10-13 years for a typical rooftop solar PV system to pay for itself through bill savings and payments for exported electricity, though this varies.

Once your PV system has paid for itself, it will keep saving you money. You'll still use its free electricity and can earn money from exporting any excess.

Our guide to whether solar panels are worth it explains more on the pay back time. See also how much you could earn with the Smart Export Guarantee.

Myth 3: Solar panels aren't suitable for my home

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels can be installed on a wide range of homes. We've heard from people installing solar panels on bungalows and terraces, as well as semi-detached and detached houses. Sometimes people fit them to roofs of garages or outbuildings, rather than their main house roof. 

And, contrary to popular belief, solar panels can be installed on flat roofs too.

The most important thing is the direction the panels face. You'll need a mainly south-facing roof to get the best power output from solar panels. Southwest or southeast-facing are also good, though you may get slightly less power.

Also consider:

• How steep your roof is (around 30 degrees is best)
• Where you live (the South West gets more sun than the North, for example)
• How many panels you'll have space for (more panels equal more power)
• Is your roof shaded? Any shade will affect solar panels' power output.

Solar panel installation is generally simpler if you own your home; however, if you're a leaseholder or in a shared-ownership property, you may be able to install solar PV with the permission of your freeholder or landlord.

Solar panels can be installed on blocks of flats, but this is often done by the landlord or freeholder. If you and your neighbours are keen, speak to the landlord or managing agent. 

If you live in a listed building, a conservation area or World Heritage Site, or other designated area, you may need planning permission for solar panels. Find out more about planning permission on our solar panel installation advice page.

As the payback time is likely to be as much as ten years, you might be more likely to consider installing them if you are planning to be in your home for a long time.

Use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reliable solar panel installer near you. Our service is free, and all traders listed must pass our rigorous assessments.

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Myth 4: Solar panel maintenance and cleaning are expensive

Eight in 10 solar panel owners we surveyed have had no technical problems with their solar PV panel system since it was installed.

Inverter problems tend to be the most common fault experienced. Inverters have a shorter lifespan than solar panels, so you should expect to replace yours at some point.

If it's still within the warranty, contact the company for a repair or replacement.

See inverter replacement costs plus other solar panel problems and how to solve them.

A heavy rain storm should usually be enough to wash off most dirt on solar panels. 

If there's a big build up of dirt, especially if it mainly affects one panel, they might need cleaning to avoid generation dropping. 

Cleaning costs range from around £4-£15 per panel and depend on how easy they are to access and how dirty.

Myth 5: Solar panel installation is disruptive

It might sound like a big job, but we hear very few complaints from solar panel owners about the installation being disruptive. 

Your installers will usually need to erect scaffolding to install solar panels on your roof. Once this is up, solar panels can be installed in a day or two.

The inverter will usually be fitted in either a loft or garage. This converts the DC your panels produce to AC that you can use in your home.

There will also be a generation meter, so you can see how much power your panels are producing.

Read more: our guide to solar panel installation.

Is there enough sun for solar panels in the UK?

Although the UK is not famously sunny, we do have enough sunlight for solar panels to work effectively.

Solar panels work during daylight, even when it's cloudy or overcast, as they use light, not heat, to generate energy. They don't need direct sunlight, although they'll produce the most electricity when it's sunny. 

Despite our reputation for grey weather, the UK receives around 60% of the solar radiation found at the equator – a similar amount of solar energy as parts of France, Spain and Germany. 

Cool and windy conditions can even be beneficial, since it can serve as a cooling mechanism for the PV modules, leading to increased efficiency.

Despite not needing bright sunshine, solar panels shouldn't be shaded. Make sure nearby trees or neighbouring buildings don't cast shadows onto your roof, and aren't likely to in the future.

Ready for solar panels? See what owners think of the biggest solar panel brands.

Our free Home Energy Planning tool can help you build a personalised plan to make your home more energy efficient.

Which? solar panels research

In June 2026, we surveyed 228 Which? Connect panel members who have solar panels on their home.

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