Solar Panels in Cornwall - Find Local Experts

The UK Government aims to become a carbon-neutral country by the year 2050, and solar panels play a significant role in that goal.

Even better is the fact that Cornwall and the greater-south west region are some of the best locations in the UK to have solar installed due to it having the highest solar radiation potential in the country. 

Solar panels convert energy from the sun and transform it into electricity, making it a renewable and clean form of energy. 

In addition to helping to reduce your carbon footprint, a solar panel system can also help reduce energy bills and reliance on the grid. 

This article will cover all the essentials for households located in Cornwall, including average costs, solar array design, and who you should consider hiring to handle the installation.

PS We offer MCS-certified solar panel installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and arrange your free design.

How Common Are Solar Panels in Cornwall?

According to MCS data, around 10% of households in Cornwall have solar panels installed - that's over 23,000 households. 

One of the necessities for a solar system to be effective is to have sufficient sunlight exposure and some locations have more than others, making them ideally suited. 

Luckily, Cornwall is one such place and is one of the sunniest locations in the UK. 

As a result, solar panel installations have seen a recent boom, especially since the government is offering installation incentives.

There are even grants and incentives available directly via Cornwall Council in the form of the Home Upgrade Grant. 

These reasons, along with the allure of free electricity and reduced carbon emissions, have made solar panels extremely popular in Cornwall.

Best Angle For Solar Panels in Cornwall

The position of your solar panels is a crucial part of the installation process. 

The goal is to position the panels at an optimum position and angle, in order to allow them to be exposed to as much sunlight as possible while accounting for things like seasonality, location and shading. 

This means you must install your panels at an optimum angle facing the correct direction to generate the maximum amount of electricity. 

However, this may not always be the case e.g. if your roof has shading - which is why a complete survey is essential. 

Solar Panel Installation Cornwall Costs

One of the reasons that people are hesitant to install solar panels on their home or business is because of the cost.

However, the actual cost can vary depending on the size and quality of the system you choose. 

While solar panels are expensive upfront, the break-even point is lower than ever and means you can reduce the amount of money you give to greedy energy companies. 

If you'd like to learn more about the numbers you can expect, read our complete analysis of the costs here. 

You also can't put a price tag on doing your part to help the environment. 

Additionally, because solar panels are helping to achieve the net-zero goals, you could also qualify for government grants to help with the cost of installation.

Factors That Affect Solar Panel Costs in Cornwall

As mentioned, there's a big range in how much you might pay for your solar panel system.

Here are some of the factors that will determine how much your solar power may cost: 

• How much of your home do you want to power with solar panels.

• How many solar panels do you require to fulfil your energy needs.

• The quality and type of solar panels you install. 

• The equipment that accompanies your panels.

• How efficient your solar panels are.

• The company you hire to handle your solar installation.

Although solar panel installation is expensive, you should never sacrifice quality products or installation services.

You should only hire the best and most reputable solar panel installer in Cornwall - check out our complete guide on the best solar panel companies. 

Explore a Solar Case Study: Check out an insightful Q&A session featured in one of our detailed case studies on domestic solar panels. Hear directly from a Heatable customer in the UK and gain valuable perspectives on their experience here.

The image above shows a 23-panel solar installation, carried out by the MCS-certified solar team at Heatable, featuring the REA Fusion2 solar panels.

Things to Consider When Positioning Your Cornwall Solar Panels

As an MCS-accredited installer Heatable follows MCS methodology when assessing your property and designing your custom solar system. 

In order to calculate the number of solar panels you need to power your home, your MCS-accredited installer will take the following steps: 

1. Establish the electrical rating of the PV array in kilowatts peak (kWp). 

2. Determine the postcode region.

3. Determine the array pitch.

4. Determine the array orientation.

5. Lookup kWh/kWp (kK) from the appropriate location-specific table.

6. Determine the shading factor (SF) using the shade factor procedure.

However, it's certainly worth being aware of the general calculation used to determine your solar array requirements: 

Step 1: Determine your annual energy use 

The first step is to verify how much energy you use each year. 

You can do this by checking last year's energy bill and making sure you didn’t buy an EV that could mess up your numbers. 

For reference, according to Ofgem, the average electricity bill for a household of 2-3 is around 2,900kWh a year. 

You can then divide this amount by 365 e.g. 2,900/365 = 7.94 kWh a day, although one study conducted by Statista revealed that consumers can consume as much as 35% more electricity in the winter months than compared to the summer months.

This is due to shorter daylight hours and spending more time indoors during these periods.

Installing a battery with your solar system can help flatten this curve by taking advantage of off-peak charging tariffs. Read our comprehensive solar battery review here.

Step 2: Determine The Number of Panels That Can Fit On Your Roof

In general, a size of 1.7m^2 is used for solar panels in the UK i.e. you calculate 1.7m2 by the area of the roof.

For example, if the area of your roof is 10m x 4m = 40 m2, divide 40 by 1.7m to give you 23.

This would mean that you can fit approximately up to 23 panels on your roof. Now, that’s a great way to outdo the neighbours.

Step 3: Determine the Array Size

To work out the solar array size you require, you can use the following formula: 

Array size (kWp) = Panel Output (W)x Number of Panels.

For example:

The average array size in the UK is 3.5kWp = 350 Watt x 10 i.e. you would need 10 x 350 Watt panels to achieve the 3.5kWp array. 

Check out our full in-depth article on whether solar is worth it in the UK. 

Step 4: Determine Your Solar Radiation Input Factor 

The solar radiation factor (kk) is essentially the amount of sun your roof receives, which depends on the location of your home and the angle and pitch of your roof. 

You do this by determining the following: 

• Determine the direction your roof faces.

• Determine the angle and pitch of your roof. 

• Determine which zone you reside in. 

Three simple steps will have you bragging about your solar radiation input factor for many birthday parties to come. 

Step 5: Determine Your Shade Factor 

The ideal location is to have a roof with no shade at all. 

If you don't have any shade, use 1 for this part of the calculation. 

If you do, you will need to follow these steps: Step 1 and Step 2 on the MCS website. 

Step 6: Plug in Your Numbers 

Once you have followed the above procedures, you can then plug your numbers into the formula above. 

If this is too complicated, simply use our solar calculator here and it will show you exactly how many solar panels you will need. 

Still, learning about solar? Check out our guides on how many solar panels you need and how solar car charging works. 

How Solar Panel Wattage Impacts Energy Generation Capacity

Naturally, the higher a solar panel’s wattage, the more energy it can potentially generate. The same applies on a larger scale for a solar array containing multiple panels. 

However, it’s important to note that efficiency also matters. The average silicon-based solar panel has an energy efficiency of around 15-22%.

For example, the REA-Fusion panels exclusive to Heatable achieve efficiency of up to 24% and a power output of 480 watts. 

The high-efficiency crystalline double-sided design gives these panels a much larger solar surface area and so unlike many leading competitors that only have a single side, these panels can generate electricity on both sides - increasing their max power output by 10%.

We have also reviewed the best solar panels and covered how long solar panels last in the UK. 

Other Efficiency and Power Generation Factors

Efficiency and power generation are affected by more than just size and the quality of the panel.

When it comes to energy efficiency, you’ll also want to consider how well a panel is likely to maintain its efficiency over time.

You can generally judge this best by considering the guarantees offered by the manufacturer.

For example, the REA Fusion Energy solar panels that are exclusive to Heatable have an efficiency rating of 24% and come with a 25-year warranty (that is also insurance-backed). 

As for other power generation factors, you’ll also want to keep the following in mind:

• Number of panels

• The average number of sunlight hours in your region

• Roof orientation

• Whether your panels are obscured from sunlight at any time of the day

Does the Angle and Position of Solar Panels Really Matter?

Contrary to what you may think, the angle position of your panels is extremely important.

Only when the panels are facing the right direction and positioned at the right angle will they be able to harness the sun's energy and generate electricity at their full potential.  

Ultimately, if the solar PV panels are not installed properly, the panels may not produce enough energy to meet your goals. 

Did you know we offer solar panel installation throughout the UK? That includes: 

• Solar panels in Scotland. 

• Solar panels in London. 

• Solar panels in Wales. 

• Solar panels on the Isle of Wight. 

How to Choose the Right Solar Panel Company

Because of how important it is that your solar system gets installed properly, it's essential to hire a trustworthy solar installation company.

Here's a quick overview of how to vet a solar panel installer in Cornwall: 

What Types of Panels Do They Install?

It's important to understand that there's a distinction between solar panel installers and manufacturers.

The installers are the people who will actually install your panels, while the manufacturer is the company that creates them. In most cases, they aren't one and the same.

Therefore, it's important to know what type of system and equipment a company installs before you hire them.

For instance, the REA Fusion solar panels are exclusive to Heatable and have the following attributes: 

• Low-light-optimised solar panels - perfect for the UK

• AC optimised for maximum safety 

• Bi-facial - both sides generate power 

• 25-year insurance company-backed product & performance warranty 

• 24-hour monitoring of each solar panel 

Solid Customer Reviews

Once you've compiled a preliminary list of Cornwall's best solar panel installers, you should check their online reviews.

Online and word-of-mouth reviews will tell you way more about a company can themselves. 

Accredited & Insured Solar Installers 

Next, you should ensure that any company you're considering hiring is accredited and insured.

If they don't have both of these qualifications, you should look elsewhere immediately.

For instance, Heatable are:

• Members of key industry bodies e.g. MCS accreditation and The Home Insulation & Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme (HIES). 

• Offer a 2-year workmanship warranty. 

Ongoing Maintenance and Repairs

Solar panel systems are extremely durable and can last up to 25 years, if not much longer.

However, there's a good chance you'll require occasional maintenance or repairs along the way.

Therefore, you should ensure that the team you hire to install your solar system can also perform repairs, maintenance, and replacements if necessary.

Solar Expertise

As with most industries, experience is second to none when hiring the right solar installation team.

An experienced installer will know exactly how to position your panels to ensure maximum direct sunlight with little to no interference from the elements or surrounding geography.

An experienced installer will also be able to install your panels and inverter, perform other services, and connect your system to the national grid.

This is why we always advise anyone considering solar to go with an MCS-accredited company. 

Who is the Best Solar Panel Installer in Cornwall?

Because of the increasing popularity of solar panels in Cornwall, there are plenty of installation companies to choose from, including the following: 

• Heatable - We offer Nationwide Coverage 

• Clever Energy Boilers

• Solum GB

• Solar Panel Installers London

While there are several installation companies that offer installation in Cornwall, why do we think you should choose us?

• We have previous experience with solar installations. 

• We have thousands of positive customer reviews e.g. on the review platform Trustpilot. 

• We are members and are certified with key industry bodies e.g. MCS accreditation and The Home Insulation & Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme (HIES).

• We offer a 2-year workmanship warranty. 

• Our solar panels are insurance-backed. 

Final Thoughts About Solar Panels in Cornwall

Solar panels are ideally suited to Cornwall and the greater South West region when compared to other parts of the UK.

Solar panels are one of the best ways for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint while saving money on their energy bills.

Although you might be tempted to install your own system, there's a good chance you won't have your panels at the right angle, facing the right direction, or make a mistake with one of the connections.

Maybe most important is the fact that if you intend to earn money via the Smart Export Guarantee, your panels will need to be fitted by an MCS-certified installer. 

For that reason, you should turn to the pros at Heatable to handle your solar installation.

Heatable is MCS certified and one of the UK's most trusted solar panel installation companies, and our services are available in Cornwall.

Next Steps For Your Solar Journey

When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:

• How much do solar panels cost? 

• Are solar panels worth it for your home? 

• Is your roof suitable for solar panels? 

• What are the best solar panels available? 

• Is battery storage worth it? 

To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation. 

Get a Quote for Solar Today 

Without boasting you should get your solar installed with us, here's why: 

• Thousands of Happy Customers: We boast an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, outperforming the market leader.

• Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.

• MCS Accredited: Our accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) ensures high-quality standards.

• Exclusive Panels: We offer REA Fusion solar panels, available only through Heatable.

• Consumer Protection: As members of the HIES consumer code, we provide 2-year deposit protection.

• Flexible Payment Options: Choose from multiple payment methods, including finance options.

• Fixed Price Guarantee: Enjoy transparency with no hidden costs.

• Save Your Quote: You can save your quote and decide later.

• Bespoke Design Tool: Draw your own conclusion (literally) on whether solar is worth it for you, here.