Solar panels are an essential part of a Net Zero lifestyle and about 1.5 million homes in Britain now have them. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity and are a renewable source of energy. They have become more popular since they have come down in price and there are financial incentives to adopt them such as grants, interest-free loans and group-saving schemes. In some cases, you cannot put solar panels on roofs. Reasons can range from solar panels being too heavy for the roof, the roof being at the wrong angle or not enough space on the roof. But it is still possible to put solar panels on sheds and garages and on the ground of your garden, so it worth investigating how you can fit one into your household. Solar panels can also change your finances for the better. Here are four reasons why you should get them.

Solar panels will reduce your electricity bills: solar panels can reduce your electricity bills because you do not need to use as much electricity from the national grid. It is estimated that solar panels would save up to £1000 a year on bills on a typical three bed house. Savings get bigger depending how much electricity you use and the size of your house.

You can make money from exporting electricity: energy can be stored in batteries, so when you do not need it, you can sell the surplus and earn up to £400 a year. The bigger the house, the more batteries you can store to sell energy to the national grid. Combine this with the saving you make on your electricity bill it could potentially eliminate your whole electricity bill or easily halve it.

Solar panels charge an electric vehicle for free: another area where solar panels save you money is if you own an electric car. An electric car increases your electricity bill significantly when you charge it, but having solar panels means you can recharge the battery of your car for virtually nothing.

Cut your carbon footprint: solar panels can take tonnes off your carbon footprint. A typical solar panel saves 0.9 tonnes of carbon emissions. The larger your home is, the more likely it is you are using more electricity, so the investment into solar panels is even better as it will reduce your carbon footprint even more.  Making solar panels does produce carbon emissions, but the amount it saves per year means it will be carbon neutral between 1-3 years.