The complete guide to solar panels in Sheffield

✔ Solar panels cut the average Sheffield household’s electricity bills by 68%

✔ 7,989 homes have installed solar panels in Sheffield so far

✔ Solar panel owners in Sheffield typically break even in 14.9 years

The cost of solar panels is falling, which is excellent news for anyone in Sheffield who’s thinking of cutting their electricity bills for years to come.

The average three-bedroom household in Sheffield can save £472 per year with solar panels, meaning you can break even in less than 14.9 years and spend the next decade or two enjoying completely free electricity.

In this guide, we’ll explain how much you’ll pay for solar panels in Sheffield, how the local weather affects them, and whether there are any government grants.

If you want to go solar at any point, you can compare solar panel prices with our help. Just provide a few quick details, and our expert installers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.

How much do solar panels cost in Sheffield?

Solar panels cost £705 to buy and install in Sheffield, on average.

This will get you a 350-watt (W) solar panel. To buy the 3.5 kWp system that we recommend for the typical three-bedroom household in Sheffield, you’ll need 10 of these panels, for a total cost of £7,050.

A smaller house that needs six panels will typically pay £4,230, while a larger house requiring 14 panels will pay £9,870, on average.

To find out more about how much you’ll pay for a solar array, check out our guide to solar panel costs.

Do solar panels work in Sheffield weather?

Solar panels work extremely well in Sheffield weather.

The Steel City receives more than enough sunlight for your panels to generate the electricity needed to dramatically cut your bills.

Sheffield’s relatively mild temperatures also protect your solar panel system from overheating, which is the main cause of reduced solar output in the UK.

You also don’t need to worry about rain. Solar panels may produce the most energy under clear skies, but they still generate plenty of electricity when the heavens open – and these showers even help to wash off dirt and debris.

Are solar panels worth getting in Sheffield?

Solar panels are definitely worth getting in Sheffield.

The average three-bedroom household in Sheffield will cut its electricity bills by 68% with a solar panel system.

That means an annual saving of £472, typically.

You’ll break even in 14.9 years, on average. Solar panels typically last at least 25 years, so you’ll end up with an average net profit of £4,748.

Solar panels will also help lessen your dependence on the electricity grid – and with a solar battery, your panels can even keep supplying you with electricity during a power cut. Just ask your installer to add this capability.

You’ll be playing your part in the fight against climate change, too.

Solar panels will shrink your carbon footprint by 0.47 tonnes of CO2 per year, on average, and studies have repeatedly shown that your system will make your neighbours more likely to opt for solar panels as well.

It’s worth getting solar panels anywhere in the UK, and Sheffield is no exception.

How many people have solar panels in Sheffield?

7,989 homes in Sheffield have Microgeneration Certification Scheme-certified solar panels, according to the organisation.

That means at least 3.2% of all Sheffield households have gone solar, which is below the UK average of 5%, but still includes a substantial chunk of the city.

And since this number only includes MCS-certified installations, the real number of solar homes in Sheffield is likely much higher.

Government grants for solar panels in Sheffield

There are two government grants for solar panels that you can access in Sheffield: the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme and the Home Upgrade Grant.

Here’s everything you need to know to work out whether you’re eligible for these grants, and how you can take advantage of them.

ECO4

The government’s ECO4 scheme forces large energy suppliers to pay for the installation of measures including solar panels in disadvantaged households.

If your home’s heating system runs on electricity, you may qualify for free solar panels, as long as you fulfil any of the following criteria:

• Your household earns less than £31,000 per year
• Your doctor, energy supplier, or local authority has referred you to the ECO4 scheme
• You receive at least one of a list of specific government benefits

You might also qualify for free insulation through ECO4, since your home has to be well-insulated before you can receive subsidised or free solar panels.

To start benefiting from ECO4, just contact your energy supplier or Warm Homes Sheffield and ask about the scheme.

LA Flex

If you don’t qualify for an ECO4 grant through the standard route, you may still be eligible for another part of ECO4: the Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) initiative.

LA Flex allows local authorities like Sheffield City Council to help low-income, vulnerable, and energy-inefficient homes that don’t meet the benefits criteria for ECO4 funding.

This includes 46.1% of fuel-poor households, according to government data..

The initiative can provide you with massively subsidised or free solar panels, just like the main ECO4 scheme.

In Sheffield, LA Flex is being managed by Warm Homes Sheffield, which is a partnership between the council and energy experts AgilityEco. Contact Warm Homes Sheffield to find out more.

Home Upgrade Grant

From April 2023 to March 2025, 45 local authorities in England including Sheffield City Council can provide residents with grants of up to £10,000 for measures including solar panels.

To be eligible for a grant, your household must:

• Not be connected to the gas grid
• Earn a total gross annual income under £31,000 (usually)
• Have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F, or G

Sheffield City Council has £4.14 million to hand out, so if you match the criteria above, we’d encourage you to apply.

27% of the grants given through the Home Upgrade Grant – which also offers funding for double glazing, heating controls, heat pumps, insulation, and solar thermal – were for solar panels.

On average, local authorities cover 87% of the cost of your panels – and in many cases, they cover the full cost.

Next steps

Your next step is to check your electricity usage and work out how big a solar panel system you need – and how much it could save you on your energy bills.

Then you’ll want to get multiple solar panel quotes, to ensure you get the best possible deal for your home.

You can start this process by using our free comparison tool. Simply fill in a few details and our trusted suppliers will get in touch with free quotes.

Solar panels in Sheffield: FAQs