Solar panels are an excellent investment for homeowners in the United Kingdom, but did you know that you can also sell excess electricity back to the grid? With the growing popularity of renewable energy sources, the demand for solar power is increasing across the country. If you have solar panels installed, you can benefit from the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) scheme which allows you to earn money by generating and exporting electricity.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to sell electricity from solar panels in the UK:
1. Install solar panels
The first step is to install solar panels on your property. You can either purchase them outright or lease them from a solar panel provider. It’s important to ensure that the panels are of good quality and installed by a reputable installer. You may also need planning permission before installing the panels, depending on the size of the system and location of your property.
2. Register for the Feed-in-Tariff scheme
Once the solar panels are installed, you need to register for the Feed-in-Tariff scheme. This scheme is designed to encourage homeowners to generate their own electricity and reduce their carbon footprint. The scheme pays you for the electricity you generate, even if you use it yourself. You will also receive a payment for any electricity you export back to the grid. The payments are tax-free and guaranteed for 20 years from the date of registration.
To register for the scheme, you need to contact your energy supplier and provide them with the following information:
– The date the solar panels were installed
– The total capacity of the system in kilowatts peak (kWp)
– The name of the installer
– The MCS certificate number
– The energy performance certificate (EPC) of your property
– Your bank details for payment
3. Install an export meter
To sell electricity back to the grid, you need to install an export meter. This meter measures the amount of electricity you export to the grid and is separate from the meter that measures your overall electricity usage. Your energy supplier will arrange for the installation of the meter and cover the cost.
4. Monitor your energy usage and generation
To ensure that you’re maximising your earnings, it’s important to monitor your energy usage and generation. You can do this by checking your meter readings regularly or by using a smart meter. Smart meters allow you to monitor your energy usage and generation in real-time, so you can see how much electricity you’re using and exporting at any given time.
5. Submit regular meter readings
To receive payments for the electricity you generate and export, you need to submit regular meter readings to your energy supplier. The readings are usually submitted on a quarterly basis, but this may vary depending on your supplier. You can submit the readings online or by phone, and your supplier will then calculate your payments.
6. Maximise your earnings
To maximise your earnings, there are a few things you can do:
– Use your appliances during the day – This will help you to use as much of the electricity you generate as possible.
– Invest in energy-efficient appliances – Energy-efficient appliances use less electricity, which means you can export more to the grid.
– Switch energy suppliers – You may be able to find a supplier that offers a better tariff for the electricity you export.
– Add more solar panels – If you have space on your roof, you could consider adding more solar panels to increase your generation capacity.
In conclusion, selling electricity from solar panels in the UK is a great way to earn money and reduce your carbon footprint. By following these steps, you can ensure that you’re maximising your earnings and making the most of your investment in solar power.
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