Octopus Solar Panels: What Do They Offer and Are They Worth It?

if you have decided Solar panels are worth investing in And get ready to make the switch, our Octopus Solar review looks at whether this fast-growing energy supplier is the right choice for your home. we compared solar panel costinstallation procedures, and warranties for other leading providers to help you find best solar panel installer in the UK.

Since launching in 2015, Octopus Energy has quickly risen to become one of the UK’s largest electricity and gas suppliers. The company accelerated its expansion in 2023 with the acquisition of Shell Energy, bringing its customer base to nearly a quarter of UK households. By 2024, Octopus will even overtake British Gas to become the country’s largest electricity supplier, although British Gas still leads in terms of gas customers. Now, Octopus is channeling that momentum into renewable technologies, positioning itself as a major player in the domestic solar space.

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Many small companies collapsed amid the turmoil of the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Octopus is one of the few startups that has been able to scale quickly enough to survive and thrive.

In 2022, the company expanded into solar, offering panels and installation services in addition to existing renewable energy tariffs. Today, the company not only supplies green electricity in the UK, but also operates in Europe, Australia, Japan and the United States.

For those who want a single point of contact for all their energy needs, Octopus is our best solar installer. Octopus can fit your panel, Buy excess solar energy Charge your electric car at a fixed rate of up to 15p per unit, The right heat pump for you, and sells you gas and electricity.

This arrangement is attractive to clean energy enthusiasts who don’t want to deal with multiple companies if they need to.

For the largest installations, export electricity prices can be a boon. While 25p per piece is possible, this price may be short-lived or dependent on the specific installer you use for the panels. Since export prices are lower, it will take longer to recoup your investment, and you will increase your energy provider’s profits by providing them with cheap electricity.

Why Choose Octopus Solar Panels?

Batteries are often a good choice for homes that use electricity primarily at night. This way, your panel will charge the battery during the day so you can use it when the sun goes down.

Octopus also has cheap overnight rates that can be used to replenish the battery for daytime use. If you have a smaller array, this may be especially useful in the winter when solar power may not be sufficient for your needs.

The company offers a 2-year HIES-backed warranty and a 5-year Octopus workmanship warranty. The panels themselves will come with a 25-year warranty, with Octopus covering England and Wales. The company can install panels on your roof two to three months after your initial inquiry.

How much does it cost to install solar panels?

For solar installations, Octopus uses JA Solar panels, which cost £177 each and provide up to 450 watts of power each. For more information on specific panels, see our guides best solar panels. Octopus also comes with batteries from Fox ESS, Enphase and Tesla.

The company provided us with a breakdown of quotes for a typical three-bed home:

Octopus estimates that at the quoted price, customers could break even after nine years and save more than £14,000 after 25 years. These are estimates and will vary based on many factors, including panel placement, wholesale energy pricing and how you use the energy.

advantage:

shortcoming:

Can I get funding for Octopus solar panels?

Yes, you may qualify, but it depends on your home and property. Here’s what you need to know:

Grant availability

Octopus Energy’s solar panel products point to Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme (England and Wales) as the main way to subsidize solar installations. according to octopusunder ECO, some qualifying homes can have solar panels (and sometimes heat pumps) installed at zero cost.

For other homeowners, there are a wider range of financing options: e.g. Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) (covering up to 100% of costs in some cases) and a reduced VAT rate on residential solar installations (0% until April 2027).

Eligibility

Octopus stresses that not all applicants are guaranteed installation; suitability and findings are important.

If you don’t qualify for the grant, you can still proceed with paid installation and you’ll still benefit from VAT relief, export duties and electricity bill savings. For more information on these and other financing and savings options, see our guide Solar panel grants and funding.

what to do next

Bottom line: Grants for Octopus solar panels are available, but only for certain households under the ECO/HUG type scheme. Most homeowners will rely on cost savings and exit payments.

How much can you save on electricity bills by using Octopus?

Here’s a realistic look at the savings you might realize with Octopus Solar, and what to keep in mind.

What does Octopus claim?

Octopus says its “fixed output” electricity price solar panel + battery combination system can Reduce electricity bills for medium-purpose households by approximately 90%.

According to their blog: “A typical household could save between £400 and £600 a year” on solar power alone (without batteries), depending on the size and usage of the system.

When you add in batteries and export duties (for example, Octopus Flux), they suggest you could even earn up to £300 a year by exporting surplus energy.

what you should check

Please keep in mind that these figures for Octopus are estimates. Your actual savings will vary widely based on usage, system size, roof, battery, and outlet rates.