A guide for EV owners looking to buy solar panels.
Harnessing the power of the sun to charge your electric vehicle (EV) is becoming an increasingly attractive option for environmentally conscious and cost-savvy drivers. This guide will look at the benefits, considerations, and practicalities of integrating solar panels with your EV charging setup.
Solar-powered EV charging: is it worth it?
Switching to an electric vehicle is a big step towards sustainability, but powering it with renewable energy takes it even further. Charging your EV with solar panels provides a number of advantages beyond just environmental benefits:
Cost savings on electricity and fuel
One of the biggest reasons people look at solar for their EV is to cut down on electricity costs. By making your own power, you won't need to rely as much on electricity from the grid to charge your car. This means you're less affected by changing energy prices and could see savings on your monthly bills.
Energy independence
Going solar for your EV charging gives you more control over your energy. You'll be less dependent on traditional power sources and you'll be doing your bit for a more sustainable future by using clean, renewable energy. This lowers your carbon footprint and helps tackle climate change, making your travel and energy use much more eco-friendly.
Government incentives
The UK government knows how important it is to get more people using renewable energy, so they often offer incentives to encourage homeowners to get solar panels. We also offer customers with renewable energy sources the Smart Export Guarantee, which pays customers back for the excess energy they generate which is sold back to the grid.
How can solar panels help with EV charging?
Figuring out you solar panel configuration for your EV charging depends on how much energy you use and how much sunshine your part of the UK usually gets.
Calculating energy consumption based on daily/weekly mileage: To work out how much energy your EV needs, you'll need to think about how many miles you drive each day or week and how efficient your car is. Most EVs will tell you their efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
For example, a typical EV drives around 3-4 miles per kWh, meaning an EV covering 200 miles per week would require approximately 50-67 kWh of electricity across the week. By calculating this, you can estimate how much solar energy you need to generate on a typical day to offset your EV charging needs.
Understanding solar panel output and efficiency: How much electricity your solar panels produce depends on a few things: how big and efficient the panels are, how much sunlight you get where you live, and how the panels are facing, tilted, and whether there is any shading on the panels. In the UK, a typical 4 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar panel system can generate around 3,500 kWh of electricity per year. Keep in mind that solar generation potentially changes throughout the year, with more energy produced on longer, sunnier summer days and less on shorter, cloudier winter days.
To get a more accurate idea for your area, think about the average daily sunshine hours throughout the year. There are online solar calculators specifically for the UK that can give you better estimates based on your postcode and the details of the system you're considering. For example, a 4kWp system might produce an average of 20 kWh on a sunny summer day but only 3 kWh on a typical winter day.
Considering battery storage for nighttime charging: Since most EV owners tend to charge their cars overnight when the sun isn't shining, having a battery storage system with your solar setup can be really useful.
Home battery systems, like the Tesla Powerwall or GivEnergy batteries, let you store any extra solar energy you generate during the day and then use it to charge your EV (and power your home) in the evening and at night. This means you use more of the solar energy you produce yourself and rely less on the grid.
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Best solar panel system for EV charging.
Choosing the right solar panel system for charging your EV involves a few different considerations.
Understanding the role of an inverter in home and EV charging: The inverter is a really important part of your solar panel system. It takes the direct current (DC) electricity made by the solar panels and turns it into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is what your home appliances use and what charges your EV.
For the best EV charging, you need a high-efficiency inverter so that as much of the solar energy you capture as possible can be used. Hybrid inverters have some clever features like being able to work with batteries and manage energy intelligently, so you can prioritise using solar energy for charging your EV and store any extra power in a battery.
How battery storage can optimise energy use: battery storage solutions like the Tesla Powerwall and GivEnergy battery systems are designed to optimise energy usage by storing excess energy from renewable sources or during off-peak hours. These systems store the extra solar power you make when there's plenty of sunlight, allowing you to charge your EV in the evening or when there's not much sun.
This not only means you don't need to rely on the grid as much but also makes your home energy system more reliable.
EV charger compatibility with solar panels.
Making sure your EV charger and solar panel system work well together is really important for charging your car efficiently and cost-effectively.
Solar-compatible home chargers for EV owners: There are several home EV chargers on the market that are specifically designed to work best with solar panel systems. Chargers like the myenergi Zappi have features that let them prioritise charging using any extra solar energy you're producing. They can change the charging speed depending on how much solar power is available, making sure you're using as much of your own energy as possible.
Other smart chargers, such as the Wallbox Pulsar Plus and the Tesla Wall Connector, can also be used with solar setups, often needing extra software or energy management systems to get the most out of solar charging.
Smart charging and scheduling for maximum efficiency: To really make the most of a solar-powered EV charging system, it's essential to use smart charging and scheduling features. Many solar-compatible chargers offer advanced functions, including:
Charging during peak solar production: Setting your car to charge when your solar panels are making the most electricity.
Prioritising solar energy: Telling the charger to use your own solar power first and only take from the grid if you need more.
Optimising charging times with time of use tariffs: If you have an electricity tariff such as Next Drive where prices change at different times of the day, smart charging can schedule your EV to charge when electricity from the grid is cheaper, using solar power when available.
Energy management systems and apps, like myenergi's Eddi or Tesla's Powerwall software, give you the tools to watch and automatically manage these charging schedules, making sure you're using solar energy efficiently.
Grid-tied vs. off-grid setups for EV charging: When thinking about using solar for EV charging, you'll usually choose between a grid-tied or an off-grid system:
Grid-tied solar: This is the most common setup, where your solar panel system is connected to the national grid. This means you can use solar energy to charge your car and send any extra electricity back to the grid, potentially earning money through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). When your solar panels aren't making enough power, you can simply take what you need from the grid.
Off-grid solar: An off-grid system works completely independently of the national grid, relying only on solar panels and battery storage for power. This might be an option for very remote locations but needs a big investment in batteries to make sure you have reliable charging, especially when there's not much sunlight or you need a lot of energy. For most EV owners in the UK, a grid-tied system is the more practical and cost-effective way to go.
Return on investment and cost considerations.
Working out if a solar panel installation for EV charging makes financial sense means carefully looking at the initial costs and the long-term savings you could make.
Upfront costs and long-term savings for EV owners investing in solar panels: The initial cost of a solar panel system for your home and EV charging can vary depending on things like how big the system is, the type of panels you choose, how complicated the installation is, and whether you decide to include battery storage. A typical home solar panel installation might cost £5,000 or more, and adding batteries will increase this cost.
However, over time, you'll save money on your electricity bills, and you might also earn money from selling any extra energy back to the grid, which will help to balance out these initial costs. Using smart charging methods will also help you save more by maximising the solar power you generate for your EV.
Payback period based on energy use: How long it takes for your solar investment to pay for itself depends on how much energy you use, how big and efficient your solar panel system is, and the cost of electricity.
For a typical UK household, the payback period could be anywhere from 6 to 10 years. For EV owners who make a point of charging their cars with solar energy, this payback period could be even shorter because EVs tend to use more energy.
Available grants and incentives: There are several government schemes and potentially local initiatives across the UK that can help bring down the initial cost of installing solar panels, making solar-powered EV charging more accessible for everyone.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
This scheme means that energy suppliers have to pay homeowners for any extra electricity their solar panels generate and send back to the grid.
VAT reduction
Right now, the UK government has a 0% VAT rate on the installation of domestic solar panels, which significantly reduces the overall cost.
Local grants and energy schemes
Depending on where you live in the UK, there might be other local grants or energy efficiency schemes available. It's worth checking these out to see if you can save even more on your investment.
Installation and planning process.
A well-planned and professionally certified installation is key to making sure your solar-powered EV charging system works well and safely for years to come.
Choosing the right installer and what to look for: Picking a solar installer who is reliable and experienced is really important. Look for companies that are:
MCS certified: Accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) means the installer meets recognised quality and safety standards in the UK. Having an MCS-certified (or equivalent) installation is also vital if you wish to claim export income.
Experienced with EV charging integration: Choose installers who have experience connecting solar panel systems with home EV chargers and understand how to best manage the energy flow for charging.
Positive customer reviews: Check what other customers have said online and ask for examples of their work with solar for EV charging in the UK.
Offer comprehensive warranties: Make sure the installer provides good warranties on both the equipment and the work they do.
Provide transparent quotes: Get detailed quotes that clearly show all the costs involved.
Permissions and regulations to be aware of: Before you start any installation anywhere in the UK, it's important to know about the necessary permissions and regulations:
Permitted development rules: In most cases, putting solar panels on a domestic property is considered permitted development and doesn't need specific planning permission. However, there are exceptions for listed buildings and properties in conservation areas.
Building regulations compliance: Make sure the installation follows building regulations, especially regarding structural safety and electrical installations (BS 7671 wiring standards).
Distribution Network Operator (DNO) notification: You'll usually need to tell your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) that you're planning to install solar panels, especially if you want to send any extra energy back to the grid. We handle this process for our customers on their behalf.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) registration: To get paid for any electricity you export, you'll need to register with an energy supplier that offers SEG tariffs. It does not need to be the same supplier that supplies your electricity and gas, sign up for whichever company offers the best rates.
Fire and electrical safety standards: All installations must meet the latest fire and electrical safety standards that apply across the UK.
Timeline for installation and setup: How long it takes to install a solar panel system for EV charging can vary depending on how complex the project is and how busy the installer is in your part of the UK. A typical timeline might look something like this:
Research and consultation (1–2 weeks): Gathering information, getting quotes, and talking about your specific needs with potential installers.
Site survey and design (2–4 weeks): The installer will need to visit to look at your property, confirm your roof measurements, and check your electrical system to design the best solar and EV charging solution for you.
Approvals and paperwork (2–6 weeks): This includes getting any necessary permissions, applying for grid connection, and finalising contracts.
Installation (1–3 days): The physical fitting of the solar panels, inverter, and EV charger.
Final checks, activation and payment (1–2 weeks): Testing the system, making sure everything is working properly, and setting up any monitoring tools. After this you will be expected to make a final payment for your system, or start your finance payments.
By planning carefully and choosing the right people to work with, EV owners throughout the UK can successfully switch to solar-powered charging, enjoy long-term savings, and help create a more sustainable future.