Solar installed today saves 41% more than five years ago, MakeMyHouseGreen modelling finds

A new system could save around £1,285 a year, compared with £913 for the same roof five years ago.

LONDON, 23/06/2026: A solar system installed today could save the typical home around £1,285 a year, against roughly £913 for the system the same roof would have been given five years ago, a 41% increase, according to modelling by solar technology platform and installer MakeMyHouseGreen. The figures come from re-running its original 2021 assessments of 240 British homes with today's panel technology.

The uplift comes from the panels themselves. Each home's roof area, orientation and pitch were kept exactly as modelled in 2021, so the gain is down to more powerful panels, not a bigger installation. A typical panel has gone from 365 watts five years ago to 480 watts today, lifting average modelled generation across the sample from 4,851 to 6,394 kilowatt hours a year.

The second shift is the price of the electricity those panels replace. Electricity is significantly more expensive than it was five years ago, and unlikely to return to pre-crisis levels. Ofgem's chief executive, Jonathan Brearley, told MPs that prices "are still significantly higher than they were before", and that the regulator's "best estimate is that prices will stay high and volatile over time". The result is a 41% rise in savings: more generation from the panels, and a higher price on every unit that generation replaces.

"Two things have moved in solar's favour," said Llewellyn Kinch, CEO and Founder of MakeMyHouseGreen. "The panels are more powerful, so the same roof area delivers higher output. At the same time, the grid electricity that solar replaces costs more, so every unit you generate yourself is more valuable."

Kinch notes this doesn't make solar a universal fit: "Installation costs have risen over the last five years, so the upfront cost can often be higher. The fundamentals haven't changed either: a poorly suited roof, or a home that uses very little energy during daylight hours, can still mean it doesn't add up. The only way to know for sure is to have your own roof looked at."

MakeMyHouseGreen models a home's energy generation and consumption in half-hourly intervals across a full year, using roof orientation, shading and how a household actually uses energy to estimate output for that specific property. Its customers could save between £800 and £1,200 a year on their electricity bills, with a typical payback period of 6 to 8 years, depending on the system and how energy is used.

For any homeowner, the starting point is whether their roof and the way they use energy make solar worthwhile in the first place. South, east and west facing roofs can all work; a heavily shaded roof often will not.

Notes to editors:

Modelling basis: MakeMyHouseGreen re-ran its original solar assessments for the first 240 homes it assessed in 2021, using current panel specifications. Each home's roof area, orientation and pitch were held as in the original 2021 assessment, so the change reflects panel technology (a move from 365W to 480W panels), not a larger installation.

Average modelled annual generation rose from 4,851 kWh to 6,394 kWh across the sample. Average modelled annual saving rose from £913 to £1,285, reflecting both the higher generation and the rise in the electricity unit rate over the period. Savings are based on electricity each modelled household uses directly from its own generation, valued at the unit rate it would otherwise pay, and exclude any Smart Export Guarantee income.

Price context: the electricity unit rate under the Ofgem price cap rose from 20.8p per kWh under the October 2021 cap to 26.11p per kWh from July 2026 (Ofgem price cap unit rates). Jonathan Brearley made the quoted remarks giving oral evidence to the House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee on 22 May 2024.

About MakeMyHouseGreen: MakeMyHouseGreen is a UK solar panel, battery storage and EV charger installer for homes and small businesses. Founded in 2021 by Llewellyn Kinch and Thomas Rogers, MMHG models a home's energy generation and consumption in half-hourly intervals across a full year, using roof orientation, shading and how a household actually uses energy to design accurate, tailored systems for that specific property. It takes a consultative approach: its Green Guru advisors give honest advice, including telling customers when solar isn't right for them. Customers could save between £800 and £1,200 a year on their electricity bills, with a typical payback period of 6 to 8 years. Rated Excellent on Trustpilot with over 700 reviews. A trusted partner of councils including the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Cotswold District Council and North Norfolk District Council.

Press contact: Ben Sapsford | [email protected] | 07749 927985