More and more people are looking into the possibility of replacing classic, polluting energy sources with environmentally friendly ones. Solar panels are by far the best choice in this respect. Are you also thinking about having solar panels installed on your home, but would you like to have a good idea of the average costs? In that case you’ve come to the right place!
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Wide range of possibilities
The price for solar panels is highly dependent on your personal preference. After all, the price always depends on the quality of the solar panels, the installer who will install them, the power and the expected life of the PV system. A complete PV system will cost a few thousand euros. After 7 to 10 years, you will have earned back the money and won’t have to pay anything for your energy bill, unless you consume more than your solar panels can generate. In this case, your energy supplier supplies the rest of the electricity. However, it is true that your energy bill will increase every year. An investment in solar panels is a good choice.
Average price of a solar panel installation
The price of solar panels is in most cases expressed in WattPeak (WP) or Kilo watt-hour per year (kWh). One WattPeak is equal to 0.90 kWh. An average household consumes 3,500 kWh per year. This means that 3900 WattPeak must be generated for this purpose. Below is an overview of the solar panel prices (average, including inverter and installation, excluding optimizer).
| Number of people in the household | Average, annual consumption | Number of panels | Cost price incl. inverter and installation | Average savings per year |
| 1 | 2200 | 11 | 5.504,50 dollars | 561,35 dollars |
| 2 | 3300 | 16 | 8.229,50 dollars | 837,00 dollars |
| 3 | 4000 | 20 | 9.864,50 dollars | 101,150 dollars |
| 4 | 4500 | 22 | 11.063,50 dollars | 108,900 dollars |
| 5 | 5200 | 25 | 12.589,50 dollars | 1.314,55 dollars |
| 6 | 5300 | 26 | 12.600 dollars | 1.335,25 dollars |
Choices that can influence the price and yield of solar panels
Before buying solar panels and having them installed, it is important to look at the different choices that can have an impact not only on the price of your installation, but also on its efficiency. We have put these together for you.
Choice 1: Type of solar panels
The first choice you have to make relates to the type of solar panel you wish to use. There are three different possibilities. There are the monocrystalline solar panels, the polycrystalline solar panels and the thin film solar panels. The first two possibilities both consist of crystals. Monocrystalline solar panels usually have the most optimal yield, but are also more expensive, which means that the payback period is more or less the same. The thin film solar panels are not popular anymore. This has everything to do with the fact that the solar panels, although they are cheap, only yield a moderate return.
Choice 2: The power of the solar panels
At least as important as the type of solar panel is the power it has. The most common choice is a solar panel with a capacity of 250 Wp. Note, the higher the power, the more efficiency, but also the more expensive it is to buy. People who have a roof with a limited surface area are always well advised to opt for high-performance solar panels. In this way you can still generate a nice amount of electricity despite a limited amount of space.
Choice 3: The inverter
Where solar panels have an average life span of 25 years, an inverter has only 10 life years (average). It is therefore likely that you will have to buy a new one at least once. A 16 solar panel installation with a total capacity of 4,000 Wp, will need an inverter that costs about 1,300 dollars. This doesn’t include the installation costs.
Choice 4: Installation costs
There are two possibilities for installing solar panels. You can choose to do the installation yourself, but it is also possible to outsource it. Because it is important that the solar panels are installed correctly, most people choose the latter option. Consider a surcharge of about 20 percent on top of the solar panels price.
Solar panels efficiency
Finally, the yield that can be achieved by solar panels (and is largely responsible for the payback period of your investment) is highly dependent on various factors. For example, always make sure that the solar panels are facing south and that they are placed at the right angle. Also have the solar panels cleaned regularly to get rid of leaves, moss formation and bird droppings. This is the only way to get the most out of your solar panel installation!
Want to buy solar panels?
The question that many people still ask themselves is whether it is wise to buy solar panels. The answer is simple. Within 7 to 10 years you will have recovered the costs of your solar panels. However, your energy bill will be more expensive every year. After less than 10 years you’ll have free energy if you switch to solar panels. In addition, you contribute to a cleaner environment. You can also opt for a solar boiler. More information about which of the two is the most interesting choice can be found on the solar boiler page.
Average savings per year
Comparing prices helps
As there is an increasing demand for solar panels, the number of suppliers is also growing. This makes it more difficult to make a choice. In addition, it is custom-made, which means that prices vary considerably. You can easily compare several installers from your region. Fill in the quotation form on this page and you will receive up to 6 quotations in your mailbox. You compare on the basis of price and quality and choose the best deal. This way you can save up to 30%!
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