# Solar Panels Save Money After One Year

> Free solar panels cut bills but battery noise and maintenance costs raise questions.
- Title: Solar Panels Save Money After One Year · MoneyWeek | Shortify
- Summary: Free solar panels cut bills but battery noise and maintenance costs raise questions. A couple saved over £197 selling electricity back to the grid after one…
- Keywords: solar panels, warm homes local grant, energy bills, battery storage, carbon dioxide savings, electricity grid, Solar, Panels, Save, Money, One, Year
- Source: MoneyWeek — https://moneyweek.com/personal-finance/solar-panels-installed-warm-homes-local-grant
- Published: 2026-10-08T11:02:54+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: solar panels, warm homes local grant, energy bills, battery storage, carbon dioxide savings, electricity grid
## Free solar panels installed
We installed solar panels for free in October 2025 through the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme.
## Electricity self-sufficient in summer
From April to September we paid less than £3 per month for electricity, with the solar panels covering most usage.
## Sell excess electricity to grid
We sold £197 of power back to the grid since January, earning £41 in July and £32 in August.
## Carbon savings tracked
The app shows we saved over 2,700 kilograms of carbon dioxide and 337 litres of oil since installation.
## Battery noise and appearance
The battery makes a low humming noise during summer and looks ugly when bolted to the house.
## Would have paid mortgage instead
If we had paid upfront, we might have used the money to pay off some of our mortgage instead.
## Key takeaway

A couple saved over £197 selling electricity back to the grid after one year of free solar panels installed via the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme.