The short answer
There is a genuine tension: solar kit keeps improving and panel prices have fallen a long way, so waiting might get you slightly cheaper or better equipment. But every year you wait, you also miss a year of bill savings and export income that you never get back. Right now in Great Britain, domestic solar benefits from a temporary 0% VAT rate on installation, and you can earn export payments under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — supportive conditions that are not certain to last. Panel prices have already fallen so much that the marginal improvement from waiting is usually small compared with the savings forgone. For most homes with a suitable, unshaded roof and the budget, installing sooner captures savings now; waiting mainly makes sense if your roof needs work first, your finances are not ready, or you expect to move soon.
It is reasonable to wonder whether holding off will get you a better deal, given how fast solar technology and prices have moved. The honest answer weighs the modest gains from waiting against the real savings you lose each year you delay. Here is how to think it through.
Now vs waiting
- Panel pricesAlready fallen sharply
- Current VAT0% (temporary, GB)
- Export incomeSmart Export Guarantee
- Cost of waitingA year of savings forgone
- Wait ifRoof work / finances / moving
The case for installing now
The strongest argument for acting now is opportunity cost. A solar system starts saving money the day it is switched on, by offsetting electricity you would otherwise import and by earning export payments. Every year you delay is a year of those savings you never recover. Because panel prices have already fallen so far, the system you could buy today is good value, and the savings it would generate while you wait often outweigh any small future price drop.
The current support is also favourable. In Great Britain, domestic solar installation currently benefits from a temporary 0% VAT rate, reducing the upfront cost, and the Smart Export Guarantee obliges larger suppliers to pay for electricity you export. These conditions are set by policy and may not remain as they are, so installing while they apply locks in today's terms.
| Consideration | Install now | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Bill savings | Start immediately | Forgone until you act |
| Export income | Earn now (SEG) | Missed while waiting |
| 0% VAT (GB, temporary) | Captured now | May change |
| Kit price / performance | Already low; good value | Possibly slightly better |
| Roof not yet ready | Reason to wait | Fix roof first |
| Moving home soon | Less time to recoup | May suit waiting |
Indicative guidance only — your circumstances decide. Sources: Energy Saving Trust; Ofgem.
When waiting makes sense
Waiting is sensible in specific situations rather than as a general bet on cheaper kit. If your roof needs repair, recovering or is near the end of its life, it is better to sort that first, because removing and refitting panels later adds cost. If your finances are not ready and you would borrow expensively to install, waiting until you can fund it more cheaply may be wiser. And if you expect to move home within a few years, you may not be in the property long enough to recoup the investment, though solar can add appeal to a sale.
Betting purely on future price falls is weaker ground. Panel prices have already dropped so dramatically that the room for further large falls is limited, and the savings you forgo while waiting typically exceed the modest extra discount you might gain. Technology improves incrementally, but today's panels are efficient and well-warranted, so the marginal upgrade from waiting is small.
How to decide for your home
Work through the practical questions rather than trying to time the market. Is your roof sound, suitably oriented and reasonably unshaded? If not, address that first. Can you fund the system without expensive borrowing? Do you plan to stay in the home long enough to recoup the cost — solar paybacks are measured in years, so a long stay strengthens the case? If your roof is ready, your finances allow it and you are staying put, the savings forgone by waiting usually argue for acting sooner.
Get a couple of quotes from MCS-certified installers — MCS certification is required for the Smart Export Guarantee — so you can see the actual cost, estimated generation and payback for your roof today. That turns an abstract 'now or wait' question into concrete numbers you can judge. If the payback is reasonable and your circumstances are settled, installing now captures savings you cannot get back by waiting; if there are genuine blockers like roof work or a likely house move, waiting until they clear is the sensible course.
The Energy Saving Trust is the authoritative source for current support schemes and VAT treatment, which can change, so check the latest position before deciding. But the core trade-off stays the same: small, uncertain gains from waiting versus real, recurring savings lost each year you delay.
Frequently asked questions
Will solar panels get cheaper if I wait?
Possibly a little, but panel prices have already fallen dramatically, so the room for further large drops is limited. Meanwhile you forgo bill savings and export income for every year you wait, which usually outweighs any modest future discount. Waiting to chase a lower price rarely pays off; waiting to fix a roof or sort finances can.
Are there grants for solar panels in the UK right now?
There is no broad cash grant for solar panels for most households, but domestic solar in Great Britain currently benefits from a temporary 0% VAT rate on installation, and you can earn export payments under the Smart Export Guarantee. These are policy measures that can change, so check the Energy Saving Trust for the current position before deciding.
Is it worth getting solar if I might move house?
It can be, but you may not stay long enough to recoup the cost, since paybacks run over several years. Solar can add appeal to a future sale, which offsets some of this. If a move within a few years is likely, weigh the shorter time to benefit; if you plan to stay, the case for installing sooner is stronger.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific home. They are guidance, not a quotation or guaranteed saving.