With solar installations increasingly standard in new-build homes, understanding the long-term solar maintenance costs is essential – both for housebuilders looking to future-proof developments and homeowners keen to protect their investment.
Maintenance Costs
Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance and longevity of home solar systems. When installing a system, it’s important to factor in the following routine costs:
- Annual Servicing: Professional inspections and servicing helps to maintain your system’s overall health and efficiency, costs between £100 and £300 per year.
- Panel Cleaning: Solar panels work best when they’re clean because dirt, pollen and other debris can block sunlight, reducing your system’s performance over time. It’s best to have your solar panels professionally cleaned at least once every year, with costs ranging from £100 to £250, depending on system size and accessibility.
- Insurance: If you own your solar system, you’ll need to insure it. Ensure your policy provides coverage for the solar panels as well as the inverter and battery system. Adding a solar system to home insurance policies can cost an additional £60 to £100 annually.
Ongoing Maintenance Costs:
| Cost Type | Annual Maintenance | Total 25-Year Cost |
| Annual Servicing | £100–£150 | £2,500–£3,750 |
| Panel Cleaning | £100–£250 | £2,500–£6,250 |
| Insurance | £60–£100 | £1,500–£2,500 |
| Total | £6,500–£11,250 |
Replacement Costs
Typically, solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years and, barring physical damage or manufacturing defects, are unlikely to need replacement during that time. But that’s not the full story:
- Solar inverters, the component that converts solar energy into usable electricity, usually need replacing every 10–15 years. Replacement costs in the UK range from £730 to £1,460, depending on the type and capacity
- Battery storage systems, increasingly common in home installations, also have a lifespan of 10–15 years depending on usage and technology. Costs to replace them vary based on capacity and brand, with prices averaging around £5,000 and increasing to as much as £10,000.
Lifetime Repair Costs:
| Cost Type | Lifespan | Replacement Cost | Total 25-Year Cost |
| Inverter Replacement | 10–15 years | £730–£1,460 | £730–£1,460 |
| Battery Replacement | 10–15 years | £5,000–£10,000 | £5,000–£10,000 |
| Total | £5,730–£11,460 |
Ongoing maintenance and repair costs of a typical solar system will set households back between £12,230 – £22,710 over the 25-year life of the system.
These components can see households running into significant out-of-pocket costs if they’re unprepared for them.
Leasing vs. Ownership: Cost Comparison
Understanding the financial implications of maintaining and insuring a solar system for its full life cycle is essential when deciding between solar ownership or leasing a system.
Outright purchase of a solar system can offer the best long-term savings if you expect to stay in your home for 25 years or more – long enough to recoup the upfront investment through energy bill savings. However, it’s important to weigh this against both the high initial cost of the hardware and the ongoing maintenance and repair needs, and the fact that these savings typically depend on not moving home before the payback period ends.
Gryd’s Solar Leasing Model
Gryd’s fully-funded solar subscription model offers an alternative, bundling installation, maintenance, and replacements into one fixed monthly payment, with no upfront cost. It’s solar made simple, ownership made optional.
- Upfront Cost: £0
- Monthly Subscription: Fixed, inflation-proof rate for 25 years (monthly price varies based on system size)
- Cleaning & Servicing: Included
- Battery & Inverter Replacements: Included
- Insurance: Included
- Total Estimated Cost Over 25 Years: Varies based on lease terms, but typically lower than ownership when factoring in maintenance and replacement costs.
Key Considerations for Builders and Buyers
While owning a solar system provides full control, it comes with responsibilities and potential unforeseen costs. Parts wear out, maintenance can’t be ignored, and insurance may not cover all solar-related issues.
Gryd’s leasing model turns solar from an ongoing cost burden into a frictionless, plug-and-play energy solution – ideal for homebuilders who want to deliver long-term value, and homeowners who want to avoid unexpected expenses and ensure ongoing system efficiency.Get in touch with Gryd today to explore a smarter, hassle-free approach to solar.
