Will plug-in solar still be worth using through a British winter? Here's what the experts think

If you like the idea of plug-in solar panels but aren't sure how they'll stack up against the job during a grey British winter, you're not alone.

Since plug-in solar panels generate electricity by capturing sunlight, it's understandable to be concerned about them not doing much during the darker months.

To find out how much electricity plug-in solar panels will produce in a gloomy English winter, and how to get the most out of them during this season, we asked the experts for their top tips and here's what they advised.

Are plug-in solar panels worth it during winter?

While plug-in solar panels will obviously perform best during the spring and summer, Kian Milroy, renewables electrical engineer at Heatable, says they can still be valuable during the winter.

As for whether buying plug-in solar panels is worth it, you should judge them based on their year-round performance to get a good average, rather than on one season in particular.

"The thing that a lot of people don’t realise about solar panels is that they only need light to generate electricity, rather than heat. So, as long as it’s a clear, bright day, they can work extremely well at lower temperatures. So, plug-in solar will work throughout winter," he says.

However, due to shorter days, cloud cover and the sun sitting lower in the sky, it's worth bearing in mind that the UK will have less usable sunlight during the winter – not to mention that snow will stop generation completely if the panels are covered.

"Winter production is effectively a bonus rather than something the system needs to rely on to pay for itself," Kian explains.

How much electricity will plug-in solar generate in winter?

The answer to this question will depend on a few things, according to Kian Milroy: the weather, location, panel capacity, orientation, tilt and shading.

"The thing to understand is that there will always be a distinction between a panel’s rated power and the amount of energy it produces over the course of the day," he adds. "An 800W system is capable of reaching close to 800W under ideal conditions, but it will not be exposed to ideal conditions in winter."

Instead of focusing on what you will generate and save during the winter months, Kian recommends looking at the estimated annual generation, as summer will do "most of the heavy lifting".

As a rough guide, Andrew Northcott, Knowledge Manager at Energy Saving Trust, calculates that the average plug-in solar panel system could save between £70 and £100 a year.

Even though the savings are small, they can still help to reduce your energy bills and the amount of electricity you buy from the grid.

How to get the most from plug-in solar during winter

"To get the most from plug-in solar, it's important to use as much of the electricity generated by the panel as possible when it is being produced," says Andrew Northcott. "Plug-in solar panels can power everyday household appliances directly, so households may benefit from using electrical devices during the brightest parts of the short winter day where possible."

Another way to do this, as Fiona Conor, founder and CEO of Trust Electric Heating, explains, is to set up smart controls to schedule your heating during daylight hours.

You'll also want to check whether your solar panels are positioned optimally for the lower sun. Ideally, they should be in a south-facing location with minimal shading from buildings and vegetation.

So, before ruling out plug-in solar panels during the winter, it's worth looking at the bigger picture of your savings across the year rather than in isolation.

To learn more, read our guide on the best place to install plug-in solar panels or read my review on the UKSOL Pro Duo Plug-In 890W Solar Kit.