Should I wait for cheaper or better solar panels?
Usually no. Solar panel prices and efficiency now improve only gradually, while every year you wait is a year of lost savings (£400 to £1,150) and a year later your system starts paying back. Unless you have a specific reason to delay, installing sooner generally beats waiting for marginally better technology.
The cost of waiting
Panel hardware has already fallen a long way and now changes slowly year to year. Waiting for the next small efficiency gain or price drop means forgoing a full year of bill savings and export income, which usually outweighs any modest future improvement. The best time to start the clock on payback is when your roof is ready.
When a short wait can make sense
- Your roof needs replacing first (do that, then fit solar).
- You are about to move home.
- You are mid-way through comparing proper MCS quotes.
- A specific known incentive change is imminent.
Frequently asked questions
- Will solar panels get much cheaper?
- Big price falls have already happened. Future changes are likely gradual, so waiting rarely beats the savings you lose in the meantime.
- Are new panel technologies worth waiting for?
- Emerging technologies take years to reach the mainstream at scale. Today's panels are efficient, reliable and warrantied for 25 years.
Related questions
Indicative estimates based on UK average data. Last updated 27 May 2026.