Solar Panels

Solar Panels for UK Homes

Generate clean, renewable electricity, reduce your energy bills and add long-term value to your home.

Lower energy bills
Cleaner, greener home
Grants and funding options

Homeowner guide · Reviewed 20 October 2026 · General information, not a personalised quotation

Modern British home with black solar panels across the roof on a bright summer day

System Size and Roof Suitability

Typical domestic installations are described by kilowatt-peak (kWp). A 4.5 kWp system can use around 12 panels and roughly 20–30 square metres of suitable roof space, but actual equipment varies. Roof orientation, shading, structural condition and local weather affect output.

Costs and Quotations

Ask for itemised installation prices including panels, inverter, mounting, scaffolding, electrical work, warranties and optional battery. Compare generation estimates, not only total price. Costs differ by household; no single illustrative quote should be treated as a national guaranteed price.

How Much Could You Save?

Illustrative annual generation: 4,000 kWh. If 40% is used at home at a 25p/kWh avoided import rate and 60% is exported at a 10p/kWh tariff:

1,600 × £0.25 = £400 bill savings

2,400 × £0.10 = £240 export payments

£640 annual illustrative benefit

Excludes financing, maintenance, replacements, changing tariffs and system degradation.

Adjust the assumptions in our free calculator

Do You Need a Battery?

A battery can increase the share of generation used at home but adds cost. Compare scenarios with and without storage and check replacement and warranty costs.

Payments for Spare Electricity, VAT and Planning Permission

Before installing solar panels, there are three practical things to check. They can affect what you pay upfront, whether you can earn money from spare electricity, and whether you need permission for the work.

1. Can I Get Paid for Electricity I Do Not Use?

When your panels produce more electricity than your home is using, the extra electricity can go back to the grid. In England, Scotland and Wales, eligible solar owners may be paid for this through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). The amount depends on your supplier's export tariff; it is not a guaranteed fixed income.

What to do: Ask the installer whether the system will meet export requirements, confirm how exported electricity will be measured, and compare export tariffs before signing up. The SEG does not apply in Northern Ireland, where export arrangements are different. Check Ofgem's SEG guidance.

2. Will I Pay VAT on Solar Panel Installation?

VAT is a tax added to many purchases. Across the UK, qualifying solar panels supplied and installed in residential accommodation can currently benefit from 0% VAT. This is a tax relief on eligible work, not a cash grant. Buying panels separately for DIY installation does not automatically qualify.

What to do: Ask for an itemised quote showing the VAT treatment. Under the rules currently published, the temporary 0% rate ends on 31 March 2027, with the rate scheduled to become 5% from 1 April 2027 unless the law changes. Check HMRC's VAT guidance.

3. Do I Need Planning Permission?

Many solar panels fitted to an existing house roof can be installed without a separate planning application, provided they meet permitted development rules. This means certain types of work are already allowed under planning rules, but there are conditions and exceptions. Extra checks are especially important for listed buildings, protected areas and unusual installations.

What to do: Ask your installer about the requirements for your property, and check with your local planning authority before work begins if you are unsure. Rules differ across the UK's four nations. Read the Planning Portal's guidance for England; homeowners elsewhere should use their own nation's planning guidance or contact their local authority.