Solar Panels: The Complete UK Guide
Solar panel costs, savings, battery storage, and everything you need to go solar in the UK.
Solar panels turn sunlight into free electricity for your home, and yes, they work perfectly well in the UK (even on cloudy days, you'll generate useful power). A typical 4kW system costs £5,000-7,000, and since April 2024 there's 0% VAT on residential solar, which takes a decent chunk off the price.
Over 257,000 systems were installed across the UK in 2025, a 32% jump on the year before. With energy prices staying stubbornly high, most homeowners see payback in 6-8 years, then enjoy 17+ years of essentially free electricity after that.
Bottom line
For most south- or south-east-facing UK roofs, fitting solar now is a clear yes.
A typical 4kW system pays for itself in 6 to 8 years and gives you another 17 to 20 years of essentially free daytime electricity after that. With 0% VAT keeping prices at their lowest in years and grid power stuck around 25p per kWh, the maths is the clearest it's been in a decade. The exceptions: heavily shaded or north-only roofs, listed buildings or conservation areas where you can't get permission, or homes you'll move out of within four or five years.
Solar systems at a glance
Typical figures for a UK roof with reasonable south-east to south-west orientation. Highlighted column is the most common pick.
| 3 kW | 4 kW | 6 kW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panels | 7-9 | 10-14 | 14-16 |
| Roof space | ~14 m² | ~20 m² | ~30 m² |
| Cost (incl. 0% VAT) | £4,000-5,500 | £5,000-7,000 | £7,000-9,000 |
| Annual generation | 2,500-2,800 kWh | 3,400-3,800 kWh | 5,000-5,500 kWh |
| Best for | 1-2 bed flat / small home | 3-bed semi | 4-bed+ detached |
Understand
Work out what your roof can do
Start here. Size the system from your usage and roof space, then run the calculator to get a payback estimate for your specific home. These are the two answers most people want before going any further.
GuideHow many panels does your home actually need?
How to size a system from your annual electricity usage and roof space, why bigger isn't always better with the export tariff, and the panel counts that suit each UK house type.
Read guideSolar panel ROI calculator
Estimate annual generation by UK region, savings from self-consumption, Smart Export Guarantee income and the payback period for your roof. Uses Ofgem April 2026 prices.
Open calculatorPlan
Cost it and decide what to add
What a system actually costs to fit in 2026, whether to bolt on a battery, plus the format choice (tiles or standard panels) and pairing solar with a heat pump if you're already going down that road.
GuideWhat solar really costs in 2026
Full price breakdown by system size: panels, inverter, scaffolding, install. 0% VAT applied since April 2024 keeps a 4kW system around £5,000-7,000 fitted.
Read guide
GuideShould you add a battery?
A 5kWh battery costs £2,500-4,000 and pushes self-consumption from around 40% to 70%, but it only pays back faster if you use most of your power in the evening. When the maths works and when it doesn't.
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Choose
Pick panels and the kit around them
The brand and model decision matters less than people think (most panels are now 20%+ efficient) but the inverter, optimisers and monitoring choices make a real difference to lifetime yield.
GuideBest solar panels in the UK in 2026
The brands and models worth fitting, ranked by efficiency, warranty and real-world performance. JinkoSolar, LONGi, REC, Q CELLS, and the premium picks if you want the best.
Read guide
GuideBest solar inverter UK 2026: top 6 picks
GivEnergy Gen 3, Fox ESS K-Series, SolarEdge Home Hub, Enphase IQ8, Fronius GEN24, Sunsynk Ecco. Compared on warranty, efficiency, MCS status, and what each one's actually best for.
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Act
Get the savings, then keep them
There's no headline grant in England, but 0% VAT and the Smart Export Guarantee are how the maths works. Once it's up and running, a bit of upkeep keeps the savings flowing for the next 25 years.
GuideSolar grants and 0% VAT, explained
There's no headline solar grant in England, but 0% VAT (since April 2024) saves about £1,000 on a typical install, the Smart Export Guarantee pays for what you don't use, and Scotland has a £6,000 interest-free loan plus £750 cashback.
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GuideKeep them generating: cleaning and care
Most UK roofs self-clean from rain, but bird mess, lichen and pollen can cost 5-10% of generation. When to clean, how often, and the safe way to do it without voiding warranties.
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Get started
Ready to get started?
Tell us about your home and we'll match you with MCS-certified solar installers who cover your area. Free, no obligation.