Last updated: 10 October 2026
Everything you need to know about solar panel costs, savings, and finding the right installer. Get a quote from an MCS-certified installer near you. Great British Energy eligibility checker has all the details. Great British Energy has the full breakdown.
Get solar quotes for your home →
Paying for your own system, by savings or finance? That goes to one MCS-certified installer that covers your area — no eligibility check involved.
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, reducing your energy bills and generating income through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG export tariffs). No roof of your own? Small plug-in solar panels for a balcony or garden are another option.
Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. This powers your home during the day and feeds excess energy back to the grid.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for excess solar electricity you export to the grid. Choose from multiple suppliers to get the best rate.
MCS certification is the UK's quality standard for renewable energy installations. Only MCS installers qualify for government schemes and SEG payments.
Solar batteries store excess energy for use when the sun isn't shining. This increases your self-sufficiency and maximises savings from solar generation. See costs and brands in our home battery storage UK guide.
Solar panel prices have stabilised after years of decline. A typical 4kW system suitable for an average UK home costs £6,000-£8,000 including installation. Read our complete guide to solar panel costs for detailed breakdowns.
Next steps: Check solar panel grants → Free solar on benefits
Everything you need to know about solar panel costs, installation, and benefits. Get expert answers to common questions.
Funded solar is rare. It is limited to households where somebody receives a qualifying benefit, and it is normally delivered alongside insulation and heating rather than on its own. If you are paying out of savings or using finance, an eligibility check is not the step you need — a price for your actual roof is.
Using finance? Government-backed solar panel loans through the Warm Homes Loan went live on 27 October 2026: up to £15,000 for solar and £15,000 for a battery, some interest-free.
Our solar quotes page asks six questions about the property and how you would pay, then passes your enquiry to one suitable MCS-certified installer that covers your area — a single company rather than four, with no obligation at any stage and no cost to you. Read the 2026 cost guide first so you know what a fair quote looks like before the survey.
For non-domestic sites, compare grant routes, costs, roof/DNO checks and sector pages before requesting installer quotes.
Local grants, SEG, tax treatment and charity VAT relief.
Budget 10kW to 100kW systems before requesting quotes.
Roof, DNO and battery checks for larger sites.
Rural grants, barns, export and farm-load checks.
Estate, Salix and public-sector quote checks.
Charity VAT, grant and trustee approval checks.
Tenant, landlord, export and bill-saving checks.
Process-load, roof and grid checks for manufacturers.
Shops, offices, workshops and local grant readiness.
Skip the eligibility check. Tell us about the roof and how you would pay. If an accredited (MCS-certified) installer covers your area, we'll pass your enquiry to them, and only them. No obligation, and no cost to you.
Get solar quotes for your home →Get a quote from an MCS-certified installer near you. No obligation, free to ask.