What drives the cost of a solar installation?
The main cost factors are: - System size: more panels means more generation and more cost. Size is matched to your usage and roof. - Panels and inverter: efficiency, brand, and warranty all affect price and long-term value. - Your roof: tile type, pitch, height, and access affect labour and scaffolding. - Battery storage: optional, adds cost up front but increases how much of your own generation you use. - Electrical works: the condition of your consumer unit and wiring can add small amounts.
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. Cutting corners on the inverter, the fixings, or the certification tends to cost more over the life of the system.
Is there 0% VAT on solar panels?
At the time of writing, domestic installations of solar panels and battery storage in Great Britain qualify for 0% VAT, a relief scheduled to run until spring 2027. This already reduces the price compared with the standard VAT rate, and a reputable installer applies it automatically where eligible.
Because tax reliefs change, we confirm the VAT treatment that applies to your job in writing rather than relying on an out-of-date figure.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?
The Smart Export Guarantee requires larger licensed electricity suppliers to pay you for surplus solar electricity you export to the grid. You sign up to an export tariff with a participating supplier, and a meter records what you send back.
Two things matter here: - Rates vary by supplier, so it is worth comparing export tariffs. - You generally need a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate to qualify, which means using an MCS-certified installer. We are MCS-certified, so your install is eligible.
Are there grants for solar panels?
Grant support in the UK changes regularly and is usually targeted rather than universal. Over the years schemes have included support routed through energy-efficiency programmes for eligible households, and there are nation-specific schemes that differ across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Rather than quote a scheme that may have changed, we check what you may be eligible for at the time of your enquiry and tell you honestly. If nothing applies to your situation, we will say so rather than imply a grant that is not really available.
How do I work out the payback period?
Payback is the time it takes for your savings and export income to cover the upfront cost. It improves when you use more of your own generation, add a battery, or benefit from a good export tariff, and it lengthens if your usage is low and you export most of what you make.
We model a realistic payback for your property as part of the quote, using sensible assumptions rather than best-case marketing numbers.
How do I compare solar quotes fairly?
When you have more than one quote, compare like for like: - System size in kilowatts-peak (kWp) and estimated annual generation. - Panel and inverter make, efficiency, and warranties. - Whether a battery is included, and its usable capacity. - Whether MCS certification and the necessary paperwork are included. - What is excluded, such as scaffolding, electrical upgrades, or scaffolding removal.
A tidy quote that spells all of this out is a good sign. Our quotes are written, itemised, and explained, with no hidden costs on install day.