Are solar panels worth it in 2026?

Under Ofgem’s price cap for October to December 2026, electricity costs 26.32p per kWh plus a daily standing charge (Ofgem, Uswitch). Every unit your panels generate and you use yourself is a unit you don’t buy at that price, and anything you don’t use can be sold back to the grid.

The things that decide how good the return is:

• Your roof: south, east or west-facing roofs with little shading perform best.
• When you use power: the more of your solar you use yourself, the more you save.
• A battery: lets you use daytime solar in the evening, when most homes use the most.
• How long you’ll stay: solar is a long-term investment, with panels typically warranted for 25 years or more.

It’s least likely to be worth it if your roof is heavily shaded, very small, or you’re planning to move within a couple of years.

How much do solar panels cost in the UK?

Those figures are averages (MCS data via TheGreenAge, Energy Saving Trust estimate). What you’ll actually pay depends on:

• the size of the system and the number of panels your roof can take
• the panels, inverter and battery you choose
• scaffolding and roof access
• whether your home has single or three-phase power
• extras such as an EV charger or backup power

An online average can’t see your roof, your shading or your electricity bills. We design every system around a survey of your property and how your household uses energy, so the quote matches what you’ll actually get.

How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?

Payback depends on the system price, how much of your solar you use yourself, your electricity tariff and your export rate. On our recent projects, the modelled payback periods include:

• Manor Road, Sutton — 13.23kW with a 27kWh Sigenergy battery: about 4 years 6 months
• Briggs Amasco, Cradley Heath — 63kWp commercial system: about 4 years 10 months
• Chartfield, Brighton — 11.4kW with Tesla Powerwall 3: about 5 years 7 months

These are modelled estimates, not guarantees, and every property is different. Industry guides that assume a smaller system with no battery often quote longer paybacks, so always ask your installer to show their working.

Do solar panels work in winter and on cloudy days?

In the UK, most of a system’s yearly output comes between April and September, and winter output is much lower. Cold weather itself doesn’t hurt: panels actually work slightly more efficiently when they’re cool.

In winter a battery earns its keep in a different way. On a smart time-of-use tariff, it can charge from the grid overnight at a cheaper rate and power your home through the expensive evening peak. See our battery storage systems.

Is there VAT on solar panels, and when does 0% VAT end?

The zero rate applies to installations of energy-saving materials, including solar panels and battery storage, in homes and in buildings used solely for relevant charitable purposes (HMRC VAT Notice 708/6). Commercial premises don’t qualify.

At the time of writing, the government has not announced an extension.

Can I get paid for the electricity I export?

Suppliers set their own SEG rates, and they vary a lot. In April 2026, Which? found export rates ranging from 1p to 25p per kWh, with the highest rates reserved for customers who meet conditions such as being an existing customer of that supplier.

It pays to compare SEG tariffs, and to remember that every unit you use yourself is usually worth more than a unit you export. See Ofgem’s SEG guidance for how the scheme works.

Are there grants for solar panels in 2026?

Eligibility depends on household income, your home’s EPC rating and where you live, and funding is allocated by council. You can check and apply on GOV.UK. Scotland and Wales run their own schemes.

Most households won’t qualify for a grant, but they still benefit from 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 and from Smart Export Guarantee payments.

Running a club, charity or community building? See our solar funding and installation support for clubs and community organisations.

Is finance available for solar panels?

You can find out more on our solar PV finance page.

Do I need a battery with my solar panels?

Without a battery, a typical home uses only part of its solar generation as it’s produced and exports the rest, often for much less than it costs to buy electricity back. A battery changes that, and it can also charge on cheap overnight tariffs in winter.

Every one of the homes in our residential case studies chose to install a battery with their solar.

What size solar system and battery do I need?

A good installer sizes the system from your electricity bills, not just your roof. We look at how much you use, when you use it, and any plans for an EV or heat pump, which can significantly increase demand. The battery is then sized to cover your evening and overnight use.

For a rough idea first, try our solar savings estimator.

Will my solar panels work in a power cut?

This safety feature, called anti-islanding, stops your system sending electricity into the grid while engineers may be working on it. With a compatible battery and backup setup, your home can disconnect from the grid and keep running on solar and stored power.

Our Loughton, Essex installation has whole-home backup, so the household keeps power during an outage.

Can I charge my electric car from solar panels?

Our customers in Sutton and Crawley, for example, had an EV charger installed alongside their solar and battery. Find out more about EV charging.

Plug-in solar is now legal. Is it a good alternative to rooftop solar?

Plug-in kits connect to an ordinary socket. Under the new rules, they’re limited to a maximum output of 800W and can’t include batteries that store electricity for later (Envirotec). That makes them a handy top-up for daytime use rather than a replacement for a full system.

If you own your home and have a suitable roof, a professionally installed rooftop system will usually save you far more.

Do I need planning permission for solar panels?

In general, roof-mounted panels shouldn’t stick out more than 200mm from the roof slope or sit above the highest part of the roof. England’s permitted development rules for domestic solar were updated on 27 August 2026. Permitted development doesn’t cover buildings within the grounds of a listed building or on a scheduled monument, and in conservation areas panels can’t be fitted to a wall that faces a road (Planning Portal). A 12-month transition period runs until 27 August 2027.

We check this as part of your survey, and if you live in a flat you’ll also need your freeholder’s permission.

Will new homes come with solar panels as standard?

The new rules come into force from 24 March 2027 with a transition period (NICEIC). They apply to new builds only — there’s no requirement to add solar to existing homes, but it shows where the market is heading.

How do I choose a solar installer?

A checklist worth using:

• MCS certification: you can check on the MCS website, and it’s normally needed for SEG payments.
• A proper survey: be wary of quotes based only on satellite images.
• Real case studies: ask to see similar homes or businesses they’ve completed. You can browse ours: residential and commercial.
• Clear warranties: on panels, inverter, battery and workmanship.
• Reviews: check recent customer reviews.

How long does a solar installation take?

The steps are: survey, system design and quote, network operator notification or approval, installation, then commissioning and your MCS certificate. Larger systems need approval from your local electricity network operator before they’re installed, which is often the longest step. Commercial projects take longer and are planned around your operations.

Do solar panels need maintenance?

Keep an eye on your monitoring app: a sudden drop in output can point to a fault, shading or dirt. Inverters typically have a shorter life than panels and may need replacing during the system’s lifetime. We offer solar PV maintenance and repair to keep your system performing.

Is solar worth it for businesses?

High daytime use means a large share of the solar is used on site rather than exported. Batteries and EV charging can push that further. Our commercial projects range from a 12.5kWp cricket club to a 1MW resort, and we can design and install larger systems too:

• Laceby Manor Resort — 1MW with a 229kWh Sungrow battery
• T. Reeve & Sons, Brighton — 151.875kWp, in collaboration with Sungrow
• Springboig Care Centre, Glasgow — 117.5kWp for a 24/7 care home

See all our commercial case studies and commercial solar solutions.

What tax relief can businesses claim on solar panels?

See HMRC’s capital allowances guidance (HS252). The right approach depends on your business structure and other spending in the year, so speak to your accountant before you commit. Commercial installations don’t get the 0% VAT rate, but VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim VAT in the normal way.