Solar Panel & Battery Storage Installation for Homes
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Reasons to Invest
Save hundreds of pounds on your energy bills every year
Sell surplus electricity you don’t use back to the grid
Power your home in the evening with battery storage
Looking to install solar panels at your business? Check out solar panels for business
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
The price to install solar panels mostly depends on the system size.
The size is measured in kilowatt peaks (kWp) which is the maximum amount of electricity the solar panels can generate.
What size system you need depends mostly on your electricity use. Most households in the UK are between medium and high electricity use.
| Energy Use | Installation Cost | System Size |
|---|---|---|
|
Low 1.8 kWh per year |
£5,500 £8,500 with battery storage |
2.5 kWp |
|
Medium 2.9 kWh per year |
£7,500 £11,500 with battery storage |
3.5 kWp |
|
High 4.3 kWh per year |
£9,500 £13,500 with battery storage |
5 kWp |
|
Very High 6.4 kWh per year |
£11,500 £18,500 with battery storage |
7 kWp |
Notes: Energy use groups based on Ofgem’s averages for the UK. Assumptions used in calculations: 1. Roof is south facing. 2 Shade is less than 20%. 3. The roof angle is 35 degrees.
Finance Options
You may be eligible for Government Grants.
Battery Storage
Power Your Home in the Evening
With battery storage you can store electricity generated by solar panels for use at another time. This can be particularly beneficial if you use more electricity in the evening than during the day.
How Much Do Batteries Cost?
Storage batteries can cost between £2,000 and £10,000 each.
The price depends on the make, model and capacity size of the battery measured in kilowatt hours (kWh).
When installed at the same time as solar panels, batteries are subject to 0% VAT until 2027. If added to existing solar PV systems the VAT is 20%.
What Size Solar Storage Battery Do I Need?
The capacity of a storage battery ranges from 3 kWh to 15 kWh.
The size you need depends on:
- how much electricity you use in the evening
- how much your solar panels can generate
You can also have more than one battery. Several smaller batteries can be better than one high-capacity battery for optimal power use.
Where Does the Battery Go?
Storage batteries need ventilation, so an ideal location is a garage.
Batteries can go under stairs, in cupboards, lofts and some models can be installed externally.
Our surveyor will advise the best location as part of the free home survey.
How Much Can I Save With Solar Panels?
As a general rule, the more electricity you use during the day the more you can save.
| Energy Use | Savings | System Size |
|---|---|---|
|
Low 1.8 kWh per year |
£177 to £435 per year |
2.5 kWp |
|
Medium 2.9 kWh per year |
£200 to £485 per year |
3.5 kWp |
|
High 4.3 kWh per year |
£224 to £538 per year |
5 kWp |
|
Very High 6.4 kWh per year |
£247 to £588 per year |
7 kWp |
Notes: The energy use groups are based on Ofgem’s averages for the UK. Assumptions used in calculations: 1. Roof is south facing. 2. Shade is less than 20%. 3. The roof angle is 35 degrees. The lower savings figure is based on occupants being out all day until 6pm. The higher figure when occupants are at home all day.
How to Get an Accurate Estimate
Our surveyor will calculate a savings estimate as part of our free quote.
You can also check the Solar Energy Calculator from the Energy Saving Trust.
Sell Electricity Back to the Grid
You can be paid for selling electricity you generate back to the grid. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is available to all homeowners with a solar panel system.
The SEG is a tariff paid to you by an SEG supplier and payments are exempt from tax.
How Much Can I Earn?
Tariff rates can vary and are set by each SEG supplier, but they must always be above zero. The SEG supplier can also set other terms as part of the tariff.
| Energy Use | SEG Payments | System Size |
|---|---|---|
|
Low 1.8 kWh per year |
£56 to £94 per year per year |
2.5 kWp |
|
Medium 2.9 kWh per year |
£97 to £139 per year per year |
3.5 kWp |
|
High 4.3 kWh per year |
£162 to £208 per year per year |
5 kWp |
|
Very High 6.4 kWh per year |
£251 to £301 per year per year |
7 kWp |
Notes: The energy use groups are based on Ofgem’s averages for the UK. Assumptions used in calculations: 1. Roof is south facing. 2. Shade is less than 20%. 3. The roof angle is 35 degrees. The lower savings figure is based on occupants being out all day until 6pm. The higher figure when occupants are at home all day.
How to Apply
Contact an SEG supplier directly.
Installation
What to Expect
-
Free Home Survey
Our surveyor will arrange a visit to your home to discuss:
- your energy needs and expectations
- product options including battery storage
- where the equipment can be installed
- take measurements
They will also advise on any other work you may need to do before the solar panels can be installed.
-
Quote With Savings Estimate
We will provide a detailed quote to supply and fully install the solar panel system.
The quote includes a performance estimate based on your home and energy use. This will detail how much you can save on your energy bills and how long it will take to recover your investment.
-
Hassle-Free Installation
Our dedicated operations team organises all aspects of the installation. They will:
- arrange delivery of the solar equipment direct to your home
- coordinate the installation between you, our engineers and partners
As installation involves working on your roof, we use local firms we know and trust to supply and erect scaffolding, install the roof mounts and solar panels.
Our solar engineers install the rest of the solar equipment, test and then commission the solar PV system.
-
Handover and Start Saving Money!
We will show you how to use the system including any mobile apps. Once installed you will start saving money on your energy bills immediately!
After the installation we will:
- send you all the paperwork and certificates
- contact all relevant bodies to notify them of the installation
Insurance Backed Guarantee
As an MCS certified installer, all our solar panel installations come with an Insurance Backed Guarantee.
This protects you in the event we have ceased trading and you need to make a claim.
Government Grants and Schemes
You can be paid for selling electricity you generate back to the grid. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is available to all homeowners with a solar panel system.
As of March 2023 there are no grants available specifically for solar panels, however there are schemes available to improve energy efficiency of your home.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
The ECO scheme is available to low-income homes to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, which can include solar panels.
The latest version of the scheme is ECO4 and is available to both homeowners and tenants, until 31 March 2026.
To be eligible your home must have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G.
You may be eligible if you receive government benefits such as Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Income support.
For more information check the Government’s help from your energy supplier.
How to Apply
Contact your local council, or contact an energy supplier directly.
You can receive help from any energy supplier, not just your current energy provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Battery storage allows you to store electricity generated during the day for use at another time.
How beneficial battery storage is to you depends on when you use electricity.
If you tend to use more electricity in the evenings, we’ll probably recommend a battery. But if you’re at home all day and use the generated electricity then a battery may not be right for you.
Yes. Solar panels will generate electricity when it's cloudy, snowing or raining. The amount generated will be lower than bright sunshine.
On your roof the number of panels we recommend depends on your energy use and how much space you have.
Inside your home you will need an inverter that will be located in the most appropriate location. These vary in size but are around the size of a small boiler.
If you have batteries installed too, these vary in size depending on the model and capacity, but are often a similar size to inverters. Some models can also be installed outside.
Solar panels have few moving parts so are considered maintenance free.
The life expectancy of solar panels is typically 25 years.
Research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory also found solar panels to be very reliable with a failure rate of only 0.05%.
Inverters have a life expectancy of around 10 years, so you will need to replace but is otherwise maintenance free.
According to a 2021 report by Solar Energy UK, installing solar panels can increase a home's value by £2,000 or more.
Estate agents tend to be more cagey about whether solar panels directly increase house value. But do think sustainable technologies are likely to become more attractive to homeowners in the future.
You need to apply directly to a SEG tariff supplier to get paid.
SEG payments are calculated by using export meter readings. Typically this is a smart meter, but can also be a dedicated export meter.
Payments are typically made by bank transfer, but can be a deduction from your energy bill.
SEG tariff suppliers choose how frequently they make payments, usually monthly, quarterly or annually.
SEG income is exempt from tax.
Solar panels can save between 500 and 1,500 kg of CO2 per year. Over the expected lifetime of solar panels which is 25 years, this totals between 13,000 and 36,000 kg.
The amount of CO2 saved depends on the size of the solar PV system, not on your energy use.
Our estimator will calculate the number of years to break even as part of your quote.
How long will depend on a number of factors including:
- The amount of electricity generated and consumed
- The cost of your electricity bill
As a general rule the more electricity you generate and use, the quicker the return.
Hopefully yes, however not all homes are suitable.
For solar panels to be effective your roof will need to be:
- Mostly south-facing
- Unshaded in particular between 10am and 4pm
- Not a flat roof
Some shade is ok, but can affect the performance of the solar panels.
Solar panels are considered ‘permitted developments’ and often don’t require planning permission. However, if you live in a listed building, conservation area or national park, restrictions may apply.
If you’re unsure, check with your local planning office for guidance.
Solar panel systems must be registered with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) which we do on your behalf.
If your question wasn’t answered here, pop an email to hello@heliarenewables.co.uk
