The best solar panel installers - which should you choose?
Whatever your budget, there are a range of companies in the UK supplying solar panels and services to suit all homes and needs.
Our choices are certified by either MCS, the Flexible Energy Oversight Registration Body (Flexi-Orb), or both.
Want to find out more? Here's a rundown of our top solar panel fitting picks.
Glow Green
Glow Green has been around for the joint-longest in our list and offers a fixed cost guarantee, which will appeal to many. It's also one of the cheapest options on the market.
As well as being affordable, Glow Green has access to high-power 500w panels from Chinese firm Perlight, whereas most competitor panels push out 400-450 watts.
Glow Green can fit heat pumps, EV chargers, boilers and air conditioning units and it is a Tesla Premium certified installer and a Duracell platinum partner for battery fittings.
Solar4Good
Solar4Good is a family-run business set up in 2021, but drawing on its founders' 15 years of solar industry experience.
Like most on the list, the company is MCS certified. It also has has HIES Membership, NAPIT Registration & Trustmark Endorsement.
It also has the joint-highest Trustpilot score, although all of our top picks come in at 4.7 and above.
Heatable
Heatable distinguishes itself by having exclusive access to Australian-made, high-quality REA Fusion2 panels. These offer a longer useable life than other panels, although they come at a cost premium to match.
The company is a Tesla Premium Partner for batteries and holds Which? Approval for both solar and heating models.
The company said its quotes are fixed, with any additional costs such as unforeseen structural issues or existing electrical faults being picked up in the survey they perform before beginning work.
Project Solar UK
Project Solar has also been around since 2011, making it the joint longest-running. The company has served more than 45,000 customers since launching.
The firm is based in Burton-on-Trent but covers England and Wales, except for London.
It also offers a lengthy 10-year warranty for its work.
Sunsave
Sunsave differs from the other installers on this list in that it offers a long-term 20-year loan on your solar system, meaning there is no up-front cost. The company says that some users could save a third off their electricity bill from day one.
Sunsave offers free replacements for parts such as batteries and inverters, which may come to the end of their working lives before solar panels do. The company says: 'Under the Sunsave Guarantee, whether in warranty or not, we'll replace any equipment that isn't working to a suitable level of performance – so the customer has peace of mind their system will be working to at least the projected levels for at least 20 years.'
This is a good option if you want solar, use plenty of power and have loads of roof space but would prefer to borrow to fund the purchase.
The length of the loan means you'll also plan on staying in your home for a long time. You'll also want to make the best of any power you sell back to the grid, snagging the best deals for exporting.
Price for a typical three-bed house: £95/month including all equipment, fitting, insurance, downtime cover and a 20 year guarantee. The price is fixed for 20 years. Customers can pay off the loan early if they choose. This includes a battery pack.
Area covered: England and Wales
Trustpilot score: 4.7
Typical time from inquiry to installation: 6-8 weeks now, but aiming for 3-4 weeks
Founded: 2022
Best for: Bigger households who want to borrow to get solar and plan on staying put for a while. You'll need to keep hold of a good export tariff to get the best price for the electricity you sell.
Which solar panel system should I pick?
Only pick reputable companies which have accreditation with schemes like MCS or Flexi-Orb. It's also worth looking out for other scheme memberships like the government-backed TrustMark, the Energy Performance Validation Scheme (EPVS), the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) or the Home Insulation and Energy Systems Contractors Scheme (HIES).
Companies that have good reviews and a long track record are also good choices – being national is not necessarily an indicator of quality.
Can any electrician fit a solar panel system?
No. Solar panel systems are highly specialist and, because they work with high voltages, can be dangerous if incorrectly installed. You'll need a qualified and certified electrician to install and connect your new panels to your home and the national grid. For the same reason, you won't be able to fit them yourself either.
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