Are solar panels worth it?
What they cost, how they pay back, and what a battery changes
Solar panels with a battery start from about £11,150 for a typical home, with 0% VAT on the installation at the moment. Whether they are worth it depends on how much of the power you use yourself: panels pay back by cutting your bill, and a battery lets you use the daytime power in the evening. There is no general government grant. Panels on a house roof usually do not need planning permission.
What it costs
The guide figure on our site is from £11,150 for panels and a battery, including the roof survey, scaffolding, panels, inverter, battery and smart tariff setup. VAT on the installation is currently 0% (until 31 March 2027, as we understand the current rules). The price rises with the number of panels, the size of the battery, and how hard the roof is to reach.
What decides it: the size and direction of your roof (south, east or west is best), shade from trees and neighbours, how many panels fit, whether you want a battery, and scaffolding. We size the system from your real roof, not from a standard package.
Are solar panels worth it?
Usually yes if you are home in the daytime, use a lot of electricity, have an electric car or a heat pump, and your roof gets plenty of sun. Be careful if the roof is shaded, if you are about to move, or if you expect to use little power in the day. A battery stores the spare daytime power for the evening, which raises the share you use yourself, but it also raises the price.
Payback is the year in which the savings add up to what you paid. It depends on your usage, your tariff and how much you use yourself. It is commonly quoted in the range of several years to over a decade, and a battery usually lengthens it. We work it out for your own house on the survey, from your bills and your roof.
Selling the spare power: the Smart Export Guarantee
Energy suppliers pay you for power you send back to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee. Rates differ by supplier. To qualify, the installation generally has to be MCS certified, so check any installer's MCS certification before you sign.
Is there a grant for solar panels?
There is no general government grant for solar panels in England at the moment. Some schemes help lower-income households, and the 0% VAT on installation is the main saving for everyone else. Check gov.uk for what is available when you buy, since schemes change.
Planning permission
Solar panels on a house roof are usually permitted development, unless they face the street in a conservation area. The panels generally must not stick out far from the roof, or rise above its highest part. A listed building, and some roofs in a conservation area, are different. We check your address first. Guidance for homes in England, not advice. A conservation area, a listed building or an Article 4 direction changes the rules, and we confirm what applies on survey.
The network application
For most systems, the electricity network operator must be told or must approve. We submit it for you; allow a few weeks for approval on larger systems. Installation itself usually takes 1–2 days.
Prices are illustrative guide figures while our launch pricing is finalised; your exact price follows a free survey. Rules and grants change, so check gov.uk before you rely on them. General guidance, not financial or legal advice.
Common questions
Are solar panels worth it in the UK?
Solar panels with a battery start from about £11,150 for a typical home, with 0% VAT on the installation at the moment. Whether they are worth it depends on how much of the power you use yourself: panels pay back by cutting your bill, and a battery lets you use the daytime power in the evening. There is no general government grant. Panels on a house roof usually do not need planning permission.
How much do solar panels and a battery cost?
From about £11,150 for panels and a battery on a typical home, with 0% VAT on the installation at the moment. The size of the system and the roof decide the final figure.
How much does it cost to install solar panels and a battery in the UK?
Our guide starts from £11,150. A bigger roof, more panels or a larger battery cost more. We give a written price after a survey.
How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?
It depends on how much of the power you use yourself, your tariff and the size of the system, and is commonly quoted in the range of several years to over a decade. A battery usually lengthens the payback. We calculate it for your house on the survey.
Is there a grant for solar panels and batteries?
There is no general government grant for homeowners in England at the moment. Some schemes help lower-income households, and the 0% VAT is the main saving. Check gov.uk for current schemes.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
Solar panels on a house roof are usually permitted development, unless they face the street in a conservation area. Guidance for homes in England, not advice. A conservation area, a listed building or an Article 4 direction changes the rules, and we confirm what applies on survey.
How do I get an exact price?
Book a free survey: we look at the roof and your bills and give you a written price.