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We break down the best solar panel installers in the UK in 2024. We chose Project Solar as best for long warranties, Effective Home as best for industry accreditation, and Glow Green as the best range of high-efficiency panels.
Which solar panel installer you choose significantly impacts your experience of integrating this green technology into your home. The right company will supply the best solar panels, communicate clearly throughout the process and hold accreditations that certify the quality of its solar panel installations.
A solar panel installation generally takes one to three months from enquiry to project completion. During this process you’ll need to consider several factors, such as choosing between national or local solar panel installers, checking their accreditations and assessing their experience.
Our solar experts offer unbiased, thoroughly researched reviews into the top solar installers in the UK, assessing company performance and customer reviews to help you find the perfect partner for your journey towards free energy. We also surveyed 2,000 people with solar panels to find out how they choose their solar panel installer.*
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| Solar panel installer | FMB pick | Trustpilot rating | MCS certified | Maximum warranty | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Solar | Best for long warranties | 4.7 stars | Yes | Lifetime | 2011 |
| Effective Home | Best industry accreditation | 4.5 stars | Yes | 25 years | 2016 |
| Solar4Good | Best customer service | 4.7 stars | Yes | 25 years | 2020 |
| Glow Green | Best range of high-efficiency panels | 4.5 stars | Yes | 30 years | 2011 |
| Evergen Solar | Best for battery storage options | 4.2 stars | Yes | 25 years | 2010 |
| UPS Solar | Best payment terms available | 4.8 stars | Yes | 25 years | 2019 |
| Sunsave | Best solar subscription service | 4.6 stars | Yes | 25 years | 2022 |
Data correct as of 23 October 2024
Project Solar is an award-winning solar panel installation company. It’s the largest in the UK, having installed more than 45,000 solar panels since its inception in 2011, and is particularly well-known for offering the longest warranties in the UK solar sector.
Importantly, Project Solar installs FMB’s two best solar panels. Its primary offering is its own Project Solar Evo Max Super Series 480W, which we scored 8.2 out of 10, but it also installs the SunPower Maxeon 7DC 445W, which scored 8.9 out of 10.
In our solar panel survey, 97 per cent of respondents with Project Solar panels said they would recommend the brand*. The same number said their panels had met or exceeded expectations when it came to energy production, while 95 per cent of people had their expectations met or exceeded in regards to ongoing cost savings from their Project Solar panels.
Alongside the Evo Max Super Series 480W, Project Solar also offers SunPower Maxeon solar panels, which are among the most efficient on the market.
What Project Solar customers say
“Our experience with Project Solar has been 5 stars from start to finish. The company is very professional and the engineers installing the system have been very clean and tidy.”
A product warranty covers the solar panels, including manufacturing defects, while a performance warranty relates to the panel’s efficiency, which naturally degrades over its lifespan. The performance warranty guarantees a certain level of panel efficiency after a specified period, and is often longer than the product warranty. The labour warranty, also known as an installation or workmanship warranty, covers the quality of your system’s installation.
Effective Home installations are covered by various certification schemes, including:
With these certificates and accreditations, customers should feel confident that they’re opting for a trusted and reliable provider. Effective Home also covers its solar panels with a minimum 25-year product warranty and a lifetime warranty for the manufacturing and performance of the solar cells.
In July 2023, Effective Home teamed up with Halifax to offer a cashback scheme whereby customers receive up to £500 when they install green technologies, such as solar panels.
Effective Home recently launched a monthly paid subscription service called Energy Shield, allowing homeowners to access solar energy for as little as £99 upfront. With this service, Effective Home will install solar panels on your roof, and then sell the energy they generate back to you at a tariff that is fixed every five years. This tariff should be cheaper than the national average unit rates in the UK.
What Effective Home customers say
“Great service provided throughout the process under the team led by Lynne and Jack the Senior Surveyor. The installation team were excellent and worked through constant heavy rain which meant a return visit on the 2 October. All the team were very polite and courteous during the process which was made even more difficult due to the weather. A great job done and would definitely recommend Effective Home.”
Although Solar4Good was only founded in 2020, it has quickly built a reputation for efficient, reliable installations, completing around 1,500 projects annually. Their installers are backed by a friendly customer service team which is often praised in Trustpilot reviews, earning Solar4Good an impressive 4.7 stars on the review site.
Solar4Good offers three customisable residential packages, with solar panel prices ranging from £5,500 for 10 panels to over £9,000 for 16 panels and 8.7kWh battery storage. It supplies solar products from brands like JA Solar, Jinko, Trina Solar, Qcells, and Fox ESS.
What Solar4Good customers say
“What an experience with Solar4Good – Rahi is a well experienced professional and has been a pleasure to deal with. Right from the initial contact to the completion he and his team have been exceptional.”
Founded in 2011, Glow Green initially specialised in energy-efficient boilers before branching out to offer other green home products, including an all-in-one package that encompasses solar panels, battery storage, EV chargers, air conditioning and heat pumps.
The company covers its solar panels with warranties of up to 30 years and offers a five-year workmanship warranty. It has financing options and is an award-wining provider. Its product range includes panels from JA Solar, Trina Solar, Tesla, PureDrive Energy and Perlight Solar.
What Glow Green customers say
“Had a new solar system installed yesterday. It was so easy. My quote was prepared by Dan who was very helpful, he was extremely patient and was happy to keep revising the quote as I changed my mind and no hard sell. All equipment and scaffolding was delivered on time. The installers Billy and Danny were brilliant, so hard working and pleasant and knew the system inside out. I cannot fault the service I had from Glow Green and would happily recommend them.”
Evergen Solar was founded in 2010 and began installing residential solar panels on new builds in 2015.
The company is HIES-accredited and offers battery storage systems in addition to its solar panels. These can be installed alongside the initial panel installation or added to an existing solar panel system.
The company’s solar panels come with an industry-standard warranty of 25 years, while the battery storage systems include a 10-year warranty from the HIES.
Flexible payment options are also available to customers who want to spread the installation costs over several years.
What Evergen Solar customers say
“Evergen has made my solar installation an excellent experience, from my initial meeting with Michael – their north east rep. who is extremely knowledgeable, patient, polite and attentive – to the polite, clean and respectful fitting team everything went to plan. Now generating nicely – may the days continue to be bright.”
UPS Solar offers a range of solar panel brands, including Sharp, Qcells and JA Solar. The latter is especially popular, as 95 per cent of JA Solar customers who responded to our survey stated they would recommend the brand to others.
The company also provides a 10-year labour warranty and deposit-free installation, so customers only pay after installation. The installation process is supported by the Independent Warranty Association, and the company holds certifications from the Renewable Energy Consumer Code and MCS.
Founded in 2019, UPS Solar also has a high Trustpilot rating of 4.7. Positive reviews suggest good communication, friendly installers and a quick installation process.
What UPS Solar customers say
“Just a brief review of UPS solar. The service I have received from them has been nothing short of excellent. From quotation, installation and commissioning they have been really on the ball. Whilst they may not be the cheapest in the marketplace, they are certainly the best. I would highly recommend them to anyone as their service is second to none. Very happy customer.”
Founded in 2022, Sunsave is the newest solar panel installer on this list, and it’s known for creating the UK’s first solar subscription service.
While other subscription services have appeared since, including from Otovo and Unbound Energy, Sunsave’s still stands out. With Sunsave Plus, you own your panels from the moment your system is installed, without the need to put down a deposit or pay an upfront fee. You then pay for your system monthly, starting at £69, for a maximum of 20 years. If you wish, you can pay off some or all of your system cost at any time, with no penalty.
Sunsave doesn’t just offer a subscription service. With Sunsave Standard, you can buy your panels upfront, with costs starting from £6,700 for a complete solar system with a battery.
Sunsave Plus and Standard both offer 25-year performance and product warranties on your panels, and 10-year warranties for batteries and inverters. And if you’re an existing Octopus Energy customer, installing your panels with Sunsave will give you faster access to the energy provider’s often market-leading Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs.
What Sunsave customers say
“Where do I begin? Perfection or five stars doesn’t seem enough. Even my neighbour has ordered an install on my recommendation. From beginning to end everyone at Sunsave has been amazing, helpful and knowledgeable. I had my install last September and it has been faultless, reducing my bills to virtually zero.”
Alongside the national installers above, you can find a number of regional solar panel installers in your local area. Some notable MCS-accredited regional solar panel installers include:
| Region | Regional solar panel installer |
|---|---|
| North East | North East Solar Sustainable Energy Engineering |
| North West | Applegarth Engineering Go Green Solar Group Ltd |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | Purelec Energy Solar Smart Energy |
| East Midlands | Ace Solar Ltd LJM Solutions |
| West Midlands | Ace Solar Energy Geo Green Power |
| East of England | Cambridge Renewables Cambridge Solar |
| London | Everyone’s Energy Sogo Solar |
| South East | Deege Solar South East Solar Power |
| South West | Eco NRG My Home Solar |
| Scotland | Home Renewables Scotland RB Grant Electrical Contractors |
| Wales | Celtic Green Energy JM Renewables |
| Northern Ireland | Solar Fix Solar Power NI |
Whether you choose a national installer or a smaller regional one, the process from getting quotes to installing panels will be fairly similar. You can find a solar panel installer through FMB by:
Both local and national solar panel installers come with advantages and drawbacks which you should consider before making your choice.
Some of the benefits of choosing a local installer include:
However, choosing a national solar panel installer brings you:
Once you have found a few different MCS-accredited installers, make a pros and cons list for each one. According to our survey of over 2,000 solar panel owners*, the most important factor to consider is cost, followed by the warranties offered and the installer’s reputation.
One of the primary considerations when comparing solar panel installers is their cost. The best way to know you’re getting a fair price is to collect as many quotes as possible. It may also help you to negotiate with your chosen installer, especially if you have cheaper quotes to back up your haggling.
Hopefully nothing will go wrong with your panels, but in the event that something were to go awry, you’ll want to know that you’re covered. You should compare the lengths of the labour warranty provided by the installer, as well as the product and performance warranties that come with your solar panels of choice.
Most of the best solar companies have been in business for many years; for example, both Evergen and Project Solar have more than 12 years of experience installing solar panels, so these installers might be at the top of your list if this matters to you.
Trustpilot is also an invaluable resource to check how customers feel about their service, especially for newer solar panel installers.
Solar panel installers will often have a select number of solar panel brands they work with, so you should do your research at the outset and make sure you’re happy with the power and efficiency of the panels offered by the installer in question. The more powerful and efficient your panels are, the fewer you’ll need to meet your energy needs.
A practical consideration when comparing solar panel installers is how long it’ll be before they can get started on your household. While you might not want to wait months and months for an installation, an installer with a slightly longer wait time because they’re in high demand can be a sign of quality.
According to the official website, the MCS “sets, defines and maintains the Standards for low-carbon energy technology products, contractors and their installations.” Choosing an MCS-certified solar panel installer guarantees a reliable and professional installation. Opting for an MCS-accredited installer is also a requirement if you plan to sell your unused solar energy back to the National Grid via a regulated SEG tariff.
A MCS accreditation isn’t the only certificate to watch out for, however. The following are all signs that your installer provides a high quality service – you should look for evidence of certification or participation on an installers’ website, typically in the form of a badge or logo:
Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to look for when comparing solar panel installers:
More than half (52.38 per cent) of the people we surveyed said installing their solar system took one to three months from signing the contract to completion. This timeframe includes a thorough site survey, making up roof plans, the actual installation and the completion of necessary documentation. For larger systems, the process may take slightly longer.
*Survey conducted by the Federation of Master Builders, 2,004 respondents, June 2024.
Installing solar panels yourself might seem like a good way to reduce your upfront costs, but it is generally not recommended. Installing a solar system requires technical knowledge as there are many safety risks involved, and you may find that a DIY solar panel system may lack efficiency compared to a professionally-installed one. What’s more, to take advantage of the SEG scheme, your solar panel system must be installed by an MCS-certified installer.
Labour costs are typically included in your solar panel system quote. These costs generally range between £300 and £500 depending on the size and complexity of the installation, as well as the area you live in.
Companies like Project Solar and Effective Home have been top players in the solar industry for many years, meaning they can generally be depended on to guarantee a reliable service. That said, a smaller, local installer might be just as reliable and provide a more personalised service; however, make sure to check customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot before you commit.
Not every electrician can install solar panels as roof mounting and integrating a system with the National Grid involve specialised skills beyond standard electrical work.
In most cases, planning permission is not required to install solar panels. Certain properties such as listed buildings and those within Conservation Areas do require planning permission to install solar panels, though the new Labour Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has proposed schemes to make it easier to install solar panels on such buildings. Always check with your local planning authority if you are unsure.
