How much do solar panels cost in 2026?

How much do solar panels cost to install in 2026?

The Energy Saving Trust puts a typical domestic system at around 4.5 kWp (kilowatts peak, the output of the panels in full sun) and around £7,600 installed. The main things that move the price are the size of the system, how easy your roof is to reach, whether the roof has several slopes or dormers, and whether your fuse board needs upgrading.

A proper quote should include the panels, inverter (which turns the panels' direct current into the alternating current your home uses), battery if specified, roof mounting, DC and AC cabling, notifying or applying to your electricity network operator (the G98 or G99 process), MCS certification, and a separate connection to your consumer unit where needed. Scaffolding for high or awkward access and a consumer unit upgrade are the usual extras.

VAT is currently 0% on solar panels and battery storage installed in homes, including batteries added to an existing system. HMRC's zero rate runs until 31 March 2027. See what is involved in a solar, battery and EV charger installation.

How much electricity will solar panels generate in London?

Using the European Commission's PVGIS tool, a 4 kWp south-facing system in London produces about 4,075 kWh a year, about two thirds of it between April and September.

An east or west-facing roof, a shallower pitch or shade from trees and chimneys all reduce this, which is why a roof survey matters more than the panel brand. Panels still produce in winter, just far less: December here is under a third of July. Our guide on whether solar panels work in winter explains why.

How much will you save, and how much can you earn from exporting?

Solar saves you money in two ways. Every unit you use as it is generated is a unit you do not buy at around 26p. Every unit you do not use goes to the grid, and the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for it at a rate set by the supplier you sign up with.

The gap between those columns is the whole case for signing up to an export tariff straight away. Under Ofgem's rules, SEG rates must always be above zero, but they vary widely. Examples as published on 17 September 2026:

To get paid you need a smart meter that records exports, and suppliers ask for your MCS certificate, so an MCS certified installer is not optional if you want export income.

How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?

The Energy Saving Trust puts payback in London at about 9 years with export payments, whether you are home all day or out. Here is the same sum worked through with numbers you can check, for the 4 kWp London system above.

Two things stand out. Using more of your own power is worth more than twice as much per unit as exporting it (26.11p against 12p), so running the dishwasher, washing machine or an EV charge in daylight shortens payback. And the price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is 26.32p, so the saving edges up slightly from October. The solar payback calculator lets you put in your own quote, usage and tariff.

Is a solar battery worth the extra cost?

The Energy Saving Trust puts a 5 kWh battery system at around £4,600, with batteries ranging from £1,500 to £10,000, and a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years. That lifespan is the number to hold on to.

On solar alone, a battery mostly moves units you would have exported at 12p to evening use where they save 26.11p. In the worked example above, raising self-use from 40% to 70% adds about £173 a year. At £4,600 that is more than 26 years to pay back, well beyond the battery's life. On those numbers, a battery bought only to store solar does not pay for itself.

A battery earns its place in three situations:

• You are on a time of use tariff and charge the battery overnight when electricity costs least, then use it at peak times. Some of these tariffs have an off-peak window of five hours or so after midnight; rates depend on your postcode.
• You have or are getting a heat pump. The Energy Saving Trust notes a battery saves more running a heat pump than it does storing surplus solar.
• Your export tariff pays a peak rate, so the battery can hold solar for the 4pm to 7pm window.

Fitting the battery with the panels is usually better value than adding it later, because the installer is already on site. Our guide on solar with or without a battery goes through the choice in more depth.

Do you need planning permission for solar panels?

Usually not. In England, rooftop solar on a house is normally permitted development. The rules were updated on 27 August 2026, with a transition period to 27 August 2027 in which either the old or new rules can be followed. For a house, the main limits are:

• On a pitched roof, panels must not sit above the highest part of the roof (excluding the chimney) or stand more than 200mm proud of the roof slope.
• On a flat roof, the equipment must not be more than 600mm above the highest part of the roof, and on designated land such as a conservation area you must apply for prior approval.
• Panels are not permitted development on a building within the grounds of a listed building or on a scheduled monument.
• In a conservation area or World Heritage Site, panels must not go on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure fronting a highway.
• Equipment should be sited to minimise its effect on the building's appearance, and removed when no longer needed.

If you are a leaseholder you may need permission from the freeholder, and rules in Wales may differ. When in doubt, ask your local planning authority before work starts.

What should you check before you buy?

• MCS certification for the installer, which you need for export payments. The Energy Saving Trust recommends getting at least three quotes.
• The roof itself. If it will need work in the next few years, do it first, since scaffolding is one of the bigger costs.
• The inverter. Panels should last 25 years or more, but the Energy Saving Trust expects an inverter to need replacing after around 12 years, so budget for one.
• What the quote includes: scaffolding, network notification, consumer unit work and export meter setup.
• The VAT deadline. The 0% rate on panels and batteries runs to 31 March 2027.

If you are also thinking about a heat pump or insulation, it is worth planning them together, because solar pays back faster when more of your power is used at home. You can plan your whole retrofit or book a free roof survey for a fixed price on your own home.

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