Solar panel installers in London
Last updated 27 July 2026
A typical 4kWp solar panel system in London costs £5,500–£7,500 fully installed in 2026 with 0% VAT. It generates roughly 3,600–3,900 kWh a year and, with electricity now at 26.11p/kWh, cuts £650–£1,000+ off your bills — a payback of about 7–9 years, followed by 15+ years of near-free power.
Figures are estimates for a typical property in London, based on 2026 UK costs and average local conditions. Your actual cost and savings depend on your property, energy use and installer, and are confirmed by a site survey.
What solar panels cost in London in 2026
A standard 4kWp system — around ten 430–440W panels, the usual choice for a three-bedroom London home — costs £5,500–£7,500 installed in 2026, with 0% VAT on residential solar until 31 March 2027.1,5 London labour and access (terraces, scaffolding on narrow streets, conservation-area care) tend to push a job toward the upper half of that range.
| Component | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 10× 430–440W panels | £2,400–£3,000 |
| Inverter (string or hybrid) | £800–£1,200 |
| Mounting, roof kit & scaffolding | £700–£1,100 |
| Electrical work & install labour | £1,000–£1,500 |
| DNO notification, commissioning & MCS certification | £300–£500 |
| Total installed (0% VAT) | £5,500–£7,500 |
Adding battery storage takes the total to roughly £9,500–£12,000, but it lifts how much of your own generation you actually use (see savings below).1 Larger 5–6kWp systems cost more in absolute terms but less per kW, so they often improve payback if your roof and usage suit them.
How much you will save in London
Savings come from two places: the electricity you no longer buy from the grid (worth 26.11p/kWh under the July–September 2026 Ofgem price cap2), and the surplus you export under the Smart Export Guarantee (fixed SEG tariffs run about 12–15p/kWh in 2026, with time-of-use export tariffs paying up to ~30p at peak).3
| Setup | Generation/yr | Annual saving | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4kWp, no battery (~45% self-use) | ~3,700 kWh | £650–£850 | 8–9 yrs |
| 4kWp + battery (~70% self-use) | ~3,700 kWh | £900–£1,100 | 9–11 yrs |
| 5kWp, no battery | ~4,600 kWh | £800–£1,050 | 7–9 yrs |
VAT, SEG and grants in 2026
- 0% VAT on residential solar (and batteries) until 31 March 2027, after which it is scheduled to return to 5%.5 Fitting before then locks in the saving.
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — any licensed supplier with 150,000+ customers must pay you for exported electricity. Shop the rate separately from your import tariff; you do not have to export to the same supplier you buy from.3
- ECO4 / Great British Insulation Scheme — means-tested help that can cover solar for lower-income or benefits households; eligibility is narrow and checked by the installer.
- There is no general solar grant for most London homeowners in 2026 — the headline saving is the 0% VAT plus the returns above. Be sceptical of any advert promising a "free solar grant" for all.
The London roof picture
London sits in the sunniest band of the UK for generation — a well-oriented roof yields around 900–950 kWh per kWp per year, so a 4kWp array produces roughly 3,600–3,900 kWh.1 Orientation and shading matter more than postcode: a south-facing, unshaded roof performs best, while east–west roofs still pay back well because they spread generation across the morning and evening when you are more likely to be home using it.
London's housing stock skews toward Victorian and Edwardian terraces, converted flats and 1930s semis. Practical points that come up on London jobs:
- Conservation areas & listed buildings — much of inner London falls under these. Panels are usually permitted development, but front-facing roofs in conservation areas and any listed building need planning consent; a local installer will confirm.
- Flats & shared roofs — leaseholders need freeholder permission; communal installs are possible but need agreement.
- DNO (UK Power Networks) — systems up to 3.68kW per phase are notify-only; larger arrays may need prior approval, which your installer handles.
The install process & timeline
- Survey & design (about a week) — roof measured, shading assessed, system sized to your usage.
- Quote & DNO notification — firm price; your installer notifies UK Power Networks.
- Installation (1–2 days for a typical home) — scaffolding, panels, inverter, wiring.
- Commissioning & MCS certification — sign-off and the paperwork you need to apply for a SEG tariff.
- SEG application — you register with an export supplier and start earning for surplus.
Start to finish is usually 2–6 weeks depending on scaffolding and survey scheduling.
How to choose a London installer
The quality mark that matters is MCS certification — it is required to claim a SEG tariff and confirms the install meets the standard. 2025 was a record year: MCS certified over 257,000 solar installations, up 32% on 2024, bringing the UK total past 1.85 million.4 Also look for membership of a consumer code — RECC or HIES — and TrustMark registration, which give you deposit protection and a complaints route.
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Solar panels in London — your questions
How much do solar panels cost in London in 2026?
A typical 4kWp system costs £5,500–£7,500 installed with 0% VAT. London jobs often sit in the upper half of that range because of access and scaffolding. Adding a battery takes it to roughly £9,500–£12,000. A survey gives you an exact figure for your roof.
How much can I save with solar in London?
Around £650–£1,000 a year on a typical 4kWp system, based on the July 2026 electricity price of 26.11p/kWh and SEG export rates of 12–15p — a payback of about 7–9 years. A battery raises the yearly saving and self-use but lengthens payback slightly.
Is there a solar grant in London?
There is no general solar grant for most homeowners in 2026 — the main saving is 0% VAT until March 2027 plus SEG export income. ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme can help lower-income or benefits households; eligibility is narrow.
Do I need planning permission for solar in London?
In most cases panels are permitted development. The exceptions common in London are listed buildings and conservation areas (especially front-facing roofs), where consent is needed. Leaseholders in flats need freeholder permission. A local installer confirms before work starts.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
The SEG requires larger licensed suppliers to pay you for electricity you export to the grid. Fixed rates are about 12–15p/kWh in 2026, and you can choose an export supplier separately from your import tariff. You need an MCS certificate to apply.
Are solar panels worth it in London?
For most unshaded roofs, yes — London has among the best generation in the UK, electricity is expensive at 26.11p/kWh, and 0% VAT plus SEG income give a 7–9 year payback with 15+ years of near-free power after that. Your saving depends most on your roof and how much electricity you use during the day.
Sources
- Energy Saving Trust / FMB — Solar Panel Costs UK 2026 (accessed Jul 2026)
- Ofgem — Energy price cap, 1 July to 30 September 2026 (electricity 26.11p/kWh) (accessed Jul 2026)
- Octopus Energy — Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rates 2026 (accessed Jul 2026)
- MCS — UK rooftop solar installations hit record high (2025) (accessed Jul 2026)
- GOV.UK — VAT on energy-saving materials (0% to 31 March 2027) (accessed Jul 2026)
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