Smart Solar Homes
Plan your system

The UK Solar Installation Guide

Eight stages, written by solar specialists with the research and installs behind them. The point isn't to sell you solar — it's to give you the knowledge to decide for yourself whether it's the right move and, if it is, how to approach it well.

About 80 minutes total — work through it linearly or jump to any stage
  1. Fit check5 min

    Is Solar Right for You?

    A quick fit-check on ownership, roof, and planning before we get into the maths.

    Read stage 1
  2. Calculator10 min

    What Could Solar Save You?

    A range-based savings estimator — honest about how wide the range really is.

    Read stage 2
  3. Guide10 min

    Solar Panel Trade-offs and Honest Downsides

    Property value, looks, install disruption, and the 20-year commitment. The bits sales pitches usually skip.

    Read stage 3
  4. Decision aid8 min

    Do You Actually Need a Solar Battery?

    A framework that walks you through how tariff, daytime usage, and EV ownership shift the answer.

    Read stage 4
  5. Guide15 min

    Solar Panels and Batteries Explained

    Mono PERC vs TOPCon. LFP vs NMC. AC vs DC coupling. What matters at the buying level.

    Read stage 5
  6. Compare15 min

    Compare Solar Panels and Batteries

    Now you know what you're looking for, here are the options side-by-side.

    Read stage 6
  7. Checklist10 min

    How to Get a Good Solar Quote

    Questions to ask, MCS verification, what a good quote looks like, and the red flags that should make you walk away.

    Read stage 7
  8. Get quotes5 min

    Request Your Solar Panel Quotes

    You've done the thinking — drop your details and we'll be in touch to arrange a quote.

    Read stage 8
Start at Stage 1

What a UK solar installation actually involves

A typical UK home solar install runs from first quote to switch-on in six to ten weeks, and follows the same sequence whether you're fitting panels only or panels plus a battery. Get this order wrong — or skip a step — and it's the most common source of delays and cost surprises.

  1. Site survey. An installer checks your roof orientation, pitch, shading, and structural condition, and confirms your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) area to work out whether your install needs pre-approval or can go ahead on notification alone.
  2. System design and quote. Panel count, inverter sizing, and battery capacity (if any) get specified against your actual usage rather than a generic package. This is where the numbers from stage 2 matter most.
  3. DNO notification or approval. Systems up to 3.68kW per phase go through as a simple notification (G98); larger systems need formal DNO approval (G99) before work starts, which can add two to four weeks.
  4. Installation. Scaffolding goes up, panels and inverter are fitted, and the system is wired into your consumer unit — usually completed within one to two days for a standard domestic array.
  5. MCS certification and commissioning. Your installer must be MCS-certified and the finished system MCS-registered for you to claim SEG export payments or any grant funding. Ask for your MCS certificate at handover, not weeks later.
  6. SEG registration. Once certified, you can register with a Smart Export Guarantee supplier to get paid for electricity you export back to the grid.

The single biggest lever on both cost and outcome is the quote stage — see stage 7 for the questions to ask and the red flags that separate a good installer from a bad one.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a UK solar installation take? Physical fitting is usually one to two days; the full process including survey, DNO approval, and MCS commissioning typically takes six to ten weeks end to end.

Do I need planning permission for solar panels?Most UK homes install under permitted development rights and don't need planning permission, but listed buildings, conservation areas, and flats with a shared roof usually do — check with your installer before you commit.

What does MCS certification mean for me?MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certifies both the installer and the equipment. Without it you can't claim Smart Export Guarantee payments or most government grant funding, so it's worth confirming before you sign a contract, not after.

Do I need a battery?Not always — it depends on your tariff, how much electricity you use during the day, and whether you're planning an EV. Work through stage 4 for a framework rather than a rule of thumb.