Solar panels, without the sales fog.
Start with how solar works, then test the numbers.
Solar panels can cut your electricity bills, yet the right answer depends on your home. This site explains each part of the decision in plain English. You can learn how a system works, what changes the price and what a fair quote should include.
Read the topic guides in order, or jump to the question you have now. Each guide links to its official sources, such as Ofgem, MCS and GOV.UK, because you can then check every claim yourself. Our short blog posts answer common questions in more detail.
We are not an installer, and we do not sell panels or loans. However, you can ask for installer quotes through one simple form when you feel ready. A person reads each request first, before any installer gets involved.
What this site is, and what it is not.
Solar Panels Explained is an independent information site for UK homeowners. We explain how panels work, what they cost and how to judge a quote. However, we are not an installer, lender or government service.
If you want quotes, you can use one simple form. A person reads your request first. The operator can then match your postcode with vetted MCS-certified installers through the MoreLeadz lead system, although nothing goes to an installer without your consent.
Build your learning route
Your result will appear here.
Move from first question to informed decision.
Start with how solar panels work, then check roof and property suitability. After that, read about costs and savings and grants and funding. These four guides cover most first questions.
Next, read batteries and export if you want to store power or sell it back. Then use choosing an installer and planning your installation for the project stage. Finally, maintenance and lifespan explains what upkeep to expect.
How domestic solar panels work
Solar panel costs and savings
Roof and property suitability
Solar batteries and export
Choosing a solar installer
Plan a solar installation
Solar panel grants and funding
Solar panel maintenance and lifespan
From the blog
- Grants and funding
0% VAT on solar panels and batteries
Solar panels and batteries fitted in UK homes carry 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5%. See who qualifies, what it saves you and how to plan your timing.Published - Costs and savings
Are solar panels worth it for a UK home?
On our worked example a 4kW system pays back in about 11 years, but your use matters most. Learn how to work out your own saving with this plain-English guide.Published - Maintenance and lifespan
Cleaning and maintaining solar panels
Rain keeps most solar panels clean, but a light clean every year or two can help. Here is how to do it safely, what a pro costs and what else to check.Published - Planning and installation
Connecting solar to the grid: G98 and G99
G98 and G99 decide how your solar system connects to the grid. This guide explains the 3.68kW limit, who applies, and what to expect from your network operator.Published - Planning and installation
Do solar panels need planning permission?
Most UK homes can fit rooftop solar without planning permission. Here are the limits, the exceptions and the checks to make before you book an installer.Published - How solar works
Do solar panels work in winter and on cloudy days?
Yes, solar panels still work in winter and under cloud, but they make far less power. See what a typical UK system makes each month and how to plan for it.Published
A calmer way to make the decision.
- 01
Understand
Learn what the components do and where estimates come from. - 02
Sense-check
Check roof, usage and quote assumptions before comparing offers. - 03
Verify
Ask for named products, written calculations and professional confirmation.
Ready to compare installer quotes?
Send only the details needed for a review. Your enquiry goes straight into the central MoreLeadz lead dashboard. The operator can then match vetted MCS-certified installers to your postcode, although nothing goes to an installer without your consent.