Find a solar installer who gives you an honest picture of what you'll save
Solar panels can genuinely reduce energy bills and pay for themselves over time — but the returns depend heavily on your roof orientation, local irradiance, consumption pattern, and system design. The industry has its share of overselling. A good installer will model your specific situation before quoting.
Tell us what you need — it takes 2 minutes →Free · No obligation · You decide whether to take it further
What brings most people here
- Installers quoting from Google Maps without visiting your property
- Oversold payback periods based on optimistic assumptions
- Not knowing whether battery storage is worth the additional cost
- Concerns about MCS certification and whether the warranty is meaningful
What a good match looks like
- MCS certification is required for Smart Export Guarantee payments — always verify an installer's MCS status at mcscertified.com before signing a contract
- Detailed generation estimates based on your actual roof and consumption
- Honest battery storage assessment — when it adds up and when it doesn't
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) setup so you're paid for what you export
How it works
Tell us what you need
A short form covering your situation and requirements. Takes around 2 minutes. No account required.
We identify suitable specialists
We match your requirements against Solar Panels specialists with relevant experience and verified client ratings.
Matched specialists review your requirements
Specialists who believe they can genuinely help will be in touch. You'll be able to see their ratings and completed jobs before deciding whether to proceed.
You decide — no pressure, no obligation
If a specialist looks right for you, you can progress through quote, contract, and payment — all in one place. If not, you're not committed to anything.
Why YouCompared is different
Matched on merit, not marketing spend
Specialists appear because they match your requirements and have the ratings to back it up — not because they paid to be at the top of a list.
Ratings from completed projects
Every rating on our platform comes from a job that was actually done. Not an anonymous review — a verified client, a real project.
One enquiry, not a data free-for-all
Your details go to specialists matched to your specific requirements — not broadcast to everyone on a list. You stay in control of who you engage with.
The process doesn't stop at the introduction
Quote, contract, payment, and review — managed in one place. We're involved through the whole project, not just the first contact.
Common questions about Solar Panels
Are solar panels worth it for UK homes?
For most south-facing roofs with minimal shading, yes. A typical 4kWp system costs £5,000–£8,000 and can reduce electricity bills by £400–£700 per year, with a payback period of 8–12 years and a system life of 25+ years. East/west-facing roofs generate less but can still be viable. North-facing is generally not worthwhile.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
Most domestic solar installations are permitted development and don't require planning permission, as long as they don't protrude more than 200mm from the roof surface. Listed buildings and some conservation areas are exceptions. Your installer should confirm this before installation.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?
The Smart Export Guarantee requires energy suppliers to pay you for electricity you export back to the grid from your solar system. Rates vary by supplier — currently 3–15p per kWh depending on the tariff. Maximising self-consumption usually gives better returns than maximising export, but SEG ensures you're paid for what you don't use.
Is battery storage worth adding to solar panels?
Battery storage allows you to use solar generation at night rather than exporting it cheaply and importing expensively. At current battery costs (typically £3,000–£5,000 additional), payback is often 10–15 years on the battery alone — longer than the current generation of lithium batteries lasts. It may make more sense as battery costs continue to fall.
Ready to find the right Solar Panels specialist?
Tell us what you need. We do the matching. You decide whether to take it further.
Get started — it's free →