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Last verified against GOV.UK and MCS Certified: April 2026.
Which solar panel installers are best in the UK?
The best solar panel installers in the UK in 2026 are MCS-certified, carry strong Trustpilot ratings, and offer clear warranties on both panels and labour. Based on research into accreditations, customer reviews, pricing transparency, and warranties, our top pick is Solar4Good for customer service, Project Solar for the longest warranties, and Sunsave for flexible subscription payments.
There are over 5,600 MCS-certified solar installers registered in the UK (MCS Certified), which makes choosing the right one genuinely difficult. This guide cuts through the noise and tells you what actually separates a good installer from an average one — and which national companies are worth your time.
Best solar panel installers UK 2026: at a glance
| Installer | Best for | Trustpilot | MCS Certified | Max Warranty | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar4Good | Customer service | 4.9 ⭐ | Yes | 25 years | 2020 |
| Project Solar | Long warranties | 4.5 ⭐ | Yes | Lifetime | 2011 |
| Glow Green | High-efficiency panels | 4.8 ⭐ | Yes | 30 years | 2011 |
| So Energy | Speed of installation | 4.4 ⭐ | Yes | 30 years | 2015 |
| Wickes Solar | Payment options | 4.6 ⭐ | Yes | 25 years | 2024 |
| UPS Solar | Transparent pricing | 4.9 ⭐ | Yes | 25 years | 2019 |
| Effective Home | Partner network | 4.5 ⭐ | Yes | 25 years | 2016 |
| Sunsave | Subscription payments | 4.7 ⭐ | Yes | 25 years | 2022 |
1. Solar4Good — best for customer service
Founded in 2020, Solar4Good is one of the UK’s newer national installers — but it’s quickly built a reputation that puts many longer-established companies to shame. With a 4.9-star Trustpilot rating and 92% five-star reviews (as of April 2026), its customer satisfaction scores are among the highest of any solar installer in the country.
Solar4Good installs around 1,500 systems per year and offers three customisable residential packages ranging from £5,500 for 10 panels to over £9,000 for 16 panels with battery storage. It works with JA Solar, Jinko, Trina Solar, Qcells, and Fox ESS, and promises a quote-to-installation turnaround of as little as two weeks. The company also includes a Price Match Guarantee.
Pros: Competitive pricing with Price Match Guarantee; rapid installation from quote; exceptional post-install support; no deposit required to hold promotional offers.
Cons: Newer company with a shorter track record; some complaints about cold-calling after initial enquiry.
2. Project Solar — best for long warranties
Project Solar is the UK’s largest solar installer by volume, having installed over 45,000 systems since 2011. Its headline offer is a lifetime warranty on solar panels and installations — the longest in the industry. Provided the system is properly installed and maintained, any defective module will be repaired, replaced, or refunded at the company’s discretion during its lifetime.
Project Solar installs panels from its own Evolution Max 500W range and SunPower, both of which sit at the top of independent panel rankings. According to a survey of solar panel owners cited by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB, April 2026), 97% of Project Solar customers said they would recommend the company, and 95% said their panels had met or exceeded expected cost savings.
Pros: Industry-leading lifetime warranty; 12+ years’ experience; installs two of the UK’s highest-rated panel brands; excellent communication reported by customers.
Cons: Some reviews mention pushy sales tactics; complaints about scaffolding left up for extended periods post-install.
3. Glow Green — best range of high-efficiency panels
Founded in 2011 as a boiler specialist, Glow Green has expanded into a full home energy provider. It now offers solar panels, battery storage, EV chargers, air conditioning, and heat pumps — often bundled into a single all-in-one package, which is rare among UK installers.
Glow Green’s solar panels carry warranties of up to 30 years, backed by a 5-year workmanship guarantee. Its product range includes Perlight, JA Solar, and Tesla Energy storage systems. With over 1,700 trained engineers across the UK, it can typically offer shorter lead times than some national rivals. Trustpilot rating: 4.8 stars from 84% five-star reviews (April 2026).
Pros: Bundled home energy packages; 30-year panel warranties; large engineer network; 10+ years in the industry.
Cons: Some complaints about last-minute installation cancellations and after-sales contact.
4. So Energy — best for speed of installation
If you want panels on your roof quickly, So Energy is one of the standout options. The MCS-accredited energy company promises a four-week turnaround from accepted quote to completed installation — faster than almost all national competitors. It also offers 0% finance over one or two years, plus longer-term payment plans from £75 per month covering panels, installation, monitoring, and maintenance.
So Energy provides a 30-year panel warranty and a 10-year warranty on batteries and inverters. It also offers ground-mounted and flat-roof systems. Trustpilot rating: 4.4 stars (April 2026) — note that many reviews relate to its energy tariff service rather than solar installation specifically.
Pros: Fastest installation turnaround (4 weeks); 0% finance available; excellent SEG export rate for existing customers; ground-mounted options.
Cons: Labour warranty only 5 years.
5. Wickes Solar — best payment options
Major home improvement retailer Wickes acquired a majority stake in Solar Fast in 2024 and rebranded it as Wickes Solar. The company offers clear, upfront pricing — 12 DMEGC panels plus battery for £8,950 including installation and scaffolding — and some of the most flexible finance terms available, including repayments over up to 168 months at 6.9% APR.
Wickes Solar averages around 50 days from initial enquiry to installation, and you’ll typically receive a call within 48 hours of requesting a quote. Trustpilot rating: 4.6 stars from over 2,300 reviews (April 2026).
Pros: Transparent, upfront pricing; excellent finance options; backed by an established national retailer; fast installation.
Cons: Reviews are mixed between Solar Fast (previous name) and Wickes Solar; some reports of customer service difficulty.
6. UPS Solar — best for transparent pricing
Founded in 2019, UPS Solar sets itself apart by publishing clear, itemised pricing for different system sizes and panel brands on its website — something most competitors still avoid. Customers can compare costs before even picking up the phone. UPS Solar also offers deposit-free installations (you pay only after the work is done) and a 10-year labour warranty.
Its panel range includes AIKO, DMEGC, Q CELLS, JA Solar, Jinko, and Eurener — many of which feature in independent top-panel rankings. The company holds MCS certification and is also a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). Trustpilot rating: 4.9 stars, 85% five-star reviews (April 2026).
Pros: No deposit until after installation; clear published pricing; 10-year labour warranty; high Trustpilot rating.
Cons: Relatively newer company; some complaints about slow delivery of MCS certificates post-install.
7. Effective Home — best for accreditations and partner network
Effective Home carries more industry accreditations than almost any other installer on this list. It is a Which? Trusted Trader, holds NICEIC electrical certification, is covered by the Home Insulation & Energy Systems Contractors Scheme (HIES), and participates in the Energy Performance Validation Scheme (EPVS). Its minimum panel warranty is 25 years.
It’s also partnered with Halifax and Lloyds Bank to offer £750 cashback for customers of those banks, and its systems are compatible with Hive smart home devices. Trustpilot rating: 4.5 stars, 78% five-star reviews (April 2026).
Pros: Exceptional accreditation breadth; bank partnerships with cashback offers; 25-year+ warranties; Hive smart home integration.
Cons: Some customers report difficulty contacting the company; occasional delays linked to sub-contractors.
8. Sunsave — best for subscription payments
Founded in 2022, Sunsave created the UK’s first solar subscription service — Sunsave Plus — and it remains the most compelling zero-upfront option in the market. You own your panels from day one, pay no deposit, and make monthly payments from £69 for up to 20 years. There’s no penalty for paying off your system early. Alternatively, Sunsave Standard lets you buy outright from £6,700 including battery.
All Sunsave systems include 25-year performance and product warranties on panels, plus 10-year warranties on batteries and inverters. Octopus Energy customers get priority access to Octopus’s market-leading Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs. Trustpilot rating: 4.7 stars, 90% five-star reviews (April 2026).
Pros: No upfront cost option; subscription includes maintenance and insurance; Octopus Energy SEG partnership; excellent reviews.
Cons: Octopus SEG only for existing Octopus customers; relatively short trading history.
What to look for in a solar panel installer
Rahi Vakani, co-founder of Solar4Good, offers this advice when choosing an installer:
- Always check for MCS accreditation — without it, you can’t access regulated Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments from Ofgem.
- Ask about public liability insurance — it must be in place for any legitimate installation.
- Read Trustpilot reviews — recent reviews, not just the star rating, tell you what post-install support is really like.
- Prefer established companies — a company trading for 5+ years has a track record you can verify.
- Cheapest isn’t best — a low quote may mean inferior panels, skipped steps, or poor after-sales care.
- Avoid cold callers — aggressive sales tactics are a red flag for poor practice.
- Trust your gut — this is someone accessing your home. Choose a company you feel comfortable with.
Why MCS certification matters
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the UK’s quality mark for small-scale renewable energy installations. According to MCS Certified, the scheme “sets, defines and maintains the Standards for low-carbon energy technology products, contractors and their installations.”
Using an MCS-certified installer is a legal requirement if you want to receive payments under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — the government-backed scheme that pays you for surplus electricity exported to the grid. Without MCS certification, your supplier is not obligated to offer you an SEG tariff.
You can verify any installer’s MCS status at mcscertified.com/find-an-installer. There are currently over 5,600 certified solar PV installers listed on the register (April 2026).
Other accreditations worth looking for:
- TrustMark — government-endorsed quality mark for tradespeople working in or around the home
- NICEIC — UK’s leading certification body for electrical installation contractors
- HIES — Home Insulation & Energy Systems Contractors Scheme, focused on consumer protection
- EPVS — Energy Performance Validation Scheme, guaranteeing the energy savings promised are documented and verified
National vs local solar installers: which is better?
Both have genuine advantages. Here’s how to think about the choice:
| National Installer | Local Installer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Often more competitive due to buying power | May be slightly higher, fewer bulk deals |
| Reviews | Large volume of Trustpilot reviews to assess | Fewer reviews, mostly Google |
| Local knowledge | Less familiar with regional quirks | Better knowledge of local planning rules and DNO requirements |
| Service | Can be impersonal with larger teams | More personal, often more responsive |
| Speed | Varies; some (e.g. So Energy) are very fast | Often more flexible on scheduling |
To find a local MCS-certified installer near you, use the MCS installer search tool and filter by region and technology type.
How to compare solar panel quotes
According to a survey of over 2,000 solar panel owners conducted by the Federation of Master Builders (2024), the most important factors when choosing an installer are: cost, then warranties, then reputation. Here’s how to evaluate each:
- Cost: Get at least three quotes. Labour is typically £300–£500 and is usually included in the total quote. Use quotes to negotiate.
- Warranty: Compare the labour warranty (workmanship), product warranty (panels), and performance warranty separately. Labour warranties vary enormously — from 5 years to lifetime.
- Reputation: Check recent Trustpilot reviews, not just the star average. Look at one-star reviews to understand where companies fall short.
- Panel brands: Ask which manufacturers they use and look them up. Better panels mean higher efficiency and fewer units needed.
- Time to installation: More than half of UK solar owners waited 1–3 months from contract to completion, according to FMB survey data (2024).
Monitor your solar generation at home
Once your panels are installed, a home energy monitor helps you track what you’re generating, consuming, and exporting to the grid in real time — which is especially useful for maximising your Smart Export Guarantee payments.
The SONOFF POW Ring Smart Power Meter (£29.91, 4.6 stars, 167 reviews on Amazon) is a popular option that supports up to 100A, includes an LCD display, and works with Alexa and the eWeLink app for remote monitoring. It’s a cost-effective way to keep on top of your system’s performance.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need MCS certification to get SEG payments?
Yes. The Smart Export Guarantee requires that your solar system was installed by an MCS-certified installer. Without this, energy suppliers are under no obligation to offer you an export tariff, so always check MCS status before signing any contract.
Can I install solar panels myself?
Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. DIY installation carries significant safety risks, likely voids warranties, and means your system won’t qualify for SEG payments. Professional installation ensures safety compliance, correct grid connection, and access to government schemes.
How long does solar panel installation take?
Most installations take 1–2 days on site once everything is booked in. However, the full process from signing a contract to completion — including site survey, scaffolding, and paperwork — typically takes 1–3 months, according to FMB survey data (2024). Some faster installers like So Energy aim for 4 weeks.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
In most cases, no. Solar panels on standard residential properties are classified as permitted development in England. Exceptions include listed buildings and properties in Conservation Areas. Always check with your local planning authority if you’re unsure.
What’s the difference between product and performance warranties?
A product warranty covers manufacturing defects. A performance warranty guarantees the panel will still produce at least a set percentage of its original output after a given period (commonly 80% after 25 years). A labour warranty covers the quality of the installation itself. Make sure you understand all three before signing.
Which UK solar installer has the best customer reviews?
As of April 2026, Solar4Good and UPS Solar both hold 4.9-star Trustpilot ratings — the highest of any national installer. Sunsave has the highest proportion of five-star reviews at 90%, making it the most consistently satisfied customer base among the companies reviewed here.
Can any electrician install solar panels?
No. Solar installation involves roof mounting, inverter wiring, and grid connection — all of which require specialist skills and certifications beyond standard electrical qualifications. Always use an MCS-certified installer.
Get free solar panel quotes
The best way to find the right installer for your property is to compare quotes from multiple MCS-certified companies. Get free, no-obligation quotes here and we’ll match you with trusted solar installers in your area.