Solar Panels in London

✅ There are 21,221 solar panel installations in Somerset

✅ Government funding is available for solar panels in Somerset

✅ Solar panels in Somerset generate 3,023 kilowatt hours per year

‍

Solar panels are changing the energy landscape of London, with over 54,000 London homes now using solar panels to generate clean electricity (MCS Dashboard, 2024), and reduce their energy bills. 

They’re great for the planet too, helping cut carbon emission for the typical London home by roughly 0.54 tonnes every year — or, a little over flying from London to Barcelona and back again.

Ready to get a solar panel system? We can help you compare prices. Simply enter a few details about your home, and we’ll connect you with our trusted suppliers. They’ll reach out with obligation-free quotes for you to compare. 

For more information about solar panels in London, read on.

‍

Are Solar Panels in London Worth It?

‍

Yes, solar panels in London are absolutely worth it — you’ll cut your energy bills, generate your own clean electricity, shrink your carbon emissions, and become less reliant on the grid. 

As an example, a 3.5 kWp (kilowatt peak) solar panel system will save the typical three-bedroom London home around £608 per year (based on energy bill savings and Smart Export Guarantee profits). 

You’ll also reduce carbon emissions by 0.54 tonnes with this size system — great for helping the planet move away from fossil fuels, which is becoming more important as climate change accelerates.

What it won’t do is allow your home to go fully off-grid, but you’ll gain protection against spikes in electricity costs and reduce your grid reliance. A solar system will also allow you to sell excess electricity generated back to the grid via the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). 

It won’t be more than around £160 per year, but it’s still savings you’ll make on your annual energy bills. 

‍

Can You Actually Use Solar Panels in London?

‍

Solar panels are a good choice in London because despite the tall buildings blocking some of the sun, there’s more than enough sunlight to make a solar system worth it.

In fact, London gets around 4.4% more sunlight each year than the UK average. If you’re comparing London to Northern Scotland, the capital gets a whopping 20% more sunlight per year. 

It’s surprising then that the 10 areas of the UK with the lowest percentage of solar households are all in the capital. London has some catching up to do!

Throughout a year, your typical 3.5 kWp solar panel system will generate approximately 2,977 kWh of clean electricity in London. Keep in mind that the average London home with two or three bedrooms conumes 2,700 kWh each year, so solar panels will more than make a dent in that. 

However, this does require being at home throughout the day to benefit the most from the free electricity. Realistically, most people will only use around 50% of the electricity generated by the solar panels, leaving the excess energy unused. 

In this case, you might be wondering if a solar batter is worth it. If you’re planning on using the maximum amount of electricity your panels generate, then it is, because you’ll be able to store the energy generated during the day for use at night. 

‍

You’ll be able to use around 80% of the electricity your panels generate. 

Where a solar battery isn’t worth it is from a financial point of view, because they’re expensive — around £4,500. This’ll increase your pay-back time for your solar panel system to around 19 years (up from the average of 13 years without a solar battery). 

You’ll also have to purchase at least two batteries during your solar panels lifespan. Most solar panels last 25 years or more, and batteries typically last 12.5 years.

‍

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in London?

‍

Solar panels in London cost around £7,000 for a 3.5 kWp system. 

This could be even cheaper if you qualify for a government grant such as the ECO4 scheme, which gives eligible households money towards renewable energy technologies. It’s definitely worth seeing if you qualify. The price will differ depending on the number of solar panels you install — you can read our guide on how many solar panels you’ll need for more information. You can also check out our guide on solar panel costs to get a better idea of the prices involved. 

Can I Get a Grant for Solar Panels in London?

There are currently no solar panel grants available from any local councils in London, unfortunately. At the moment, councils are more focused on helping homes with urgent need for a new heating system, rather than installing solar panel systems. 

You might still be able to access funding for a solar panel system via the government’s ECO4 scheme. 

Also, everyone in London has access to the Solar Together scheme. Just search for solar together, and then the name of the borough you live in to find the relevant website. 

‍

Solar Panels Throughout London

There are already over 54,000 solar panel installations throughout London. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular London Boroughs and the number of solar panel systems installed. 

‍

All data comes from the MCS Installations Dashboard and is correct as of March 2024.

‍

Solar Panels in Kensington & Chelsea

‍

A solar panel system in Kensington & Chelsea will cost between £5000 and £11,000, depending on how much electricity a household uses. 

‍

There are just 302 solar panel installations in the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, which is around 0.45% of all households.  This could be because there are over 3,800 listed buildings in the borough, and that’s traditionally been a big barrier to installing solar panels. However, in 2022 the local council became the first in the UK to introduce a new planning order consenting for solar panels on most Grade II and most Grade II* listed buildings. Hopefully, this easing on restrictions will make it easier for residents of Kensington & Chelsea to get solar panels and start saving on their energy bills. 

‍

Solar Panels in Wandsworth

‍

Getting solar panels in Wandsworth will typically cost around £5,000–£6,000 for a one-bedroom flat, rising to £11,000 for a four or five-bedroom home.  Wandsworth has roughly 1,530 solar panel installations generating clean electricity for around 1.11% of households in the borough.  As in Richmond, residents of Wandsworth can apply for Solar Together Wandsworth, which is a great way to reduce some of the costs of a solar panel system. 

‍

Solar Panels in Richmond

‍

It costs between £5,000 and £11,000 to install a solar panel system in Richmond. Solar panels in Richmond currently stand at 2,046 installations, or 2.54% of all households. If you live in Richmond and are thinking of getting solar panels, one option you have is to look into Solar Together Richmond.  This group-buying scheme helps households gain access to solar panels at a reduced cost and can be a good option if the upfront price of a solar system is too much. 

‍

Solar Panels in Croydon

If you live in Croydon and want a solar panel system, you’ll pay between £5,000 and £11,000. Croydon is the London borough with the most solar panel systems at 4,435 MCS-certified installations and counting. That’s pretty impressive by London standards, but it still only accounts for 2.9% of households and there’s definitely room for improvement. 

‍

Conclusion

‍

That’s a brief overview of solar panels in London, and if you’re ready to start looking for your solar panel system, we can help you compare prices. Enter a few details about your home in our webform, and we’ll connect you to our expert installers.  They’ll be in touch with obligation-free solar panel quotes for you to compare. 

‍