Free solar panels

Solar panels being installed
Solar panels on a roof

Free solar panels for your home – save £176 on your electricity bills*

Compare providers of free solar panels in your area. It might sound too good to be true, but you really can get free solar panels and free electricity - there's no catch.

Companies install free solar panels because of a government scheme called the Feed-in Tariff , which means that they earn money for every unit of electricity the solar panels they install on your roof generate. The company earns money from the free solar panels on your roof and you get free electricity - it's a win-win situation.

Find providers in your area:
Cost Free
electricity		 Earn with
Feed-in tariff		 Free
installation		 Roof
direction		 Minimum roof size
Free Yes No Yes 55 degrees either side of due south 20m²
How big
is that?
Request info »
more info
Based in Yorkshire, A Shade Greener aims to make solar power accessible to everyone – whatever their budget. A Shade Greener has plenty of experience as an installer, having fitted free solar panels in over 5,000 homes in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire.
How long is the guarantee and lease? 25 years
Is it suitable for a flat roof? No
Is it suitable for listed buildings? No
Is it suitable for conservational and areas of natural beauty? No
Is there a free consultation and survey? Yes
Can I 'try before I buy'?
(This means you can choose to buy your solar panels later on.)		 No
Is there a yield guarantee?
(This means that there's a guarantee you'll get a certain amount of free electricity from your solar panels)		 Yes
Free Yes No Yes South facing, 45° either side of due south. 22m²
How big
is that?
Request info »
more info
*Installing free solar panels until 1st April 2012* The Green Home Company has been installing solar panels since 2009. With their own qualified team of surveyors and installers, The Green Home Company say they will deal with your property like they are installing panels on their own home.
How long is the guarantee and lease? 25 years
Is it suitable for a flat roof? No
Is it suitable for listed buildings? Yes, subject to planning consents
Is it suitable for conservational and areas of natural beauty? Yes, subject to planning consents
Is there a free consultation and survey? Yes
Can I 'try before I buy'?
(This means you can choose to buy your solar panels later on.)		 No, however you can buy out the panels at any time during the 25-year agreement.
Is there a yield guarantee?
(This means that there's a guarantee you'll get a certain amount of free electricity from your solar panels)		 No
Free Yes No Yes South facing, 45° either side of due South 25m²
How big
is that?
Request info »
more info
If your roof faces South, gets a lot of sun, and is at least 25m2 (so probably a semi detached rather than a terraced house) you are likely to be eligible for a free solar installation from Engensa. We are the UK’s fastest growing provider of home energy generation, including free solar energy installation and maintenance. With competitive prices and the highest customer satisfaction rating in the industry, 92% of Engensa’s customers would go out of their way to recommend Engensa to their friends or neighbours.
How long is the guarantee and lease? 25 years
Is it suitable for a flat roof? No
Is it suitable for listed buildings? No
Is it suitable for conservational and areas of natural beauty? No
Is there a free consultation and survey? Yes
Can I 'try before I buy'?
(This means you can choose to buy your solar panels later on.)		 Yes
Is there a yield guarantee?
(This means that there's a guarantee you'll get a certain amount of free electricity from your solar panels)		 No
Free Yes No Yes South East, South, South West 25m²
How big
is that?
Request info »
more info
As one of the largest and most accredited installers in the UK, My Energy Station are pleased to be able to offer both free and Purchased Solar panel systems, giving you unbiased advise as to what’s best for you. Having installed thousands of systems throughout the UK with our own fully trained and highly skilled installation teams you can be reassured of a quality service second to none.
How long is the guarantee and lease? 25 years
Is it suitable for a flat roof? No
Is it suitable for listed buildings? Subject to relevant planning approval
Is it suitable for conservational and areas of natural beauty? Subject to relevant planning approval
Is there a free consultation and survey? Yes
Can I 'try before I buy'?
(This means you can choose to buy your solar panels later on.)		 Yes
Is there a yield guarantee?
(This means that there's a guarantee you'll get a certain amount of free electricity from your solar panels)		 No

Should I go for free solar panels, or should I buy them outright?

Buy your own if:

Get free solar panels if:
  • You have £7000-£15000 available to invest.
  • You want to make a profit. Solar panels will give you a return on your money – they could well be a better place to invest than a savings account. With a Feed-in Tariff you could earn up to £677 a year for generating your own electricity and selling the excess you don't use back to the Grid. Over their 25-year lifetime, your solar panels could earn you £25,000* – more than double the average initial cost of £12,000.
  • You want to make long-term savings on your energy bills. Energy prices will go up over time, so the amount your solar panels save you will go up too.
  • You want to get the best rate on the Feed-in Tariff. It's been predicted that Feed-in Tariff rates could fall for systems installed after April 2012, so sign-up now to take advantage of the best rates.
  • You don't have a substantial amount of money to invest.
  • You're happy to just make savings on your electricity bill. You won't make any money from Feed-in Tariffs with these schemes, but you will save around £176 a year (or possibly more) without having to spend a penny.
  • You're worried about ongoing maintenance costs. Maintenance is included in most free solar schemes.
  • You want to make long-term savings on your energy bills. Energy prices will go up over time, so the amount your solar panels save you will go up too.
For more help on choosing between free and paid-for solar panels read our guide »

What are solar panels?

Solar panels are made of photovolataic (PV) cells, which turn sunlight into electricity. This electricity can then be fed into your home's mains electricity supply.

Is it sunny enough for them to work in the UK?

Yes. Solar panels don't need direct sunshine – they even work in cloudy or overcast weather.

Is my home suitable for solar panels?

The following questions will help you work out if your home could be suitable for solar panels:

  • Do you own your home?

    If you rent your home, you can't install solar panels (unless you negotiate this with your landlord). If your property is leasehold, you'll need to get permission from the freeholder.

  • Do you live in a flat?

    If you live in a basement or mid-floor flat, then solar probably won't to the right solution for you.

  • What direction does your roof face?

    South-facing roofs tend to be the best, but some schemes accept other roofs.

  • Is your roof in the shade?

    Heavily-shaded roofs aren't ideal.

  • How big is your roof?

    There are different solutions for different sized roofs, but the more space you have, the better.

  • Do you live in listed building, or in a conservation area?

    Regulations can sometimes pose a problem.

Remember, there are exceptions to every rule, so the best way to check if solar is right for you is to get in touch with the company in question. They'll talk you through your options and do a survey if necessary.

* Based on an average user, consuming 3300kWh of electricity a year, at a cost of £526. An average system with 12 solar panels will generate 2960kWhs of electricity per year (figure from HomeSun). The average household will use 37.5% of the electricity the panels generate. (Based on figures from the Suncities Monitoring Data Review, Kirklees Council, 2007, which found that households use between 25% and 50% of the electricity their solar panels generate.) The average household will use 1110kWh of electricity from their panels, meaning they buy 33.64% less electricity and make a saving of £176.93.