Considering the professional installation of solar panels for your home? Regardless of whether you want to benefit from lower energy bills or reduce your carbon footprint, installing solar panels is an effective way to generate clean, free, and renewable energy.
These solar panels use Photovoltaic (PV) technology to capture the sun’s rays and then convert this sunlight into electricity. So, if you want to join more than a million UK homes that have already benefitted from solar PV system installation (according to government data), it’s worth learning more about exactly how they’re fitted.
Fortunately, the eco-friendly energy solution experts at Zenith can help. Below, we explain the entire process for the installation of solar panels – from making the necessary planning permission checks all the way through to monitoring their performance post-installation.
What is the process for installing solar panels?
While the process of generating electricity via solar panels is generally well-known (the PV cells absorb sunlight to create electrical charges), the process for installing the solar panels isn’t. To help you learn more about the PV system installation process, our knowledgeable team have put together this step-by-step guide.
Check if you require planning permission
In many cases, planning permission isn’t required for the installation of solar panels and equipment on the roof or walls of residential buildings and land.
This is because these developments typically fall under something called ‘permitted development rights’ – a set of rights that allow homeowners to undertake certain works without applying to the local authority for planning permission.
However, it’s important to bear in mind that there are certain limits and conditions that must be met to ensure the homeowner can benefit from permitted development rights. For example, according to the planning application site, Planning Portal, when mounting solar equipment on a pitched roof, the panels should not be installed above the highest part of the roof (excluding the chimney).
While there are more limits and conditions that you should familiarise yourself with, there has been significant progress with making the installation of solar panels easier for both businesses and homeowners. This is thanks to new planning rules that have been recently introduced to help combat expensive planning delays.
These rule changes will allow homes with flat roofs to install solar panels without planning permission and mean that businesses will no longer need to abide by the previous rule of applying for planning permission for solar panels that generate more than one megawatt of electricity.
If you’re still unsure whether your proposed solar panel project will require planning permission, we recommend reading Part 14 (Renewable Energy) of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015I. Here, you can find everything you need to know about permitted development rights and solar panels
Alternatively, we suggest contacting the local authority for your area to discuss your plans and discover which limits and conditions are applicable to your solar panel installation project.
Property assessment or survey
Once you have a good understanding of which conditions and limitations the solar panel installation for your property must abide by, it’s vital that you get in touch with a professional solar panel installer, like Zenith Eco Solutions.
A solar PV system installer can carry out a comprehensive assessment of your roof and energy consumption. This will include an evaluation of the condition, orientation (to the sun), and incline of your roof to ensure it’s suitable for solar panels installation.
It will also take into account the amount of available roof space, potential shading issues, and the location of the property. As well as the roof, they’ll also take a look at your loft space to assess the rafters, electricity meter and the ideal location for the system’s battery and inverter, which is typically outside or in the garage.
These initial assessments can be conducted remotely (through photos or a video call) or in-person depending on the complexity of the project and will be used to determine the right solar panel size and layout to meet the homeowner’s needs.
At Zenith Eco Solutions, all our solar PV system proposals include a clear breakdown of how much carbon this type of energy-saving measure has stopped from entering the atmosphere. We also make this information easy to understand by putting into context of how many trees you’ve planted or the number of airmiles you’ve avoided.
Financing options
After getting the go-ahead from a professional solar panel system installation team, you can start to explore your financing options. Alongside purchasing the solar PV system outright, different companies offer various forms of financing, such as subscription models or solar loans.
It’s important to bear in mind, however, that each option will have its benefits and areas to consider. So, if you’re unsure which type of financing is most suitable for your project and financial circumstances, we recommend seeking independent financial advice.
Fortunately, Zenith Eco Solutions is determined to make energy-saving measures more affordable for customers across the UK with our affordable financing options. To learn more about how we can help design your bespoke solar PV system with our 0% finance options, simply give our friendly team a call today on 0800 054 8223.
System design
At this point, the detailed design process can begin. Based on the information the installer has gathered during the assessment phase, they’ll determine the exact size and number of solar panels as well as the degree of scaffolding required.
Their final design will also outline where the battery and inverter will be located, as well as exactly where the panels should be positioned on the roof. This solar panel system design should also be created with the electrical and cabling needs of the building as well as the homeowner’s goals and budget in mind.
Plus, on top of ensuring the project meets the homeowner’s individual needs, the designer should also make sure the system conforms to regulatory requirements. This is the stage where you should carefully review the design and ensure you’re completely happy with the proposal.
At Zenith Eco Solutions, we’ve created many bespoke solar PV system installations to suit the specific needs of our customers, so you can rest assured that your project will be in experienced hands. If you have any questions at this stage of the process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our dedicated customer support team.
Installation
Next, the actual installation stage of the solar panels installation process can commence. There are various important components within this stage including the lengthy process of site preparation, mounting the solar panels, and making the electrical connections.
In terms of site preparation, scaffolding will need to be erected typically a few days before the date of the solar panel installation. This will ensure the installers’ safety during panel mounting process and allow for easy access to the panels if anything isn’t working correctly.
Upon the day of installation, the solar panels will then be strategically positioned and mounted in their designated positions on the roof. Commonly, these panels are mounted to the roof using a system of anchors, locks, mounting rails, and clamps to ensure they’re fixed securely.
Finally, the solar panel installer will set up the battery and inverters used to convert the DC electricity generated by the solar panels into AC electricity. They’ll also connect the inverter to the electricity meter via cable.
These installation jobs typically take between one to three days, but this will naturally vary depending on the size and complexity of the project.
Testing
Once all the elements of the system are in place and fully connected, the installation team will run the necessary tests on the entire system to ensure it’s operating correctly and safely. All the electrical connections and fixtures will be checked, and the system will be compared against the final design.
After passing these crucial performance checks, the system will then be connected to the property’s local power grid via interconnection. This allows the homeowner to receive a set rate ‘tariff’ from certain energy suppliers for any excess electricity your solar panels generate and feedback into the grid.
Monitoring and maintenance
Now that your solar panels have been installed and are working as desired, you can relax and monitor their performance. Most solar PV system installers will offer their customers access to online monitoring tools to make this even easier. With minimal but regular maintenance, such as cleaning and inspection, your system should remain functional for up to 30 years.
How much does it cost to install solar panels in the UK?
While the price of installing solar panels naturally varies depending on the system size and electricity usage of the homeowner, according to Energy Saving Trust, the average cost of a 3.5kWp solar PV system in the UK is £7,000.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that other factors can impact this average solar PV system installation cost. For example, if you require a bespoke system design such as a challenging roof and electrics layout, it’s likely that the price of your system will increase due to the additional design and installation work.
While the initial outlay to cover the cost and installation of these systems can be expensive for many homeowners in the UK, solar panels can also save you hundreds of pounds every year on your utility bills.
Alongside saving you money, solar panels can also generate money, but how? If you’re signed up to the smart export guarantee (SEG) scheme, you could receive a set rate ‘tariff’ from certain energy suppliers for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity your solar panels generate, but you don’t use.
This means any energy you don’t use, could be easily turned into cash. Depending on the rate and energy supplier you’re with, you could generate hundreds of pounds per year. As the average lifespan for solar panels is between 25 to 30 years, these systems more than pay for themselves.
Despite the additional advantages that solar panels can offer, the Zenith Eco Solutions team understands that the initial outlay can still discourage many homeowners from installing solar panels in their home. While they may favour cleaner and greener energy, the price of the equipment to make this desire a reality simply isn’t feasible.
This is where our team can help. Our expert engineers and customer support team are dedicated to working with our customers to design a bespoke solar PV system that meets both their budget and energy generation requirements.
Not only can we help you to determine whether you could be eligible for an energy efficiency grant in your home (this may result in a free or subsidised solar PV grant), but we can also discuss affordable low-interest finance solutions.
If you’d like to learn more about our competitive pricing models and how much a solar PV system installation is likely to cost for your home, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today.
Bespoke solar PV design by Zenith Eco Solutions
At Zenith Eco Solutions, we provide bespoke solar PV system installation for both domestic and commercial properties, but why should you choose our team to help you generate clean and sustainable energy?
First and foremost, we only use high-quality solar PV system equipment from leading manufacturers such as Tesla Powerwall, Sigenergy, and Fox ESS, meaning you’ll also benefit from market leading warranties for your peace of mind.
We also ensure our customers always receive unparalleled assistance, both before and after installation, thanks to our knowledgeable customer support team and our use of monitoring portals that allow our team to view your system’s performance in real time.
Not only are we committed to using high-quality equipment for all our solar panel installation projects, but we’re also dedicated to improving them, an approach which helped us to win ‘Commended Regional Solar PV Installer and Contractor of the Year 2024’.
If you’d like to find out more about our solar PV system installation services or are keen to receive a quote, please feel free to give us a call on 0800 054 8223.
You can also get in touch with our professional team by sending your enquiry to info@zenithecosolutions.co.uk or by filling in and submitting our convenient online contact form.
