Free Quotes from Vetted Local Installers
Answer five short questions and get matched with one vetted local installer for a free, no obligation quote.
The Process
Five short questions, around 60 seconds. No account to create, nothing to upload, no survey to book.
Your details go to a single vetted installer covering your Birmingham postcode. They are not sold on or passed to multiple companies.
The quote comes directly from the installer and is specific to your roof. There is no cost and no obligation to proceed.
Who You Are Matched With
Solar Panels Birmingham is an introduction service, not an installation company. Homeowners are connected with one local installer per city, selected against a fixed set of checks before any enquiry is passed on. The installation contract is between you and the installer.
The Cost
There is no single price for a solar installation. Cost depends on the size of the system, how difficult the roof is to access, whether panels sit on the roof or are integrated into it, and whether the roof covering needs work first.
Government figures give a starting point. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes the cost of every MCS certified installation in the UK. For domestic installations in the 2025/26 financial year:
Smaller systems cost more per kW because scaffolding, labour, certification and the grid application cost roughly the same whether six panels go up or sixteen.
The band most domestic installations fall into, covering roughly ten to twenty four panels depending on panel output.
Energy Saving Trust puts the same system at around £7,600, arrived at independently.
Costs are falling. The average domestic cost per kW dropped from £1,844 in 2024/25 to £1,772 in 2025/26.
The West Midlands is among the lower cost regions in England for solar installation, below the South East, East Midlands and South West, and around 10% below London.
These figures cover panels, inverter, installation and grid connection. They do not include battery storage, which Energy Saving Trust puts at £5,000 to £8,000 on top.
Cost figures from DESNZ Solar PV cost data, 2025/26 financial year, drawn from the MCS Installation Database. Average system size and battery costs from Energy Saving Trust. Your own quote will differ.
Before You Enquire
Birmingham is a city of Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and post war housing. Roofs here tend to be smaller and more overlooked than the detached properties in most solar advertising. Three questions come up more than any others.
Energy Saving Trust puts a 4.5 kW system at around twelve panels covering 20 to 30 square metres. A typical semi has room. A narrow terrace may not, in which case a smaller system still works, it simply generates less. There is no minimum size.
No. South facing gives the highest yield, but east or west facing roofs produce around 15 to 20% less, which is a reduction rather than a barrier. North facing roofs are not recommended.
On tighter streets this matters more than orientation. Chimneys, neighbouring properties and trees all cast shade at different times of day. Optimisers reduce the impact by letting each panel perform independently, so one shaded panel does not drag down the rest. The installer carries out a shade assessment as part of the quote.
One more thing worth knowing. Nearly 90% of domestic solar installations in the UK in 2025/26 went onto existing buildings rather than new builds. Solar is a retrofit technology, not something reserved for new estates.
The Return
For a 4.5 kW system without battery storage, the size Energy Saving Trust gives as typical for a UK home, here is how the annual benefit breaks down.
Around half the electricity generated is used directly in the home, roughly 1,913 kWh, replacing units that would otherwise cost 26.11p each.
The remaining 1,913 kWh goes back to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee, at an average tariff of 10.8p per kWh.
Bill savings and export income combined, for a 4.5 kW system.
Based on a 4.5 kW system producing around 4,500 kWh under standard test conditions, derated to roughly 3,825 kWh to reflect real world conditions. The import rate is taken from the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026. The export rate is the average Smart Export Guarantee tariff offered across the market, which ranges from around 3p to 25p per kWh depending on supplier. Your own savings will vary with your electricity rate, the export tariff you secure, your usage pattern and the sunlight at your location.
What Happens On The Day
The installer surveys the roof condition and tile arrangement, then sets up scaffolding suited to the property. A suburban bungalow needs less than a three storey terrace.
Selected tiles are lifted so hooks can be fixed into the rafters, then replaced with waterproof flashing. Rails go on, then the panels.
Panels connect to the inverter and the inverter to the property supply. Isolators and an Ofgem approved generation meter are fitted, and the installer coordinates grid connection with the local Distribution Network Operator.
Safety and performance testing, documentation and warranties handed over, and the system registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Reducing The Cost
There is no dedicated government grant for solar panels, and Energy Saving Trust says so plainly. What does exist is a VAT relief that applies to everyone, and two schemes that can reduce the cost for some households.
Domestic solar installations currently carry a zero rate of VAT, which is around 20% off compared with a standard rated installation. Applies to everyone, no eligibility test. See the gov.uk guidance.
Until 31 March 2027Households receiving qualifying benefits whose home has poor energy efficiency may be eligible for funding, which can include solar where the property and heating setup are suitable. The government has confirmed there will be no successor scheme. See the council guidance.
Closes 31 December 2026Support for lower income households in England to upgrade to cleaner, more efficient energy, including solar where suitable. Eligibility and available funding depend on your council. See the gov.uk guidance.
Before You Enquire
Yes. There is no charge for the quote and no obligation to proceed after receiving it.
One. Your details are passed to a single vetted local installer covering your postcode, who contacts you directly to arrange the quote. They are not distributed to a panel of companies competing for the job. Solar Panels Birmingham does not carry out installation work.
In the large majority of cases, no. Solar panels on houses are usually permitted development.
Permission may be needed if panels protrude more than 200mm from the roof or wall surface and extend above the highest part of the roof, excluding the chimney. Properties in conservation areas and listed buildings require prior consent. Flats and apartments may also need permission where panels would sit on shared property. Birmingham City Council is the authority to check with.
Energy Saving Trust puts a 4.5 kW system at around 20 to 30 square metres, using roughly twelve panels. Smaller roofs take smaller systems, which generate less but still work.
No. A south facing roof gives the highest annual yield, but east and west facing roofs produce around 15 to 20% less. Pitch and shading usually matter more than orientation, and the installer carries out a shade assessment as part of the quote.
For domestic properties the work is usually completed within a day or two. This covers mounting the panels, fitting the inverter and connecting the system to the property's electrical network.
Most enquiries are contacted within one working day.
In many cases yes, particularly where a hybrid inverter has been fitted, which is designed to support battery storage being added afterwards without replacing the inverter. Whether that suits your property is something the installer confirms as part of the quote.
They are passed to one local installer so they can prepare your quote. They are not sold on. ReachAI Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office under reference ZB828222. Full detail is in the privacy policy.
Around 60 seconds to complete. No cost, no obligation, and only one local installer will contact you.
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