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Solar panels turn daylight into electricity. An inverter converts that electricity so your home can use it. Anything you don't use can be stored in a battery or exported to the grid. Panels work in daylight, not just direct sun, so they generate all year in the UK.

For most homes with a suitable roof, yes. Panels generate the most from spring to autumn, but still produce power in winter. Our guide to whether solar panels work in winter explains how output changes through the year.

No. They work on daylight, so they still generate on cloudy days, just less than in bright sun.

Around 1.7 million UK households have solar panels, about 6% of homes, according to government data. Installations are rising quickly.

There isn't one best panel for every home, but the best panels have three things in common: high efficiency, strong product and performance warranties, and a manufacturer with a long track record. We mainly fit Trina, DMEGC and Aiko panels, which meet all three. On a smaller roof, higher-efficiency panels such as Aiko help you fit more power into the space. We'll recommend the right panel for your roof and budget at survey.

Very few. Most panels sold in the UK are made overseas by large specialist manufacturers. What matters most is the manufacturer's track record and warranty, and that your installer is MCS-certified.

In-roof panels sit in the roof in place of tiles, rather than on top of them. They look neater and suit new builds or homes having the roof replaced.

Plug-in solar kits are small panels, often fitted to a balcony or wall, that plug into a normal socket. They became legal in Great Britain on 27 August 2026, with output capped at 800W. They suit flats and renters. A roof-mounted MCS system produces far more electricity and qualifies for export payments.

Most houses are. South-facing roofs produce the most, but east and west-facing roofs work well too, and many systems split panels across both. Our most common system is 10 panels, which needs roughly 18 to 20 square metres of unshaded roof. At survey we check the direction of the roof, shading from trees or chimneys, the roof's condition, your fuse board, and where the inverter and battery will go. If your home isn't suitable, we'll tell you.

Around 30 to 40 degrees, facing south, gives the highest output. East and west-facing roofs still work well. We can also fit panels on flat roofs using angled frames.

Usually not. In England, panels on most homes count as permitted development, as long as they don't stick out more than 200mm from the roof and don't sit above the highest part of the roof. Listed buildings, conservation areas, flats and some new-build estates need extra checks, which we'll flag at survey.

A typical home solar panel is about 1.7m tall and 1.1m wide, and weighs around 20 to 25kg. Our most common system is 10 panels, roughly 4 to 4.5kW, which takes up about 18 to 20 square metres of roof. Bigger homes, or homes with an electric car or heat pump, often have 12 to 16 panels.

On a sunny day, a typical 10-panel system can produce more electricity than a home uses during daylight. With a 5 to 10kWh battery, the spare power keeps the house running into the evening, so in summer many homes buy very little electricity from the grid. In winter, output is much lower and you'll still need the grid, but a battery can charge on a cheap overnight tariff to keep costs down.

Not directly. Solar panels make electricity, which can help run a heat pump or heat your hot water through a diverter. Most heating demand falls in winter, when solar output is lowest.

Often, yes. Depending on your inverter, we may add panels to your current system or fit a second system alongside it. Read our guide: Can I add a battery to my existing solar panels?

Yes. Some homes have two systems, for example on two roofs or after an extension. Each needs to be designed and registered properly, and your network operator needs to be told.

No. In Great Britain, solar panels for homes are currently zero-rated (0% VAT), and so are batteries, whether fitted with new panels or added to an existing system. The 0% rate covers the equipment and the installation, and runs until 31 March 2027. After that, it's expected to go back up to 5% unless the government extends it, so if you're planning solar or a battery, it's worth installing before then.

Yes. Under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), energy suppliers pay you for each unit of electricity you send to the grid. Rates vary a lot between suppliers and tariffs, so it's worth comparing them. You need an MCS certificate to apply, which we provide with every installation. With a battery, most households use more of their own solar power instead of exporting it, which usually saves more than export payments earn.

It depends on your goal. To cut bills, insulation is often the best first step. Heat pumps reduce heating costs, and solar thermal heats water. We can advise on what suits your home.

The government has confirmed that, under the Future Homes Standard, the vast majority of new homes in England will need renewable electricity generation, which in most cases means solar panels.

Most of our home installations take one to two days. After your survey and system design, our own team puts up scaffolding, fixes mounting rails to the roof rafters and fits the panels. An electrician then installs the inverter and any battery, connects everything to your consumer unit and tests the system. Before we leave, we show you the monitoring app. We then register the system with MCS, notify your network operator, and send you your certificates and warranty documents.

Your installer connects the inverter to your home's consumer unit and notifies your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO), the company that runs the local electricity network. Smaller systems can be connected first and notified afterwards. Larger systems, or homes adding bigger batteries, may need the DNO's approval before installation, which can take a few weeks. We handle all the paperwork, including the DNO notification and your MCS certificate.

The system must be earthed and protected to UK wiring regulations. As NICEIC-registered electricians, we include this in every installation.

No, they generate without it. Wi-Fi is only needed for the app that shows how much power you're making and using.

Systems have isolator switches on both the panel and mains side. Isolation should only be done by a qualified person, so call us if you think there's a problem.

The panels are silent. Inverters and batteries can make a quiet hum or fan noise, so we position them carefully, usually in a loft, garage or utility area.

Not on their own. Standard grid-connected systems switch off automatically in a power cut, so they don't feed electricity into the grid while engineers are working on it. To keep power on, you need a battery with a backup (EPS) function, wired to supply your essential circuits, such as lights, the fridge, Wi-Fi and heating controls. We set this up with Fox ESS and Sigenergy systems. Tell us at survey if backup matters to you, as it changes how the system is wired.

Yes. Panels you own are normally treated as part of the property and pass to the buyer. Keep your MCS certificate and warranty documents to hand over.

Yes. Panels last 25 years or more and generate far more energy than it takes to make them. At the end of their life, they're recyclable under UK electrical waste rules.

Check your paperwork for an MCS certificate, which names the installer. If you can't find it, MCS may be able to help. Need someone to look after your system? Ask us.

If an MCS-certified installer fitted them, the system is registered with MCS and you'll have a certificate. You need it for export payments and when you sell your home.

Most UK homes need 5 to 10kWh, and that's the size we fit most often alongside a 10-panel system. It's usually enough to store spare daytime solar and run the house through the evening, when electricity use peaks. Homes with an electric car, a heat pump or a cheap overnight tariff often benefit from 15kWh or more. See our full guide: What size solar battery do I need?

Usually, yes, without replacing your panels. We check your inverter and system at survey and recommend the best option. Read more: Can I add a battery to my existing solar panels?

Yes. On a time-of-use tariff, overnight electricity can cost a fraction of the daytime rate. The battery charges cheaply overnight and powers your home through the day and evening. If you add solar panels later, the same battery can store their spare power too.

We mainly fit Fox ESS, Sigenergy and Tesla Powerwall. Fox ESS and Sigenergy are modular, so you can add capacity later. We've completed the Fox ESS installer programme.

Only if it has a backup (EPS) function and is wired for it. Most backup systems power a set of essential circuits, such as lights, the fridge, Wi-Fi and heating controls, rather than the whole house. The switchover can take a moment, so some devices may restart. We plan the backup circuits with you at survey.

In Great Britain, home batteries are currently 0% VAT, whether fitted with new solar panels or added to an existing system. The 0% rate runs until 31 March 2027.

Most home batteries come with a manufacturer warranty of around 10 years, and are designed to keep working well beyond that, with gradually reducing capacity.

Usually in a garage, utility room, loft or on an outside wall, depending on the model. We find the safest, most practical spot at survey.

Yes, when properly installed. The batteries we fit have built-in safety and monitoring systems, and we install them to manufacturer and UK wiring standards.

Very little. The app shows how your battery is performing, and the system updates itself. We're here if anything needs checking.

Adding a battery to an existing system usually takes a day.

Most homes built from the 1920s onwards have two layers of wall with a gap (cavity) between them. Cavity wall insulation fills that gap to stop heat escaping, making your home warmer and cheaper to heat. Find out more about our cavity wall insulation service.

Most homes with unfilled cavity walls are, but we check carefully first. We drill a small hole and inspect the cavity with a borescope camera to check its width, its condition and whether it's already filled. We also check the brickwork, pointing and gutters, and how exposed your home is to wind-driven rain. Homes with damp, damaged walls, very narrow cavities, or timber or steel frames may not be suitable, and we'll tell you honestly if yours isn't.

If your brickwork shows only the long sides of the bricks in a regular pattern, you probably have cavity walls. Our free survey confirms it, and checks whether the cavity is already filled.

Not when it's installed in a suitable home and done properly. Problems usually come from insulating exposed or poorly maintained walls, leaving gaps, or rubble bridging the cavity. That's why we check the cavity, the walls and your home's exposure before quoting, choose the right material, and back every installation with a 25-year CIGA guarantee. Read our full guide: Can cavity wall insulation cause damp?

We install both EPS bead and blown mineral fibre, and recommend the right material for your property at survey.

Yes. Every cavity wall installation we carry out comes with a 25-year guarantee from CIGA, now called the Installation Assurance Authority (IAA). The guarantee is independent of us, so it still protects you if anything goes wrong with the insulation. We apply for pre-approval before installing, which takes 2 to 5 days, and you receive the guarantee certificate once the work is complete. Keep it with your house documents, as it passes to future owners.

Most homes are done within a day. We drill small holes in the mortar, inject the insulation, then fill and colour-match the holes.

Only just. The holes are drilled in the mortar joints and filled with matching mortar, so they're hard to spot once finished.

We apply for pre-approval as part of the guarantee process, which takes 2 to 5 days. Once it's approved, we book in your installation.

Yes. If existing insulation has failed, got wet or is causing damp, we offer cavity wall extraction. We remove the old material through holes in the outside wall using specialist equipment, then inspect the empty cavity. Once the wall is sound and dry, we can refill it with a suitable modern material if your home is suitable.

We don't currently offer grant-funded cavity wall insulation for homeowners. We do deliver funded retrofit for housing associations and councils through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. This isn't an application route for homeowners.

Heat rises, and an uninsulated loft lets a lot of it escape through the roof. Loft insulation is one of the simplest ways to keep your home warmer and cut heating bills. Find out more about our loft and roof insulation service.

The recommended depth is 270mm of mineral wool, usually laid in two layers: one between the joists and one across them. Many older homes have only 100mm or less, so topping up makes a real difference. To check yours, measure the depth in a few places. If you can see the tops of the joists, there isn't enough.

Yes. If your insulation is thin, squashed or patchy, we top it up to the recommended depth rather than starting again, unless the old material needs removing.

Yes. Boards should never be laid straight onto insulation, because squashing it stops it working. Instead, we fit raised loft legs that lift the boards above the full 270mm depth, so you keep a storage area with full insulation underneath.

Most lofts are done in a few hours to a day, depending on size and access.

We need clear access to the loft floor. If your loft is full, it's best to clear it before installation day. We'll talk you through what's needed when we book.

Not if it's installed properly. Air needs to move through the loft, so we keep the eaves clear, add ventilation where needed and never block existing vents. We also insulate the loft hatch, and lag water tanks and pipes, which get colder once the loft is insulated and could otherwise freeze.

Yes. We insulate room-in-roof spaces and flat roofs as well as standard lofts. We'll recommend the right approach for your roof at survey.

We don't currently offer grant-funded loft insulation for homeowners. We do deliver funded retrofit for housing associations and councils through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund.

We work across London, the South East and the East of England, including Essex, Kent, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Our base is in Harold Wood, Essex.

We aim to survey within 48 hours of your enquiry.

Installation usually takes place within 14 days of you accepting your quote. For cavity wall insulation, allow 2 to 5 extra days for pre-approval.

Yes. Around 90% of our work is carried out by our own installation teams. When we're busy, we use a small network of trusted subcontractors who we've worked with for years.

In most cases, yes. Your quote sets out the deposit and payment terms clearly before you commit.

All products come with manufacturer warranties. Insurance-backed guarantees are available if agreed before installation. Warranty lengths vary by product, and cavity wall insulation comes with a 25-year CIGA guarantee. Your quote lists exactly what's covered.

We're MCS-certified for solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps, TrustMark registered, NICEIC registered, IAA (formerly CIGA) registered, and PAS 2030/2035 compliant.

We don't currently offer customer finance.

Eco Systems Group was established in 2012, and our teams have installed more than 15,000 insulation and renewable energy measures.

Call us on 0203 411 4885 or request a free quote. We'll arrange a free survey and give you a clear, no-obligation quote. See how it works.

Yes. Around half of our work is social housing retrofit, delivered directly for housing associations and councils, and as a subcontractor to Tier 1 contractors. See our social housing retrofit page.

Yes. We deliver insulation and renewable measures to the standards required for Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund work, including PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 compliance, MCS certification and TrustMark registration.

No. The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund is for social landlords, not individual homeowners. Homeowners can still get a free survey and quote for solar panels, batteries and insulation.

Cavity wall, loft, room-in-roof, flat roof, external and internal wall insulation, solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps, plus retrofit assessment and coordination.

We hold Constructionline Gold, alongside PAS 2030/2035, MCS, TrustMark, NICEIC and IAA accreditations. Contact us for our capability pack.