Solar Panel Installation
in Hertfordshire & North London
Local, MCS-certified solar panel installers based in St Albans. Survey, design, fit and commissioning by our own directly-employed engineers — not subcontractors hired in for the day.
Solar panel installation: the quick answer
Solar panel installation usually takes one to two days on the roof, and a typical 5–6kW system in Hertfordshire costs around £7,500–£11,000 with 0% VAT (until 31 March 2027). SOLA UK is a local, MCS-certified installer in St Albans covering Hertfordshire, North London and the Buckinghamshire fringe, with 700+ installs completed by our own directly-employed engineers. Free survey on 0800 470 0922.
Solar panel installation, done locally — and done properly
We think "who installs it" matters as much as "what gets installed". A lot of national brands and lead-generation sites sell you a system, then send whichever local crew happens to be free. We survey, design, fit and commission every job ourselves, so the person who quotes your roof is the same team that stands behind the warranty afterwards.
If you have searched "solar panel installers near me" and want a real Hertfordshire installer you can phone, visit and check, you are in the right place. We will tell you honestly whether your roof is a good candidate — and if it is not, we will tell you that too. Prefer a wider overview first? See our residential solar service and our Hertfordshire solar panels hub.
Our solar panel installation process, step by step
Nothing happens on your roof until the design and the grid paperwork are sorted.
Free home survey
We visit, measure your roof, check orientation, shading, rafter condition and your consumer unit, and look at your actual electricity usage. No high-pressure sales — just an honest assessment.
Bespoke system design
We design a system sized to your home and budget, modelled on roughly 1,450 sun hours a year for Hertfordshire, with a clear written quote showing expected generation and savings.
DNO / G99 application
Before install, we apply to your Distribution Network Operator (UK Power Networks across most of Herts and North London) for permission to connect. Larger or battery-heavy systems may need formal G99 approval.
Scaffolding
Safe access goes up a day or two before the install.
Install day
Our directly-employed engineers fit the mounting, the Aiko 485W panels, the inverter, and pigeon-proofing where needed. Most roofs are completed in one to two days.
Battery & EV add-ons
If you are adding storage or a charger, we fit your SigEnergy or Tesla Powerwall battery and any OZEV-grade EV charge point at the same time.
Commissioning & MCS
We test the full system, hand over your MCS certificate, and walk you through the monitoring app.
SEG registration
We give you everything you need to register for a Smart Export Guarantee tariff and start getting paid for the energy you export.
What solar panel installation costs in Hertfordshire
Typical fully-installed guide prices including 0% VAT, scaffolding and commissioning. Your exact price depends on roof complexity and whether you add a battery.
| System size | Install cost (0% VAT) | Est. annual saving |
|---|---|---|
| 3kW (~6–7 panels) | £5,000–£7,000 | ~£450–£650 |
| 4kW (~8–9 panels) | £6,500–£8,500 | ~£600–£850 |
| 5–6kW (most popular) | £7,500–£11,000 | ~£750–£1,100 |
| 8kW (~16–18 panels) | £11,000–£14,500 | ~£1,000–£1,500 |
| 10kW (~20–22 panels) | £13,500–£18,000 | ~£1,200–£1,900 |
Generation and saving figures assume roughly 1,450 sun hours a year and a mix of self-use and export — your real numbers depend on your tariff and how much energy you use in daylight. Adding a battery typically adds £3,500–£6,000 but lets you store cheap or self-generated power for evening use. Try our ROI calculator for a figure tuned to your own bills.
Why choose a local MCS installer over a national brand
The biggest decision is not really panel brand — it is who fits and stands behind the system.
Directly-employed engineers. Our own teams do the work. There is no subcontracting chain where accountability gets lost. If something needs adjusting in year three, we come back — it is our name on the certificate.
Local knowledge. We know Hertfordshire roofs, the local UK Power Networks connection process, and which conservation-area and listed-building rules apply in places like St Albans, Harpenden and the older parts of North London. That means fewer surprises.
Real accreditation, not just logos. We are MCS Certified, RECC-registered, TrustMark-approved and OZEV-authorised for EV chargers. MCS certification is what makes you eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee — it is not optional if you want to be paid for export.
Proper cover and warranties. We carry full public liability insurance, and your installation is backed by manufacturer warranties on the panels and battery plus our own workmanship guarantee. Always get warranty terms in writing — from us and from anyone you compare us with.
Typical systems we install
Illustrative configurations by property type, using the kit we trust day in, day out: Aiko 485W panels with SigEnergy or Tesla Powerwall batteries. We size every system to your actual usage at survey.
| Property type | Typical system | Battery |
|---|---|---|
| 2–3 bed terraced | 3–4kW, 7–9× Aiko 485W | Optional / battery-ready inverter |
| 3–4 bed semi | 4–5kW, 9–12× Aiko 485W | SigEnergy or Tesla Powerwall |
| 4–5 bed detached | 5–6kW, 12–14× Aiko 485W | SigEnergy or Tesla Powerwall |
| Large / executive home | 8–10kW+, 16–22× Aiko 485W | Tesla Powerwall + EV charger |
Solar panel installers near you
We install across Hertfordshire, North London and the Buckinghamshire fringe from our St Albans base, with a dedicated local page for each area. If your town is on this list we can usually survey within days.
Solar Panel Installation FAQs
How long does a solar panel installation take?
Most domestic installations in Hertfordshire are completed on the roof in one to two days. Scaffolding goes up a day or two beforehand and comes down within a few days of commissioning. The bigger variable is the grid (DNO) approval before install — smaller systems are often a quick notification, while larger or battery-heavy systems can need formal G99 approval that takes a few weeks. We handle all of that paperwork for you.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
For most homes, no. Domestic roof-mounted solar usually falls under permitted development, so no planning application is needed. The main exceptions are listed buildings and properties in conservation areas, which still need permission. Parts of St Albans, Harpenden and older North London streets fall into these categories, and we check this for you at survey stage so there are no surprises.
Is it really 0% VAT on solar panels?
Yes — for now. Domestic solar panel installations in Great Britain currently qualify for 0% VAT, which applies to the panels, battery storage and the labour. This zero rate runs until 31 March 2027, after which it is due to revert to 5% (not the standard 20%). All the guide prices we quote already include 0% VAT, so installing sooner locks in the saving.
Do you cover my town?
We cover Hertfordshire, North London and the Buckinghamshire fringe from our St Albans base — including St Albans, Harpenden, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Berkhamsted, Barnet, Enfield and more. We have 35 dedicated local pages. If you do not see your town, call 0800 470 0922 — we very likely still install in your area.
What panels and batteries do you fit?
As standard we install Aiko 485W panels — high-efficiency modules that suit typical Hertfordshire roofs well. For storage we fit SigEnergy and Tesla Powerwall batteries, depending on which best matches your usage, budget and any time-of-use tariff. We size every system to your actual electricity use and roof space, not to sell you the biggest array.
How much can I earn from exporting solar energy?
Energy you do not use is exported to the grid and paid for under a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff, which you can join because your install is MCS-certified. As of 2026, competitive fixed SEG rates are commonly around 12–15p per kWh, with some time-of-use tariffs paying more at peak — rates change often, so confirm the latest with suppliers when you switch. The best return usually comes from using your own solar (and a battery) directly, then exporting the surplus.
Who actually does the installation — your team or subcontractors?
Our own directly-employed engineers carry out every installation. There is no subcontracting chain where accountability gets lost: the team that surveys and quotes your roof is the team that fits the system and stands behind the workmanship guarantee afterwards.
Ready for solar panel installation?
Get your free quote today
Join 700+ local homeowners already saving with Sola UK. A free, no-obligation survey from a real Hertfordshire installer — no subcontractors, no pressure.