Solar Panel FAQs

Yes — solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not direct sunshine. Whilst the UK isn't the sunniest country in the world, it receives enough solar irradiance to make solar panels a sound financial investment. Yorkshire receives approximately 1,100–1,200 peak sun hours per year. Our performance estimates are based on actual local irradiance data, so your projected savings are realistic for your location.

A rule of thumb for West Yorkshire is approximately 850–900 kWh of electricity per kWp of solar panels per year. So a 6kWp system generates around 5,100–5,400 kWh per year — roughly equivalent to the average UK household's annual electricity consumption. Actual output depends on roof orientation, pitch, shading and specific weather patterns in your location.

Modern solar panels are designed for a minimum 25-year service life, and many systems installed in the 1990s are still generating well today. Panel manufacturers provide a performance warranty guaranteeing at least 80% of rated output at 25 years, with degradation rates of typically 0.3–0.5% per year. The panels are solid-state devices with no moving parts, so there's very little to go wrong mechanically.

Standard grid-tied solar systems automatically shut down during a power cut for safety reasons — to prevent back-feeding electricity into the grid while engineers are working on it. If you want backup power during outages, you need a battery storage system with islanding capability, such as the Tesla Powerwall or GivEnergy AIO. We can design a system that keeps your essential circuits running during a grid outage.

No — when properly installed, solar panels protect rather than damage your roof. Our mounting systems use tried-and-tested roof hooks that fix through tiles to the rafters, with weatherproof seals. The panels themselves shelter the roof beneath from weather. We carry out a thorough structural and weatherproofing inspection before installation and won't fit panels on a roof that needs attention first.

For a typical 4kWp residential system (10 panels), expect to pay in the region of £5,000–£6,500 fully installed. A popular 6kWp system (15 panels) typically costs £7,000–£9,000. Larger systems of 10kWp+ start from around £11,000. Prices vary depending on roof complexity, chosen panel brand, inverter type and any additional components such as battery storage. All our quotes include full survey, design, supply, installation, electrical connection and commissioning.

Savings depend on your system size, your electricity consumption and how much of the solar generation you use directly (rather than exporting). Most Leeds Solar residential customers save between £800 and £1,600 per year. Adding battery storage increases savings by maximising the proportion of solar electricity used in the home. We provide a detailed, personalised savings projection with every quote.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the UK government's scheme that requires energy suppliers to pay you for electricity you export to the grid. MCS-certified solar installations (like all those installed by Leeds Solar) qualify for SEG payments. Rates currently range from around 4p to 15p per kWh depending on your supplier and tariff — with some specialist tariffs paying more. Your network operator must also install or upgrade your meter before you can receive SEG payments.

Most of our residential customers in Leeds achieve full payback in 6–9 years. This varies depending on the system cost, electricity price at the time of installation, how much electricity you use during the day and whether you add battery storage. At current electricity prices (around 24p/kWh), payback periods have shortened considerably compared to five years ago. After payback, you're effectively generating free electricity for the remaining 15+ years of the panel warranty.

Solar panel installations for residential properties in the UK are currently zero-rated for VAT — meaning you pay no VAT on the supply and installation of solar panels, battery storage and EV chargers when installed as part of a solar system. This represents a significant saving compared to most other home improvements. Commercial installations are subject to standard 20% VAT.

In most cases, no. Solar panels on domestic roofs are covered by permitted development rights in England, meaning no planning permission is required. Exceptions include: listed buildings (which always require listed building consent), properties in designated conservation areas where panels would be visible from a highway, and properties subject to a restrictive covenant. Leeds Solar checks your planning status during the survey and advises on any requirements.

Most residential installations are completed in a single day. Larger systems or those requiring scaffolding may take two days. Battery storage adds approximately half a day. From the date you accept your quote, we typically aim to complete installation within 4–8 weeks, depending on our installation diary and any scaffolding requirements.

After installation we commission the system, register your MCS installation certificate, provide you with all documentation and warranties, and show you how to use your monitoring app. We also notify your DNO (Distribution Network Operator) — usually Northern Powergrid in West Yorkshire — as required. You then apply to your energy supplier for SEG payments using your MCS certificate number.

Yes — you should notify your buildings insurer that you have had solar panels installed. Most standard home insurance policies automatically cover solar panels as a permanent fixture, but it's important to confirm this with your insurer and update your declared property value if necessary. Some specialist insurers offer dedicated solar panel insurance for systems with high-value equipment.

Yes — Leeds Solar installs throughout West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. Our installation teams cover Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Harrogate, Selby, Ripon and all surrounding towns and villages. If you're unsure whether we cover your postcode, call us on 0330 223 7664 and we'll confirm.

Battery storage significantly increases the value you get from your solar panels by storing surplus daytime generation for use in the evening and overnight. Whether it's financially worthwhile depends on your usage pattern — if you're at home during the day and use most of your solar generation directly, a battery will add less value than for a household that is out during peak generation hours. We model the financial case for battery storage as part of every quote.

We install a range of battery systems including the Tesla Powerwall 3, GivEnergy AIO and modular systems, and Huawei LUNA2000. Each has different characteristics in terms of capacity, power output, backup capability and cost. We'll recommend the most suitable system for your home and solar installation during the survey.

Yes — battery storage can be added to most existing solar PV systems as a retrofit. We assess compatibility with your existing inverter and may recommend upgrading to a hybrid inverter if your current inverter doesn't support battery integration. Contact us for a battery retrofit survey and quote.

Yes — Leeds Solar is a fully accredited MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) installer. MCS accreditation is required for your installation to qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee and to be covered under MCS quality standards. All our installations are registered on the MCS database and you receive an MCS installation certificate upon completion.

Yes — Leeds Solar is an OZEV-approved installer, which is required to install home EV chargers under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS). Our EV charger engineers are fully qualified and our installations meet all OZEV requirements.

The easiest way is to complete our online quote form at leedssolar.co.uk/solar-quote. You can also call us on 0330 223 7664 or email info@leedssolar.co.uk. All quotes start with a free, no-obligation survey of your property — we'll discuss your requirements, inspect your roof and energy setup, and present you with a detailed written proposal.