Solar panels & battery FAQs

Most homes are a great fit for solar.

To install, we usually need:

• A home you own
• A pitched roof in good condition
• Space for at least 2 panels
• A suitable electrical setup

We’ll confirm everything during your remote survey - so there’s no guesswork.

Usually, no.

Most homes fall under permitted development rights.

You may need permission if:

• You live in a listed building
• You’re in a conservation area

We’ll help you check if anything applies.

Yes - we take care of everything end to end:

• Solar panels
• Battery storage
• System design and installation
• Monitoring and setup

All managed by Octopus from start to switch-on.

Yes - even when it’s cloudy.

Solar panels don’t need sunshine, just daylight. They’ll still generate energy year-round, just more in summer than winter.

Nope. South-facing is ideal, but east and west-facing roofs still work really well.

We won’t be able to install solar panels on a roof that needs repair. We recommend that repairs are completed before progressing with a solar quote.

No - you need to own the property.

If you’re in a top-floor flat, you may also need freeholder permission.

Absolutely. You can power your electric car with your own solar energy - one of the cheapest ways to drive.

Please note: this diagram does not reflect a true installation, as a battery can only be installed outside of the home.

1. A solar panel’s photovoltaic (PV) cells convert the particles in sunlight into a direct electrical current (DC). This current travels down through the cables, into your home.
2. The inverter converts this direct current (DC) into an alternating current (AC). This electricity can then be used straight away to power lights & sockets around the home.
3. Once the house has all the power it needs, excess energy can be stored in the battery for use when the sun isn’t shining. If you don’t have a battery, this electricity travels directly to the smart meter.
4. From the electricity meter, any energy that hasn’t been used or stored can be sent back to the grid. Here the smart meter will record how much energy has been exported so that you can be paid for it later.
5. All of the clean, green energy you generated but didn’t use is distributed to other homes in the area.
   
   Find out how this works on a bigger scale here.

A battery stores excess solar energy so you can use it later - usually in the evening when electricity is more expensive.

Instead of exporting everything, you keep more of your own energy.

A battery is a great fit if you want to:

• Use more of your own solar energy
• Reduce electricity bills further
• Make the most of smart tariffs
• Shift energy use into cheaper times

We size batteries based on your actual usage - not guesswork.

Battery size depends on your home and usage.

Typical options include:

• 5-10kWh systems for most homes
• Larger systems for higher usage households
• Modular options that can be expanded later

We’ll recommend the right fit for you.

Yes.

A standalone battery lets you:

• Charge from the grid when prices are low
• Use stored energy when prices are high
• Lower your bills without installing solar

Yes - in most cases.

You can:

• Start with solar only
• Add a battery later
• Upgrade storage if your needs change

We’ll check compatibility before any upgrade.

Our most popular system (12 panels + 10kWh battery) costs around £10,615 (April 2026 pricing).

Smaller systems start from £6,163.

Your exact price depends on your home, roof, and energy use - we’ll give you a tailored quote after a quick survey.

At present, our prices start at £3,447 for a smart 5kWh battery, £4,836 for a smart 10kWh battery and £7,499 for a 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall 3 battery

Yes, we offer customers buying more than one of our LCT products discounts! This doesn’t apply to solar & battery which is considered one product. Talk to our team to find out more.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a solar system can pay back its cost in 9–13 years, depending on where you live and how much time you spend at home.

Payback periods are affected by factors such as your household electricity use, your roof size and orientation, and whether your system includes a battery.

After a free consultation, our solar specialists can provide a tailored estimate of your potential savings and payback period based on your home and system design.

This varies depending on your home size, solar array & battery size as well as the kind of items you have at home (for example, electric heating). Once you’ve completed your remote home survey, we’ll send you a solar system design and quote where we’ll give you estimated savings for your home.

As a general guide, we estimate that when using a smart export tariff such as Outgoing Octopus or IO Flux, customers can save 85% on their electricity bill per year.

If you’d like to read about savings in more detail, head to our savings page.

Yes! Right now there’s a few important financial offers available.

In the UK, there is a government relief of 0% VAT rate that applies to the installation of solar panels and battery storage until 31 March 2027. This initiative significantly reduces upfront costs, saving roughly £2,850 on a typical 4kW system. From April 2027, the rate is expected to revert to 5%.*

Do you have a mortgage? Some of the UK’s biggest banks are offering cashback (Up to £1000) or interest free loans to their customers who are installing solar or battery, check them out here.

If you’d prefer to spread the cost of your solar installation we can connect you with DivideBuy, who offer finance options over 2 or 3 years at a fixed interest rate of 4.9% APR - or over 5, 7 or 10 years at 9.9% APR. All loans are subject to eligibility and terms.

To find out roughly how much that will be for you each month, explore costs with our solar explorer.

Representative example: 9.9% APR over 10 years

The cash price of the goods is £12,000.00. The total amount of credit is £12,000.00. The total amount repayable is £18,499.16, which includes £6,499.16 in interest at 9.9% APR fixed over the loan term. The repayments comprise the first instalment of £100.00 (with no interest charged), followed by 118 monthly payments of £154.61 and a final payment of £155.18 at a representative 9.9% APR.

Finance provided by Zopa Bank Limited (trading as DivideBuy), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and PRA (FRN 800542).

Octopus Energy Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a credit broker, not a lender (FRN 1033722).

Credit subject to status, UK residents 18+. Missed payments may affect your credit score.

Once you’ve submitted your solar application on our website, one of our solar design specialists will be in touch to create your tailored quote. You’ll have 14 days to decide whether to go ahead. If you need more time we can reissue your quote.

If you'd like to pay by finance, just let us know. We’ll share your details with DivideBuy, our finance partner, and they’ll contact you to start your application.

Once approved, you’ll sign your final installation agreement and pay a £500 non-refundable deposit. Your monthly payments won’t start until after your solar system is installed, and your finance will be managed directly by DivideBuy.

If you have any finance-related questions after installation, you’ll need to contact DivideBuy directly.

If you’re ineligible for finance but you'd like to continue with your purchase, no problem - you just have to let us know that you are able to pay in full and we’ll organise that for you.

If you change your mind about finance, you have 14 days to withdraw from your finance agreement without giving any reason. This period starts from either the day after you make the agreement or the day you receive a signed copy of it, whichever is later. For any inquiries specifically relating to your finance arrangement, including to cancel it, please contact DivideBuy directly.

Yes. They’ll perform a soft credit check first. This means it’ll show on your credit file but won’t impact your credit score, and won’t be visible to other lenders.

If you choose to proceed with your finance application, a full credit check will be completed as part of the application. This is known as a hard search and will leave a footprint on your credit file and is visible to other lenders. This could impact your credit score.

If you move after your solar panels have been installed, your finance agreement with DivideBuy stays the same. It’s a personal credit agreement linked to you, not the property - so you’ll still be responsible for the repayments, even if you move home.

It all starts in our Solar explorer, where you can see estimated costs and savings.

If you’re interested in a battery-only system, you can choose that option in the same journey.

From there:

• Tell us about your home online
• Complete a quick remote survey (photos + smart meter info)
• We’ll send your personalised quote within a few days
• Our Solar Design Specialists will design a system tailored to your roof and energy use
• You’ll be able to review and adjust your design (including adding or removing a battery)
• We’ll ask you to complete a remote survey (or arrange a home visit if needed)
• Once you’re happy, you’ll sign your agreement and pay a £500 deposit
• We’ll book your installation and arrange scaffolding
• We install your system (usually 2-4 days depending on size)
• Once complete, we’ll get you switched on and set up for export payments

And we’ll stay on hand throughout.

Most installs take around 2 days.

Bigger systems can take 3-4 days.

We’ll also need time before and after to put up and remove scaffolding.

Not for the whole process.

You’ll only need to be in for a few hours during the electrical work. We’ll let you know when that’s happening.

The rest of the install can happen while you’re out.

No - we use industry-approved mounting systems designed to protect your roof.

Your panels are fitted securely without affecting the structure or integrity of your tiles.

Together with your solar panels, we’ll install:

• A small consumer unit (also known as a fuse box),
• An export meter, to measure how much energy your panels generate, and how much of that is exported to the grid.
• An inverter or microinverters - these convert the DC electricity generated by solar panels into AC electricity, which can be used to power your home.
  • Microinverters sit underneath each solar panel
  • Inverters are mounted on your wall, either separately from your battery or built-into the battery
• (Optional) A battery, to store any excess electricity that’s generated.

You can also choose a battery without solar panels if:

• You already have solar
• Or you want storage and energy flexibility without installing panels

We’ll guide you through the right setup and what information we need from your existing system. check out this blog to find out more.

We keep it simple. You’ll typically have:

• Solar panels on your roof
• Inverter or microinverters (to convert energy)
• Optional battery storage
• A small consumer unit near your fuse box

If you choose a battery, it can be installed inside or outside your home depending on the model.

Our expert team is committed to choosing the best quality products for our customers, to ensure that you get the best efficiency, and ultimately make the best savings with your solar installation.

Our solar packages are installed with state-of-the-art 455W PV solar panels from JA Solar. Your inverter will depend on whether you just want solar panels, or if you want a battery as well. For just solar panels, you have the option of a separate Fox inverter or Enphase microinverters, and if you have a battery you have the additional option of a built-in Tesla or Fox inverter. Read more about the solar and battery options.

For all battery installations, we offer:

• Fox ESS EVO 5kWh or 10kWh
• Enphase IQ Battery 5P
• Tesla Powerwall 3

For a 5kWh system, we will install either a Fox EVO or Enphase battery (depending on what you choose), and for a 10kWh installation, we will install 2 Enphase batteries, or a Fox EVO.Find out more about panels and inverters here.

If you're getting a Tesla Powerwall 3 installed, you will also have the option to add whole home backup with an earth rod. Find out more about the installation process here.

Not really.

Solar panels are silent.

Your inverter may produce a very quiet hum during the day — around the level of a quiet library (up to ~45 decibels).

If you choose a Tesla Powerwall 3 with whole-home backup, we may need to install an earth rod as part of the setup.

This involves a bit of extra preparation and testing before installation - we’ll take care of it and keep you informed. We’ve provided all of the information you’ll need on what this involvesin this blog.

Together with your solar panels, we’ll install:

• A small consumer unit (also known as a fuse box),
• An export meter, to measure how much energy your panels generate, and how much of that is exported to the grid.
• An inverter or microinverters - these convert the DC electricity generated by solar panels into AC electricity, which can be used to power your home.
  • Microinverters sit underneath each solar panel
  • Inverters are mounted on your wall, either separately from your battery or built-into the battery
• (Optional) A battery, to store any excess electricity that’s generated.

To install, we need:

• A pitched roof (not flat or thatched)
• Roof tiles made from slate, clay, or concrete
• Enough space for at least 2 panels
• Safe access for scaffolding

We’re not currently able to install on flats or properties with 3-phase meters.

If we can’t install at your home, we may be able to recommend an Octopus Trusted Partner.

It depends on your roof and energy use.

Each panel is:
1.7m x 1.1m, plus a 40cm roof edge gap

Most homes install around 10-12 panels (4.5kW), but we can start from as few as 2.

More panels = more generation, but we’ll only recommend what makes sense for your usage.

Before installation, we’ll ask which tariff you’d like to join. We’ll also need to get permission from your distribution network operator before you can begin exporting your energy. When sorted, they’ll supply you with a unique ‘export MPAN’ number which will mean you’re good to go.

To monitor your energy usage and generation, you’ll be set up on the app, and you’ll also be able to see this information from your Octopus Energy account. If you decide to join an Octopus tariff, export payments will be paid directly into your Octopus account.

We have several industry-leading solar tariffs, tailored to maximise your savings and export earnings.

There’s options for if you prefer to set it and forget it, or adapt how you use energy to save every day. We also have dedicated tariffs for if you have other low-carbon tech at home, like an electric car ☀️🚗.

The tariffs

• Intelligent Octopus Flux: We pair with your battery to optimise charging and discharging, and you don't need to lift a finger. IO Flux customers have the opportunity to make the biggest savings.
• Octopus Flux: Take control with super cheap rates between 2am-5am every day to top up your battery, plus a peak rate from 4pm-9pm when you can discharge it.
• Outgoing Octopus: Agile & Fixed options for if you’d prefer to pair your export tariff with a different import tariff. Find out more about which tariffs work together here.
• Octopus SEG: If you’d prefer to go with another supplier for your import energy, you can still join our standard Smart Export Guarantee tariff.

Still sure which tariff is right for you? Take our quiz to find out the most popular tariffs for homes like yours, and check out all the tariffs in detail.
Check out more detail on solar smart tariffs on our savings blog.

Yes - many businesses can, depending on their setup.

If you’re not sure, we’ll help you figure out the best option based on your usage.

Following installation, we’ll ask that you install the Fox app, Enphase app, or Tesla app, depending on which brand of inverter you have installed.

With the mobile app, you’ll be able to monitor and manage your usage anytime, anywhere. It’s really simple to use, and simple to control when you need to. If you have any further questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

• Generation meter = how much energy your panels produce
• Export meter = how much goes back to the grid

Simple as that.

If you move house, your solar system stays with the property.

We’ll help transfer access to the new homeowner.

All of our equipment comes with a manufacturer warranty:

• Solar Panels: 25 years product warranty and 30 years linear power warranty.
• Inverter: Enphase Microinverters come with a product warranty of 25 years, and the Fox inverter has a 12 year warranty.
• Batteries: 15 years for Enphase products, 12 years for Fox products, and 10 years for Tesla products.
  
  Our customers are also protected by a 5 year Workmanship Warranty Insurance scheme.

One of the best things about solar is that the panels are easy to maintain. Our bird proofing ensures that pigeons aren’t able to nest and tamper with your system, and the angle of the panels ensures that rain and snow will slide right off whilst cleaning them at the same time (although they appreciate being cleaned from time to time - see FAQ below). Over time, you’ll need to be aware of anything new shading the panels to make sure you continue to get the very best out of them.

To make sure your panels are absorbing as much sunlight as possible, we recommend giving them a clean every now and again - the frequency really depends on where you live, and how dirty they get.

If you have a steep roof, you might find that the rain is more than enough to clean your panels so you never have to worry.

If you have a shallow roof, you might need to clean every couple of years or more -- the bird protection that comes with your panels should help to reduce this.

If you can see dirt on your panels, it’s worth speaking to your local window cleaner to find out if they’ll do it for you - but it’s important to only use water to clean them as cleaning chemicals can damage the coating.

Or if you want to do it yourself, all you need is a soft brush on an extendable pole, without chemicals.

• Standard systems switch off automatically for safety
• Tesla Powerwall systems can keep your home running using battery backup

If something doesn’t look right:

• Check your fuseboard for tripped breakers
• Make sure your app is up to date
• Restart your inverter or router if needed

Try this first:
Rename your new Wi-Fi network to match your old one - your system will usually reconnect automatically.

If not, we can guide you through a manual reset depending on your system.

Don’t worry - output naturally changes with:

• Weather
• Seasons
• Time of year

Check over a longer period (ideally 12 months) to get a true picture.

• Your system is producing very low energy on sunny days
• Readings look unusual or inconsistent
• Something has changed suddenly

They can - buyers are increasingly looking for energy-efficient homes with lower running costs.

Interested in a solar and battery installation?

Call us: 0808 196 6842
Email: solar@octopus.energy
(our phone lines are open 9am - 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am - 4pm Friday.)

Need support after installation?

Call us: 0808 175 1696
Email: solar-aftercare@octopusenergy.services
(Our aftercare phone line is open 8am – 8pm Monday to Saturday, 10am - 6pm Sunday. Or we answer emails 7 days a week, so we’ll be on hand to help asap.)

For the fastest response, fill out this form to raise any issues. Alternatively, you can email us on solar@octopus.energy, or call 0808 196 6842.
Our phone lines are open 9am - 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am - 4pm Friday.

Check out our full complaints procedure.