Costs & savings
How do solar panels cut your electricity bills?
Where the savings come from, what affects them, and how MCS estimates how much of your solar you'll actually use, with and without a battery.
Read the guideGuides and advice
Straight answers to the questions we are asked most, checked against official sources such as Ofgem, HMRC, MCS and the Planning Portal. Every guide lists its sources and the date we last checked them.
Solar
Is my roof suitable for solar panels?
Direction, pitch, shade and the roof itself decide how well solar suits your home. Here's how the MCS method measures each one.
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Batteries
How does a home battery work with solar panels?
What a home battery actually does with your solar power, how to compare usable capacity and efficiency, and what you need for backup in a power cut.
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Costs & savings
What is the Smart Export Guarantee and how do you get paid?
Who has to pay you for exported solar electricity, what you need to sign up, and how batteries charged from the grid affect your export payments.
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Costs & savings
Is there VAT on solar panels and batteries?
HMRC's 0% VAT rate on installed solar panels and batteries, what it covers (including retrofit batteries), and what's due to change on 1 April 2027.
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Planning & regulations
Do you need planning permission for solar panels in England and Wales?
Most rooftop solar on houses is permitted development, but the rules differ between England and Wales. Here's what applies, including the August 2026 changes.
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Solar
Do solar panels work in winter and on cloudy days in the UK?
Solar panels keep generating through a UK winter, just a lot less. Here's how much less, why cloud isn't the end of it, and what it means for a battery.
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EV charging
How does home EV charging work?
What a home charger does, the smart charging rules every new charger must meet, what installation involves, and how to charge from your own solar.
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Aftercare
What warranties come with solar panels, batteries and inverters?
The different warranties on a solar, battery and inverter system, what each one covers, and what protects you if an installer stops trading.
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