Solar Panel and Battery Packages for UK Homes
A solar panel and battery package is one system designed, quoted and fitted together. Because we are a matching service, we pair you with an MCS-certified installer who can price it.
What a solar and battery package includes
A package bundles the panels, inverter, battery and mounting into one design. The installer also supplies the cabling, an export meter if needed and a monitoring app. Because the parts are chosen together, they work as one system from day one.
Buying in one go also means one survey and one installation visit. As a result, you avoid scaffolding twice and the work stays under one warranty start date. Our guide to what a solar and battery package offers lists the parts in more detail.
How the panels and battery work together
The panels make power in daylight, so your home uses what it needs first. Spare power then fills the battery, and only the surplus goes to the grid. After dark, the battery supplies the house before you buy from the grid.
Under the Smart Export Guarantee, suppliers pay you for power you export, although each sets its own rate. For example, Octopus's open tariff paid 4.1p per kWh in October 2026, while British Gas's non-customer tariff paid 3p. A battery lets you keep more power for your own use instead of selling it at those rates.
Who a package suits
A package suits homes with a sound, unshaded roof and steady evening demand. It also suits anyone planning a new system who wants storage from the start. In contrast, a home with heavy shade may gain more from a survey first.
If you already have panels, a battery on its own may be the better route. Specifically, our page on home battery storage covers retrofits. Households with an electric car can also read about EV charger installation.
What a package costs
Government data for 2025/26 puts the typical cost of a small home solar system at about £1,700 to £1,800 per kW installed. That means roughly £7,000 to £7,500 for a 4 kW system, before any battery. These are medians, so individual quotes vary.
Which? reported in August 2026 that So Energy advertised solar and battery packages from £7,518. Meanwhile the Energy Saving Trust puts a typical 4.5 kWp solar system at around £7,600. Our solar battery cost guide explains what moves the total.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median solar cost, 0 to 4 kW | £1,780 per kW | DESNZ, 2025/26 data |
| Median solar cost, 4 to 10 kW | £1,697 per kW | DESNZ, 2025/26 data |
| Typical 4.5 kWp system | Around £7,600 | Which?, citing Energy Saving Trust |
| Solar and battery package, advertised from | £7,518 | Which?, August 2026 |
Installing solar and batteries is VAT-free at 0% until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate is due to revert to 5% under current legislation. Therefore a signed quote before that date may save money.
Sizing the solar and the battery
Most UK home systems are under 4 kW, although 3.5 to 4.5 kW is a common size. In 2025/26 about 61% of domestic installs in MCS records were up to 4 kW. Your roof area and evening demand decide the right figure for you.
The battery should match the power you use after dark, and not only the size of the roof. A battery that is too big may never fill, while one that is too small runs out early. Our solar battery size guide walks through the method.
A larger array makes more power but costs more in total. However, the 2025/26 median cost per kW was £1,780 for 0 to 4 kW systems. It was £1,697 for 4 to 10 kW systems, so larger systems can cost less per kW.
Grants and support
Low-income households in England in lower-rated (EPC D to G) homes may qualify for the Warm Homes: Local Grant. It runs through councils, and it can include solar panels. It is not a way to get a free system for most homeowners. Therefore most households should plan to pay for a package themselves.
Reading the design and the output estimate
Ask the installer to show the design on a plan. Specifically, request the panel layout, the expected yearly output and the assumptions behind it. Output estimates are only as good as the shading data.
- Panel count, wattage and the roof faces they cover.
- Inverter type and whether it is ready for a battery.
- Battery usable capacity in kWh and its warranty.
- Expected yearly output and how it was worked out.
Because each roof differs, two quotes for the same house can differ. Compare them on the same basis, and ask why where they diverge.
Rules, planning and standards
In England, most rooftop solar on houses and flats does not need planning permission, although conditions apply. The rules changed on 27 August 2026, so ask your installer to confirm for your home. In Wales and Scotland, permitted development also covers many house roofs, but listed buildings and conservation areas need checking.
Your installer should be MCS-certified, because MCS certification is needed to claim Smart Export Guarantee payments. They work to MIS 3002 for panels and MIS 3012 for batteries. Read more on our page about MCS-certified installations.
What a good package quote should show
A quote should list the panel count and wattage, the inverter, and the battery's usable capacity. Specifically, it should show the yearly output estimate. It should also give the expected annual output and the warranty terms. Compare at least three quotes on the same basis.
Installers who are RECC members follow a code that says deposits should be no more than 25% of the contract price. Additionally, you can check an installer's MCS details on the MCS website before you sign.
Packages across UK cities
Output differs by place, because sunshine varies. The EU's PVGIS tool models a 4 kWp array at about 3,787 kWh a year in Sheffield and 4,488 kWh in Plymouth. Edinburgh sits at about 3,611 kWh.
For local detail, see solar and battery packages in Sheffield, solar installers serving Plymouth and battery installers in Edinburgh. We match you with an installer who covers your area.
How our matching works
Solar Base Energy is a free matching service, although we do not install systems ourselves. We match you with an MCS-certified installer who can quote for your home. You then receive a no-obligation quote to compare.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is in a solar and battery package? +
A package normally includes solar panels, an inverter, a home battery and mounting. It also covers cabling, commissioning and a monitoring app. Therefore your quote should list each item.
Is a package cheaper than buying panels and a battery separately? +
It can be, because one survey and one installation visit may save labour. However, prices vary by installer and size, so compare quotes. Which? reported packages advertised from £7,518 in August 2026.
What size battery should I choose with my panels? +
Because demand peaks at night, match the battery to the power you use after dark, and not only to the roof. A battery that is too big may never fill. Our size guide explains the method.
Do I need an MCS-certified installer for a package? +
Yes, if you want to claim Smart Export Guarantee payments. Additionally, MCS certification is needed for many incentives. We match you only with MCS-certified installers.
Is a solar and battery package VAT-free? +
Installing solar panels and home batteries is currently VAT-free at 0%. However, the relief runs until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate is due to revert to 5% under current legislation.
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