How much do solar panels cost in 2026?
Solar panel costs have fallen, and 0% VAT helps. Here's a clear guide to what a system costs and what you save.
Solar panel prices have come down significantly, and with 0% VAT currently applying, a domestic system is more affordable than it's been in years. Costs vary by system size and whether you add a battery.
What affects the cost
- System size — more panels means more generation and higher cost.
- Battery storage — adds cost but dramatically increases how much of your own power you use.
- Roof and access — complexity affects installation.
- 0% VAT — currently applies to solar and battery, a real saving.
What you save
Savings come from generating your own electricity (using less from the grid) and from the Smart Export Guarantee, where your supplier pays you for surplus power you export. A battery boosts savings by storing daytime generation for evening use.
We're launching solar soon
We're completing our MCS certification — needed to access the Smart Export Guarantee. Register your interest to be first when we go live.
What affects your payback time
How quickly solar pays for itself depends on how much of your own generation you use, your electricity rate, and whether you have a battery. The more daytime electricity you use (or store in a battery for the evening), the faster the payback. Rising electricity prices also shorten it — every unit you generate yourself is a unit you don't buy.
Solar and battery together
Many homeowners add a battery at the same time as solar. Without one, surplus daytime generation is exported for a small payment; with one, it's stored for evening use when you'd otherwise pay peak prices. It adds to the upfront cost but significantly increases how much of your own free electricity you actually use.