Solar PV

Solar panel installation in Devon.

MCS-certified solar panel installation for homes across Devon, from your first survey through to commissioning. Every system is sized to your roof and your household’s actual usage, not a generic package. Solar and battery installations are also currently zero-rated for VAT, a relief that runs until 31 March 2027.

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Solar panels installed on a house roof in Devon

Roof or ground-mounted

The right fit for your property.

Most Devon homes we work with use roof-mounted panels, which make efficient use of existing space and keep installation straightforward. Ground-mounted arrays are an option where roof space is limited, poorly oriented, or unsuitable for structural reasons. We’ll advise on the right approach for your property during the site survey rather than assuming one option fits every home.

Solar panels generate the most power during the day, which is often when many households use the least electricity. Pairing your system with battery storage lets you store that generation and use it in the evening, instead of exporting it back to the grid at a lower rate.

How it works

Sunlight in, electricity out.

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, almost always monocrystalline silicon on modern residential installs, which generate a direct current (DC) whenever they’re exposed to daylight (not just direct sun. Panels still generate on an overcast Devon day, just less). An inverter then converts that DC electricity into the alternating current (AC) your home actually runs on, ready to power appliances or charge a battery.

Devon’s solar irradiance runs around 1,060 kWh/kWp a year, roughly 20% above the UK average of 884 kWh/kWp, which is one reason systems here tend to pay back faster than the UK norm. Read more on our Why Solar in Devon page.

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String inverters

One inverter serves the whole array. The lowest-cost option, and a good fit for a simple, unshaded roof.

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Microinverters

One small inverter per panel. Costs more (typically £200–£500 more for the system), but a shaded or complex, multi-aspect roof keeps generating normally even if one panel is in shadow.

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Hybrid inverters

Built to work with battery storage from day one, so if you’re planning to add a battery now or later, this is usually the right starting point.

What to expect

Looking after your system.

Solar panels have no moving parts, so there’s very little to go wrong. An occasional visual check and keeping panels clear of heavy debris, moss or bird mess is generally enough for most Devon roofs, and rain does most of the work the rest of the year. Most manufacturers back panels with a 25-year (or longer) performance warranty, alongside a separate, shorter product warranty and our own workmanship warranty. Exact terms are confirmed in your quote, since they vary by product.

Inverters are the one component that occasionally needs replacing within a panel’s lifetime, typically after 10–15 years for a string inverter. We’ll cover expected inverter lifespan for your specific system as part of your quote.

How long does a solar panel installation take?

Most residential installations are completed within one to two days, depending on the size of the system and your roof. Scaffolding usually goes up the day before, and your installer will talk you through the system before they leave.

Do I need planning permission?

Most home solar installations fall under permitted development and don’t need planning permission, including within Dartmoor National Park, provided panels don’t protrude more than 200mm from the roof plane. Listed buildings are an exception. See our Devon planning guide for the detail.

How much roof space do I need?

It depends on your household’s electricity usage and how many panels you want to fit, which is exactly what a site survey establishes. We’ll model your roof’s usable area, orientation and any shading before recommending a system size, rather than quoting a generic number of panels.

Often installed together