Free Solar Panel Installers

Updated April 2012, please read our recent study on free solar provision in the UK.

On this page you can find an up to date list of all the free solar panel installers in the UK. This list has been maintained and constantly updated since September 2010 and is the only list of free installers in the UK to date. Whilst every attempt is made to find out about new companies that offer free solar there may be times when one is missed. If you provide free installations or know of a company that is not already listed then please let us know by using the contact form on the right.

Being listed does not constitute a recommendation and whilst we are in contact with some of the installers we have never used their services. This list is maintained purely as a way to make it easier for you to find a company that will install free solar panels. FreeSolarPanelsUK.co.uk does not supply or fit solar panels, we only maintain the list of installers. If you want free panels you will have to apply directly with one of the companies listed below.

Applying for free solar panels

Not every house is suitable for solar but if you think your home may be then you can apply for free solar panels by completing a short 1 minute free solar enquiry form. You will then be contacted to discuss the possibility of getting the panels installed on your home and to help find an installer that operates in your area.

Requirements for free solar

Free solar panels are being offered by private companies because they are able to fund these installations through the feed-in tariff payments that replaced the old style solar panel grants. The feed-in tariff pays for all of the green electricity that is produced through solar photovoltaic panels installed on roofs. It is the owner of the solar panels that gets the payments which could add up to over a £1,000 a year for at least 25 years.

Essentially you rent your roof out to the company who install the solar panels. They get the feed-in tariff payments and you get to use the electricity that the solar panels produce. The more that you are at home during the day the more you will benefit from this scheme.

In order to qualify you will need to meet the requirements of the individual company offering the panels. Every company has their own specific criteria but there are some general guidelines. The requirements are based on the suitability of your roof and not your own personal circumstances. So these are the general guidelines most installers adhere to.

• You own your own home
• South facing roof
• About 24 square metres clear roof space
• Little or no shading of the roof

Free solar panels UK installers map

If you'd rather see all of the free solar panel installers on a map then you can view the free solar panels UK installers map. Use the map to find an installer close to where you live. Some installers only cover the local area where as the larger companies cover the whole of the UK.

If you are interested in applying then you can use the form on the applicaiton page to get up to 3 providers of free systems that cover your area from the installers listed below. It saves you time contacting each company individually and it will and also gives you a chance to talk to an independent advisor to find out if you qualify and which provider would be suitable for your location.

Applying For Free solar panels

If you are unsure as to whether or not your home will qualify for solar then these pages answer the most frequently asked questions;

• How Much Roof Space Do I Need For Solar Panels?
• Am I Entitled To Free Solar Panels If I Am Registered Disabled Or On Benefits?
• I Am On Benefits And Live In A Council House, Can I Get Free Solar Panels?
• How To Find Out What Direction Your Roof Is Facing

Inclusion of any solar installer into this list does not constitute a recommendation. All companies listed are by request or from companies found on the internet. Solar installation companies are not charged for being listed on this page and we have no direct affiliation with any of the companies listed.

List of free solar installers in the UK

A Shade Greener

A Shade Greener Review

MCS REGISTERED: 27/11/2009

MCS REGISTRATION: NAP 12177

A Shade Greener offer free panels in the Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Humberside areas and are moving into the Midlands and the South West. The company is based in South Yorkshire and are proud of the fact that they have increased the number of solar installations their local area almost to that of the current solar hotspot of the South West.

Touch Solar

MCS REGISTERED: 30/07/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: NAP 13570

Touch Solar are offering to install free solar panels to suitable homes. The Preston based company are offering a 26 year lease on your roof in exchange for the free electricity that the panels produce. They are currently the only free installer exclusively covering the north west region of England. This installer was added on the 28th July 2011.

Woodford Heating and Energy

MCS REGISTERED: 11/08/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: ELC54227

Woodford Heating and Energy provides both free and paid for solar PV in the Greater London area which also includes Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent. You need a roof facing within 30 degrees of south and 24 square metres of roof space in order to qualify.

Freesource Energy

MCS REGISTERED: 15/07/2009

MCS REGISTRATION: MCS 1080

Freesource Energy are a Wiltshire based company running a free solar PV scheme for homeowners in that area. They have been offering installations at no cost since February 2011.

Direct Solar Power

MCS REGISTERED: 28/01/2011

MCS REGISTRATION: NIC1686

Direct Solar Power based in Middlesbrough is offering free installations to eligible households. Requirements are an unshaded south facing roof with 30 square metres of clear space for fitting the panels.

Engensa

MCS REGISTERED: 18/03/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: ELC54063

Park Royal, London based Engensa offer free solar panels to house holders South of Birmingham and as far West as Bristol and Exeter. As with most companies there are certain criteria you have to meet in order to qualify. Generally this means finding out if your roof is suitable for solar panels such as your roof being big enough, facing South and at the right angle.

Stroma Solar

MCS REGISTERED: 22/07/2011

MCS REGISTRATION: STR0101

Solar installer Stroma are offering free solar to south, south-west and south-east facing homes with a minimum of 15 square metres of clear roof space. They have a 25 year contract and a buy out option should you wish to leave the contract before it ends by buying the panels. The roof must be between a 30 and 40 degree angle. This installer was added on the 12th October 2011.

Solar PV Install

MCS REGISTERED: 25/02/2011

MCS REGISTRATION: NAP 15560

Derby based Solar PV Install Ltd are offering free solar installations until March 2012. You need to have a structurally sound roof with a maximum pitch of 45 degrees. The roof must be within 22.5 degrees of south. The smallest system that they supply is 2.3kWp which means that you need about 16 square metres of free roof space to accommodate about 12 panels.

Note:(April 2012) Solar PV Install state on thier site that they may be withdrawing free solar at any time.

Isis Solar

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Isis Solar has their registered offices in Shoreditch but they do not give any indication of the areas that they cover on their website. They are a new company and currently the only way to find out if you qualify is to either call them or fill out their contact form.

Street Energy

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Street Energy provide free solar PV systems to homeowners in the South Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas. They offer a 2.8kWh system to suitable south facing homes with adequate roof space to accommodate their system. This installer was added on the 12th August 2011.

Green Nation

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Free installer Green Nation is offering a no cost system to homeowners in areas of England and Wales if your property is located Birmingham and south of this. You need a 20° - 50° sloping roof that faces within 40° of south. The roof must be at least 20 square metres. This installer was added on the 28th July 2011.

Sunhive

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Sunhive provides homeowners across the Sussex and southeast area with free access to solar power. You will need to have a south facing home to qualify and you will need to contact them directly to apply.

Freetricity

Freetricity is offering a limited number of free solar photovoltaic installations in the South East of England and the home counties. They state that successful installations will be subject to a £495 (inc VAT) fee to cover the cost of an Energy Performance Certificate, Feed-in Tariff registration and administration, and any scaffolding costs.

Lincolnshire Renewable Energy

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Lincolnshire based Lincolnshire Renewable Energy offer free solar to homes in the Lincolnshire area. You need a south facing roof with at last 24 square metres of uninterrupted clear space. The roof should be free of shade and in good condition as should be the electrics in the house. This installer was added on the 30th June 2011.

Solvis Energy Solutions

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Solvis Energy Solutions can provide a free solar system that they claim could save you up to £400 a year. They cover the North West of England. Your roof needs to be south facing, un-shaded and have at least 19 square metres of free space, enough room for a 3.4kWp system. They additionally specify that you have RCD protected electrics.

GEP Solutions

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Green Energy Power Solutions is a Sheffield based company is offering free solar installations worth up to £16,000. They will install free panels within a 50 mile radius of their office in North Anston, Sheffield. You need a south facing roof with around a 35 degree angle that is unshaded and large enough to fit 16 solar panels.

My Energy Station

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Another new company offering to fit and install free solar panels is Birmingham based My Energy Station. They install the same type of system as the one that they sell. You need to contact them through their website in order for them to discuss whether your home is suitable.

Solar Capital

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Doncaster based Solar Capital is offering free solar via their national network of solar installation partners. You need to be a homeowner that has a shade free roof that faces between 150° and 210° of south and a roof slope of between 30° and 50°. This installer was added on the 15th August 2011.

Solar Eclipse

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Manchester based Solar Eclipse provides free solar to properties in the north west of England and surrounding areas. You must have at least 10 square metres of clear south, south east or south west facing roof space. You roof should also be free of any shading. Homes must have a standard electricity meter and not a pre-pay meter. This installer was added on the 11th August 2011.

eSave Solar

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

eSave Solar are able to provide a free solar installation for homes that meet their criteria. For homes that do not quite meet their requirements they have another offer where they can install solar panels for £500. This installer was added on the 18th July 2011.

New Energy Futures - No longer offering free solar

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Blackpool installer New Energy Futures provides free solar saving 40 to 60 percent on your electricity bills. To qualify your home should be less than 40 years old, south facing and unshaded with at least 25 square metres of free roof space.

Note:(june 2011) NEF Solar no longer appears to be offering free solar.

Ecovision Energy - No longer offering free solar

Ecovision Review

MCS REGISTERED: 15/07/2009

MCS REGISTRATION: MCS 1019

Gloucestershire based Ecovision Energy is now offering free solar PV systems to suitable homes. They require your roof to be south-east through to south-west facing and be un-shaded from the likes of tall trees or other buildings. You will need to have between 24 and 30 square metres of clear roof space. The roof must be between a 30 and 40 degree angle. This installer was added on the 17th June 2011.

U Energy - No longer offering free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 25/02/2011

MCS REGISTRATION: NIC1893

Huddersfield's U Energy is a West Yorkshire based company offering free solar panels under their rent my roof scheme. You need to have a south facing property that has an unshaded roof of about 30 square metres. The further south and west you are located in the country the more likely they will approve you.

Eco One - No longer offering free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 15/01/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: NAP 12124

Leeds based Eco One is a renewable energy company that is now offering free solar. Their requirements are similar to most other companies which include a southerly roof aspect that is unshaded.

Greentech Energy - No longer offering free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 28/01/2011

MCS REGISTRATION: COR/178

GreenTech Energy based near Liverpool is offering to install and maintain a free of charge system that they claim will save the average UK householder £300 a year in electricity savings. Paid installations also available.

E.ON SolarExchange - No longer offering free solar

Eon SolarExchange Review

MCS REGISTERED: 25/11/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: ELC54019

Energy company E.ON is offering nearly free solar panels to its customers. They charge a £99 administration fee and have dubbed their new scheme SolarExchange.

Sundog Power - No longer appears to be trading

MCS REGISTERED: 16/10/2009

MCS REGISTRATION: ELC54032

If you are a business then you may be interested in the free solar panel offers from Sundog. For commercial buildings you have the option of getting free electricity or renting out your roof. Their offer applies to landowners and commercial buildings.

Southern Electric Free Solar Package - No longer supplying free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 15/07/2009

MCS REGISTRATION: MCS 1063

The large regional supplier Southern Electric is offering free solar panels to existing customers. They provide the system, install it and maintain it for 25 years. As with other similar offers you get the free electricity the panels generate. They claim to save you about £230 a year on your annual bill.

British Gas mySolar Energy - No longer supplying free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 15/07/2009

MCS REGISTRATION: MCS 1238

The largest energy supplier in the UK British Gas is offering a limited roll out with its mySolar Energy scheme. They will supply, install and maintain 15,000 pounds worth of solar PV system for free.

Note:(April 2011) British Gas have put a temporary hold on their free solar offer whilst they migrate to a new solar installation partner.

PV Solar UK - No longer supplying free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 17/03/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: ELC54049

Glasgow based PV Solar UK are currently offering free solar panel installation. They have an onsite pre-qualifier where you can input your postcode to see if they install in your area. After checking a few postcodes they seem to be offering installations all over the UK, even Scotland. At the time of writing I could not find any additional information on their site about their free solar offer.

Spencer Solar - No longer supplying free solar

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Lincolnshire based Spencer Solar have 3 solar PV options for businesses, paid for solar with their U-Pay scheme, U- Rent where you get a free installation plus benefits and Free+ where you get a free system installed plus payments for favourable locations. This installer was added on the 18th July 2011.

Reflex Energy - No longer supplying free solar

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Leicester based Reflex Energy is offering free solar panel systems to home owners in the Leicestershire and Rutland area. They also pay a one off £500 payment to you once they have installed the system.

Note:(May 2011) Reflex energy no longer appear to be offering free commercial and business installations.

Viscount Solar No longer offering free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 10/09/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: MCS 1442

Solar installers Viscount Solar are based in Europort, Wakefield. They provide free solar panel installations to suitable properties as well as other energy saving services such as cavity wall and loft insulation, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems.

Aston Energy - No longer offering free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 24/09/2010

MCS REGISTRATION: NIC1433

Aston energy based in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire is offering free 3kW solar installations around London and the home counties. They also have a partnership scheme enabling low cost installations if you want a share of the feed in tariff and offer solar installations for direct purchase.

Free Sunlight - No longer supplying free solar

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Cornwall based Free Sunlight (Solar Solutions) offer free solar systems to homes in the south of England. Your roof must be about 30 metres square and facing between south-east and south-west. The roof should be un-shaded. They do not accept properties in conservation areas, ones that have flat roof or homes within 500 metres of the sea. This installer was added on the 14th June 2011.

EvoEnergy - No longer supplying free solar

MCS REGISTERED: 10/06/2011

MCS REGISTRATION: NIC2071

EvoEnergy has their head office based in Nottingham. They offer free solar PV to both domestic and commercial properties as well as paid solar installations. Their area of coverage is south of Northampton. You will need to have at least 23 square metres of south-east to south-west facing roof space. This installer was added on the 15th August 2011.

HomeSun - No longer supplying free solar

HomeSun Review

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Homesun will install panels for free but if you do not meet their application criteria they do offer a system at a much reduced cost which means houses that do not have a South facing roof but South East or South West facing can still get solar panels through their SolarShare scheme. If they are not currently working in your area you can register your interest and they will contact you when they are.

isaysolar - No longer appears to be trading

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

London based isaysolar are offering free solar installations in south England and Wales. They are looking for homes with at least 24 square metres of south facing free roof space with little or no shading. They estimate you will save about half on your electricity bills. This installer was added on the 14th June 2011.

Heatscape - No longer trading

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Derby based Heatscape is offering free solar to homes with a south facing aspect. They also offer solar to homes that do not quite meet their criteria but at a cost of £250 and £500 depending on how far off south your roof faces.

Sol et Libre - No longer trading

MCS REGISTERED: -

MCS REGISTRATION: -

Sol et Libre now offer free solar panel systems to home owning householders in the south of England. In addition to the no cost panels you will also receive an initial £250 cashback payment.