Energy Saving Trust has published a guide to solar panels, described by MCS as a walk-through of how the technology works, typical costs and savings, and how to find an MCS certified installer1. MCS reported the publication on 18 August 2023, citing a guide dated July 20231.
MCS said the guide also covers combining solar with other renewable technologies for heating and hot water, and that it is intended to help households decide whether solar panels are the right choice for them1. It said installations can be completed within two or three days and that panels can last over 20 years1. It also said solar panels can generate more electricity than a home uses, with the surplus exported to the grid1.
On suitability, MCS said an unshaded roof facing east, south or west gives a good chance a home is suitable, and that the majority of homes need no planning permission because a solar PV installation is a permitted development, while advising households to check with their local planning office1. It said an MCS certified contractor can advise on the most appropriate size and model of system, and that MCS certification demonstrates a contractor installs renewable energy and heating systems to industry-expected levels of quality1. It added that an installation by an MCS certified installer qualifies a household for a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff1.
"The purpose of the guide is to equip consumers with everything they need to know to make an informed decision on whether solar panels are the right choice for them."
The guide itself was not reviewed here; the figures it contains for costs and savings have not been reported in the material available1.
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up solar PV, the guide's stated scope covers the two questions that usually decide the matter: what a system costs and what it saves, and who installs it1. The installer point carries a financial consequence beyond workmanship, because MCS certification is what makes a household eligible for a SEG tariff, the route by which exported electricity is paid for1. Households that generate more than they use can export the surplus, so the metering and tariff arrangements matter as much as the panels themselves; our guide to solar export payments sets out how SEG and the closed Feed-in Tariff work.
The practical constraints named are roof orientation and shading, with east, south and west facing unshaded roofs described as likely to be suitable, and planning permission generally not required for the majority of homes1. For a household considering solar panels versus solar roof tiles, or weighing solar panels, a battery or a heat pump first, the guide's inclusion of combining solar with other renewable heating technologies is relevant to how far a home can move towards energy independence.
What happens next
No dated next steps are set out in the material available1. The guide is available to download free of charge, and MCS operates a find-an-installer tool1.
Sources1 cited
- A Guide to Solar Panels with Energy Saving Trust - MCS, mcscertified.com