Sunsave announced on 13 August 2024 that Aviva will cover Sunsave Plus customers with a bespoke insurance policy for their solar and battery systems1. The policy was brokered by Howden and is included as part of the 20-year Sunsave Guarantee1.
Aviva, described by Sunsave as having more than 18 million customers and 320 years of experience, will streamline its process around new installations, which Sunsave says gives Sunsave Plus customers protection from day one1. The 20-year Sunsave Guarantee offers monitoring and maintenance, a free out-of-warranty battery replacement, insurance against damage, fire and theft, and downtime payments if a system does not work1.
Sunsave said it has received more than £11.2 million in the two years since it was founded, including £2 million of Green Home Finance Accelerator funding1. Its backers include the UK government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Norrsken, Plug and Play, IPGL, Stuart Rose, Michael Spencer, Roland Rudd and Bill Nussey1.
"We all have an important role to play in supporting the transition to net zero, and bespoke policies like this can help to encourage environmentally friendly ideas to become reality."
Howden's global head of renewable energy, Deborah Duss, said the broker was proud to have partnered with Aviva to deliver an insurance product giving Sunsave customers peace of mind if their solar and battery systems are damaged, adding that insurance has a crucial role in enabling the energy transition1. Sunsave co-founder Ben Graves said the cover provides peace of mind for customers and marks another milestone in bringing solar to households across the UK1.
Why it matters for households
Solar panels and batteries are fixed to a home and are usually covered through a buildings or contents policy, so the terms under which a system is insured affect what a household can recover after damage, fire or theft. An insurance-backed guarantee ties cover to the installation itself rather than to a separate policy the householder arranges, and the arrangement here is included within Sunsave's own 20-year guarantee rather than sold as a standalone product1.
For a household weighing up solar panels and home insurance, the practical questions are what is covered, for how long, and who pays out. Sunsave states the policy covers damage, fire and theft, and that downtime payments apply if the system does not work1. The announcement does not set out policy limits, excesses, exclusions or the claims process, and none of these have been reported1.
The backing also speaks to the durability of the provider behind a long guarantee. Sunsave cites more than £11.2 million raised since founding and government funding among its support1, which is relevant to any household relying on a 20-year promise rather than on the manufacturer's warranty alone. The same considerations apply to adding battery storage to a solar system, where the battery is the component most likely to need replacement within the guarantee period.
What happens next
Sunsave said Sunsave Plus is up and running, with early customers benefiting from installations1. No date has been given for when the Aviva policy takes effect for new customers beyond the statement that it applies from day one, and no figures for premiums or policy limits have been published1.