Why 2026 is a better time to get your home solar ready.
Solar prices two years ago were still elevated, energy prices were volatile, export payments were relatively poor and battery storage was often treated as an expensive optional extra.
Solar PV
In 2026, the UK solar market looks considerably more attractive.
Solar panel prices have settled, battery technology has improved, export tariffs can be significantly better, and homeowners in Northamptonshire and across the Midlands have more ways to make the electricity their panels generate work harder.
For homeowners considering solar panels in Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Daventry, Rugby, Milton Keynes and the wider Midlands, here is what has changed — and what you should be looking for when comparing installers.
Solar panel installation prices are more competitive.
One of the biggest changes since 2024 is the cost of solar equipment.
Module manufacturing capacity has increased significantly, while competition between installers has also helped bring domestic installation prices down. Current UK benchmarks put a straightforward 4kW residential solar PV installation broadly in the £6,000–£8,000 range, although the actual price depends on the property, roof, scaffolding, inverter, panel specification and electrical work required.
That means homeowners no longer need to assume that solar is an £8,000–£10,000+ investment before even considering battery storage.
However, price should not be the deciding factor.
A cheap quotation can become an expensive mistake if it uses poor-quality components, under-specifies the system, overlooks roof issues or provides inadequate commissioning and aftercare.
When comparing solar installers in Northamptonshire, look at the complete system rather than simply the headline price.
Solar export payments are more important than they used to be.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) has also changed the economics of solar.
The key point is that you don't necessarily have to use every unit of electricity your panels generate at home. Surplus electricity can be exported to the grid and paid for through an eligible SEG tariff.
Ofgem's current SEG framework includes major suppliers such as Octopus Energy, E.ON Next, British Gas, EDF and OVO. However, tariffs vary substantially, and some of the more attractive rates have eligibility requirements or are linked to particular import tariffs, solar systems or batteries.
For example, E.ON Next currently lists different export products ranging from variable rates to fixed tariffs, with eligibility depending on the product.
That makes one point particularly important:
Don't assume that your existing electricity supplier is offering you the best export rate.
A homeowner exporting 2,000kWh of surplus electricity a year could see a substantial difference between a low-rate tariff and a competitive export tariff.
For anyone installing solar in Northampton, Northamptonshire or the wider Midlands, the export tariff should therefore form part of the overall system design - rather than being an afterthought.
Electricity prices make self-generated power valuable.
The other side of the equation is the electricity you don't have to buy.
Every unit of solar electricity that you use directly in your home is electricity that you don't need to purchase from your supplier.
That can make solar particularly attractive for households with:
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High daytime electricity usage
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Electric vehicles
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Heat pumps
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Home offices
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Large appliances
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Families at home during the day
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Battery storage
The more electricity you can use yourself, the less dependent you are on the retail electricity price.
And this is where system design becomes important.
A south-facing roof isn't automatically the best solar installation, nor is simply installing the maximum number of panels always the best financial decision. A professional installer should look at your roof, electricity consumption and future plans before recommending a system size.
Batteries have become a much more serious part of the solar equation.
Battery storage is arguably the biggest change in the residential solar market.
Rather than exporting excess electricity immediately, a battery can store surplus generation and make it available later.
That can mean using solar power after the sun has gone down, rather than buying electricity from the grid.
Battery storage can also become more interesting when combined with time-of-use tariffs and smart energy management. Depending on the tariff and battery system, homeowners may be able to charge when electricity is cheaper and use stored electricity when prices are higher.
Battery storage isn't automatically right for every home.
A good solar installer should not simply add a battery to every quotation.
The right battery size depends on:
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Your annual electricity consumption
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Your typical daily usage
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Solar system size
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Your daytime occupancy
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EV charging
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Heat pump usage
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Electricity tariff
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Desired level of energy independence
For some homes, a smaller battery may make more financial sense than a large one. For others, particularly homes with an EV or high evening consumption, a larger battery can be worthwhile.
0% VAT makes 2026 an important year to consider solar
There is another reason homeowners are looking seriously at solar and battery storage now.
The UK's temporary 0% VAT treatment for qualifying energy-saving materials is currently due to run until 31 March 2027. Battery storage was specifically brought into the relief from February 2024, including qualifying standalone battery installations and battery retrofits.
That doesn't mean every possible installation automatically qualifies, so the exact treatment should be confirmed with your installer.
But for homeowners considering solar, battery storage or adding a battery to an existing solar PV system, the March 2027 deadline is worth keeping in mind.
Installation standards have moved forward too.
The quality of the installation matters just as much as the equipment on the roof.
The current MCS technical standard for solar PV includes requirements covering areas such as safety, durability, commissioning, handover and documentation. The 2026 version also contains specific guidance around the fire performance of roof-mounted PV systems.
This is good news for homeowners.
A professionally installed solar system should not simply consist of panels attached to a roof and an inverter mounted somewhere in the house.
You should expect appropriate design, electrical protection, commissioning, documentation and handover.
If you're comparing solar panel installers in Northampton or the Midlands, ask whether the company is MCS certified and what documentation you will receive when the installation is complete.
What does solar look like for a typical Northamptonshire home?
Every property is different, but a typical 4kW domestic system can be a useful starting point for understanding the numbers.
Current UK estimates put a 4kW installation broadly around £6,000–£8,000, with the potential for higher or lower costs depending on the property and specification.
A suitable system could generate several thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, but generation depends heavily on roof orientation, pitch, shading and location.