Reviewed by Georgia Howson, MCS Certified Solar Expert
Solar Panel Installers in Leicestershire
Stratford Energy Solutions installs MCS certified solar panels, battery storage and EV chargers across Leicestershire and the surrounding East and West Midlands area, from our base in Stratford-upon-Avon. We have been fitting systems across the region for over 15 years.
Over 15 years installing across Leicestershire and the wider Midlands
Cut your electricity costs by hundreds of pounds a year
MCS certified, in-house engineers with 10+ years of experience
Free survey, no obligation, and a 14-day cooling-off period on every contract
Most homes go from first call to switch-on inside a few weeks
How a Leicestershire Solar Installation Works, Step by Step
We work with homeowners across Leicestershire, from Leicester and its suburbs to market towns and rural communities including Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Market Bosworth. Every system is designed around your roof, your house and how your household actually uses power, then fitted by our brilliant in-house solar engineers. We pride ourselves on never using subcontractors for our installations. Solar, battery and EV charging are quoted as one job, not three. Leicestershire’s housing varies from historic town-centre properties and Victorian terraces to inter-war semis, post-war estates and newer detached homes, so the survey is an important part of understanding what will work best for each property.
Four stages, from your first call to the day the system switches on. Most Leicestershire jobs run from enquiry to commissioning in a matter of weeks rather than months.
1.
Talk to the team
Call us on 01789 262 411 or send the form. One of our Renewable Energy Experts, will talk through your property, your bills and what you want the system to do.
2.
Free survey and a fixed proposal
We look at roof pitch, orientation, shading and your actual consumption before we quote. The quotation holds for 30 days. If you go ahead, a deposit of up to 25% confirms the order, and you have 14 days to change your mind under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
3.
Installation
Most residential systems are on and wired within one to two days. The same in-house team does the work. We agree the date with you and give reasonable notice.
4.
Switch on and aftercare
We commission the system, set up monitoring on your phone, issue the MCS certificate and handle the G98 or G99 notification to your local electricity network operator. We’ll also take care of this paperwork for you, making the process as straightforward as possible.
Where We Install in Leicestershire
We cover Leicestershire’s towns, villages and rural communities, from Leicester and its surrounding suburbs to Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Ashby-de-la-Zouch and the villages between them. Because Leicestershire is administered through seven district and borough councils outside Leicester City, planning and local heritage requirements can vary from one part of the county to another.
Our engineers regularly work in Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Oadby, Wigston, Mountsorrel, Market Bosworth, Burbage, Earl Shilton, Syston, Shepshed and surrounding Leicestershire communities.
Leicestershire has a particularly varied housing landscape. Leicester contains Victorian and Edwardian suburbs such as Stoneygate and West End, with traditional red-brick terraces, slate roofs and mature gardens, while the wider county combines historic market-town properties, village homes, inter-war semis, post-war estates and newer developments. In rural areas, larger detached properties, extensions, outbuildings and mature trees can create very different roof layouts. Those differences affect roof area, orientation, shading and panel positioning, which is why every system is surveyed individually.
Leicester is around 43 miles by road from our Stratford-upon-Avon base, keeping the county within reach of our wider regional service area.
Our Installations Near Leicestershire
Our latest solar panels and battery storage systems for homeowners across the region include genuine Stratford Energy installations.
We hold 4.9 stars from 150+ Google reviews, across every area we cover.
Thinking About Solar in Leicestershire?
No obligation, no hard sell, and if we genuinely think solar isn’t the right option for your property, we’ll tell you.
Solar Panels in Leicestershire: The Key Facts
Solar panels generate electricity from daylight rather than heat, so Leicestershire does not need hot weather for solar to work. Leicester’s 1991-2020 climate averages provide a useful indication of local sunshine, with around four hours of sunshine per day across the year and substantially longer sunny periods during summer. Your actual generation will depend on your roof direction, pitch, shading and system size, rather than simply the number of sunny days.
Planning deserves particular attention across Leicestershire because the county does not operate under one residential planning authority. Leicester City has its own planning system, while seven district and borough councils handle household planning elsewhere. Conservation areas and Article 4 Directions also vary locally. Leicester currently has 25 conservation areas, and several have additional controls that can affect external alterations, including visible solar panels. For homes elsewhere in Leicestershire, the relevant district or borough council should be checked before installation.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Leicestershire?
Most Leicestershire homeowners find that the right solar and battery system depends on the property, energy usage and how much electricity you want to generate and store. As a guide, a full system is typically a five-figure investment, with payback often falling within 5 to 7 years.
A typical four-bedroom home may save around £500 to £700 a year on electricity, although the actual figure will vary with system size, usage patterns and energy prices.
We do not publish fixed package prices because we do not sell standard packages. Every system is designed around the home, so we assess the roof, your electricity use, your family’s habbits and the best system layout before providing a firm quotation.
What we can tell you before the survey:
0% VAT
Domestic solar and battery installations carry zero-rate VAT until 31 March 2027. This directly reduces the overall cost of your installation.
Export payments
Because we are MCS certified, your system qualifies for the Smart Export Guarantee. Your supplier pays you for electricity you send back. We handle the certification side.
How you pay
A deposit of up to 25% confirms the order. The balance is due on completion, before we release commissioning and certification. The survey and the quote cost nothing.
What You Need to Know
We are not the cheapest installer in Leicestershire and we do not try to be. We use premium equipment from Viridian Solar, SunPower Elite, SolarEdge, SigEnergy and Tesla, and that is what makes savings of 80 to 98% achievable.
Your payback depends far more on how much electricity you use than on the size of the array. A household running an EV, a heat source or two people working from home could help reduce the payback period further.
Solar, Battery Storage and EV Charging for Leicestershire Homes
We install six things, and most Leicestershire customers take two or three of them as one system. Taken together, these are one system, not four purchases. See how the whole-home setup fits together.
On-roof solar panels
The standard fit, mounted on brackets above the tiles. Works on suitable pitched roofs across Leicestershire and the surrounding villages.
In-roof solar panels
Panels set flush into the roof line instead of sitting on top. Worth asking about in conservation areas and on properties where appearance is part of the planning conversation.
Ground-mounted solar
For homes with the garden space and a roof that will not take an array.
Home battery storage
SigEnergy and Tesla Powerwall. Stores what you generate in the day for use in the evening. Can be retrofitted to panels fitted by someone else.
EV charging
A home charger wired into the same system, so you can use more of the energy generated by your solar panels to charge your car, reducing your reliance on the grid.
Commercial solar
For business premises across Leicestershire, quoted and installed by the same team.
How to Choose a Solar Installer in Leicestershire
Four key checks can help you choose the right solar installer.
Check they are MCS certified.
Not simply as a badge of accreditation, but because without it your system will not qualify for export payments under the Smart Export Guarantee. Ask for the certificate number and look it up on the MCS register yourself. Ours is NIC1758.
Ask who is actually doing the work.
Ask for a design, not a package.
A real proposal names the panels, the inverter, the battery capacity and the expected output for your roof at your orientation. Your quote should be tailored to your property, energy usage and individual requirements.
Check the consumer protections.
Look for RECC and TrustMark registration, ask how long the workmanship warranty runs, and ask what happens if the company stops trading. RECC gives you an independent dispute route that does not depend on the installer being cooperative.
Why Leicestershire Homeowners Choose Stratford Energy
Three reasons come up in almost every conversation we have with customers in across Leicestershire.
Premium equipment, designed for the property.
We only fit premium supplier kit, with manufacturer warranties running up to 40 years and our own 5 year workmanship warranty on top. Every Leicestershire property is different, which is why we design each solar system around your home and energy requirements.
Local and accountable.
We are based in Stratford-upon-Avon, with 25 people on the payroll, in-house MCS certified engineers and friendly Renewable Energy Experts on the other end of the phone. Leicester is around 43 miles from our base by road, while the wider county extends over a much larger area. National installers sell the job and subcontract the work. If your system needs attention in the years following installation, having reliable ongoing support can make all the difference.
Protected long term.
MCS certified (NIC1758), RECC registered, TrustMark endorsed, NICEIC Domestic Installer and Approved Contractor. Four independent bodies, each providing additional protection and support should you need it.
Solar Panel Regulations and Certification in Leicestershire
Many Leicestershire installations can still be completed without a full planning application, but the county’s planning position varies because household applications are handled by the relevant district or borough council, or Leicester City Council within the city. Conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 Directions can introduce additional controls, so the individual property needs to be checked before installation.
In many cases, you can install solar panels on your home without applying for planning permission where permitted development rights apply. However, the exact position depends on the property and its local planning authority. Conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 Directions can introduce additional requirements. In Leicester, for example, the council specifically states that visible solar panels in conservation areas can require planning permission. We therefore check the individual property and relevant planning position before installation.
For most houses, roof-mounted solar panels fall under permitted development. In simple terms, this means you can usually install them without making a planning application.
There are still some basic rules. The panels should not sit higher than the top of the roof and should stay close to the roof surface. Different limits apply to panels installed on flat roofs.
Living in a conservation area does not automatically stop you from having solar panels.
However, conservation areas have additional planning controls and the precise requirements vary between local authorities. Leicester City Council, for example, states that planning permission may be needed for solar panels that face and are visible from a street, project more than 200mm from the roof, sit above the roof ridge or are mounted on a visible wall or garden building. We check the individual property rather than making assumptions about the whole county. (Leicester City Council)
An Article 4 direction is an extra local planning rule that removes some of the rights homeowners would normally have to make changes without permission.
Article 4 Directions vary across Leicestershire because they are made by individual local planning authorities for specific areas or properties. Leicester City Council currently identifies Article 4 Directions in areas including Stoneygate, New Walk, West End, St Paul’s, Spinney Hill Park and Belgrave Hall. These can remove permitted development rights for external changes such as alterations to roofs, windows, doors or other features.
Homeowners elsewhere in Leicestershire should check the relevant district or borough council’s planning records for their address. (Leicester City Council)
Listed buildings need particular care. If your home is listed, you will normally need listed building consent for work that affects its special architectural or historic interest, and planning permission may also be required.
Leicestershire contains historic market towns, villages and individual heritage assets alongside more modern housing, so we check the property’s status during the survey and identify what is required before work begins.
Stratford Energy is MCS certified under NIC1758.
MCS is the recognised quality standard for small-scale renewable energy installations. An MCS certified installation is also required if you want to apply for the Smart Export Guarantee and receive payments for eligible electricity exported back to the grid.
You can check an installer’s MCS status on the official MCS register before committing to any work.
Domestic solar and battery installations are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027.
Will Solar Panels Work on Your Leicestershire Home?
Yes, solar panels work well on many homes in Leicestershire. The main factors are your roof’s direction, pitch, available space and how much shade it gets during the day. The property’s listed status, conservation-area position and visibility can also matter in historic towns and villages.
South-facing roofs often produce the most electricity, but east- and west-facing roofs can also be suitable. If your roof has heavy shading, limited space or planning restrictions, this may affect the type of solar panel system that can be installed, but with the latest technology and experience installing residential solar systems across the region, we can help you find the best system for your property.
A home survey is the best way to confirm what will work and how much electricity your system could generate.
Solar is likely to work well for you if:
- You own your home and plan to stay in it for at least five years
- Your roof faces anywhere from east through south to west, without heavy shading from trees or a taller neighbouring building
- Your electricity bill is over £100 a month
- Someone is home during the day, or you are willing to add a battery so evening use is covered
- You have an electric vehicle, or expect to
Solar may not be the right option for your property if:
- Your only usable roof faces north and is shaded for most of the day
- You are moving within two or three years, since the payback runs to 5 to 7
- Your roof requires repair or replacement before installation – or we can install a integrated in-roof system
- You are renting, in which case the conversation needs to start with your landlord
A Victorian or Edwardian terrace in Leicester’s Stoneygate or West End can be a very different solar project from a detached property on the edge of Loughborough, a post-war semi in Hinckley or a larger rural home around Market Harborough.
Traditional terraces can have slate roofs, chimneys, roof extensions and mature surrounding trees, while rural properties may have larger roofs but more complex outbuildings and shading. The question is therefore not simply whether solar works in Leicestershire, but how to design it appropriately for that particular property.
What Happens If Solar Isn’t Right for Your Home?
The survey is free, with no obligation to proceed. We use it to assess your home, energy use and what type of system could suit you best. That might include solar panels, battery storage or an EV charger, depending on your property and how you use electricity. If you choose to go ahead, your installation is supported by a 5-year workmanship warranty.
Equipment is covered by the relevant manufacturer warranty, and Stratford Energy can manage warranty claims on your behalf. You also have a 14-day cancellation period from signing under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, with access to independent dispute resolution through RECC if required.
What We’ll Need to Give You a Quote
There are four key things you’ll need to share with us:
- A recent electricity bill, or your annual kWh figure if you know it
- A rough idea of when you use power: daytime, evenings, or both
- Access to the roof space and loft for the survey
- Whether you have an electric vehicle, or plan to get one
The survey itself takes about an hour. We check roof condition, pitch, orientation, shading through the day, your consumer unit and where a battery could sit. Following the assessment, you’ll receive a detailed written proposal tailored to your property and energy requirements.
Solar Panel FAQs for Leicestershire Homeowners
These are the questions we are asked most often. If yours is not here, call us on 01789 262 411 or use the contact form.
Yes. We install solar panels, battery storage and EV chargers across Leicestershire and the surrounding Midlands area. [CONFIRM: Specific Leicestershire installation examples should be added from the Stratford Energy case-study archive if available before publication.]
Every system is quoted after a survey, so we do not publish fixed prices. What we can say is that a typical 4-bedroom home saves £500 to £700 a year and sees payback in 5 to 7 years. Domestic solar and battery installations carry 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, and the survey and quotation are free.
Yes. Solar panels generate electricity from daylight rather than heat, so they continue producing on cloudy days as well as sunny ones. Leicester averages around four hours of sunshine per day across the year in the 1991-2020 climate data, although conditions vary across the wider county. Your actual output will depend more on roof direction, pitch, shading and system size than temperature. (The Independent)
Not necessarily. Roof-mounted solar panels can fall under permitted development where the relevant conditions are met. The precise position depends on the local planning authority and property. Conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 Directions can introduce additional controls, and Leicester City Council specifically identifies circumstances where visible solar panels in conservation areas need permission. (Leicester City Council)
Most residential installations are completed in one to two days on site. From first call to switch-on usually runs a few weeks, depending on equipment lead times, network approvals and whether any planning or listed-building consent is required.
Yes. Retrofitting a battery to an existing array is one of the more common jobs we do. We install systems including Tesla Powerwall and can integrate battery storage with an existing solar installation where the equipment and system design are suitable.
Yes, and it is usually cheaper to do it in one visit. Wiring the charger in alongside the solar and battery means the car can charge from your own generation instead of the grid. You pick the charger style and power output when the system is designed.
We are MCS certified under NIC1758, which you can check on the MCS register, and we are also RECC registered, TrustMark endorsed and NICEIC approved. Our residential workmanship warranty runs 5 years. Equipment faults go through the manufacturer warranty and we handle those claims for you. If a dispute cannot be settled directly, RECC provides an independent resolution route.
A typical 4-bedroom Leicestershire home saves £500 to £700 a year, and a premium solar and battery system can cut a bill by 80 to 98%. The figure depends on how much electricity you use and when you use it. Savings estimates come from recognised modelling software and are indicative until we have surveyed your property.
Solar Panel Installation Across Leicestershire and Nearby
We install solar panels, battery storage and EV chargers across Leicestershire, including Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Oadby, Wigston and the surrounding villages and rural communities.
Get a Free Solar Quote for Your Leicestershire Home
Tell us your postcode and roughly how much you spend on electricity, and we’ll take it from there. Your home survey is free, with no obligation to proceed.
Prefer to explore your options first? Use our online system builder to see what a solar and battery setup for your home could look like, with no contact details required.
Prefer to speak to someone? Speak to one of our Renewable Energy Experts 01789 262 411.
