Reviewed by Georgia Howson, MCS Certified Solar Expert
Solar Panel Installers in Solihull
Stratford Energy Solutions installs MCS certified solar panels, battery storage and EV chargers across Solihull and the surrounding West Midlands and Warwickshire 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 Solihull and the wider West Midlands and Warwickshire region
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 Solihull Solar Installation Works, Step by Step
We work with homeowners across Solihull, from the town centre and Hillfield through Shirley, Olton and Lyndon, to Knowle, Dorridge, Bentley Heath, Hockley Heath and surrounding communities. 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. Solihull has a varied housing stock, from historic properties and small villas to substantial inter-war suburban development, post-war estates and later housing. The council’s character study identifies a particularly strong inter-war pattern of two-storey semi-detached homes with generous front and rear gardens, while older housing remains concentrated around the town centre and rural settlements.
Four stages, from your first call to the day the system switches on. Most Solihull 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 Solihull
We cover Solihull and the surrounding borough, including the established urban areas around Solihull town centre as well as Shirley, Olton, Lyndon, Elmdon, Monkspath, Knowle, Dorridge, Bentley Heath, Hockley Heath, Balsall Common, Hampton-in-Arden, Meriden and nearby communities. Solihull’s settlement pattern ranges from the urban heart around the town centre to suburban neighbourhoods and rural settlements, so the type of property and its planning context can vary considerably across the borough.
Solihull’s housing stock varies considerably. The borough retains historic properties dating back centuries around the town centre and rural villages, while substantial residential growth began in the 1920s, producing many two-storey semi-detached homes with generous gardens. Later post-war development added further estates and different roof forms. Chelmsley Wood, for example, was developed on a large scale from 1966 to 1970, while Shirley experienced particularly rapid growth during the 1920s and 1930s. This mixture means roof area, orientation, pitch, shading and property-specific planning considerations need to be assessed individually before a system is designed.
Solihull is around 18 miles from our Stratford-upon-Avon base, putting the town within easy reach of our experienced in-house installation team and making it a natural part of our wider Solihull service area.
Our Installations Near Solihull
Our latest solar panels and battery storage systems for homeowners across Solihull and the surrounding area include genuine Stratford Energy installations. The Knowledge Base identifies Neil’s Solar Installation in Solihull as a relevant Stratford Energy case study.
We hold 4.9 stars from 150+ Google reviews, across every area we cover.
Thinking About Solar in Solihull?
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 Solihull: The Key Facts
| Average annual sunshine | The nearest appropriate Met Office long-term station dataset is Winterbourne, University of Birmingham. Its 1991-2020 average is 1,501.33 hours of sunshine per year. This is a nearby representative dataset rather than a Solihull-specific measurement. |
| Sunniest and darkest months | Using the Winterbourne 1991-2020 dataset, July is the sunniest month at 193.48 hours, while December averages 55.60 hours. |
| Local planning authority | Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Conservation areas | Solihull currently has 20 conservation areas, including Solihull, Knowle, Dorridge Station Approach, Olton, Hampton-in-Arden, Warwick Road and White House Way. |
| Areas with extra planning control | Conservation areas can have restrictions on permitted development rights, and Solihull Council confirms that some may also be subject to Article 4 Directions. The White House Way Conservation Area is subject to an Article 4 Direction covering specified alterations, including certain roof alterations. |
| District net zero target | Solihull's current climate policy continues to work towards net zero by 2041 across the borough. The council's 2026-2030 Climate Change Action Plan focuses on cutting emissions, improving energy efficiency and increasing renewable energy use. |
Solar panels generate electricity from daylight rather than heat, so Solihull does not need hot weather for solar to work. Seasonal daylight still has a significant effect on output, with longer and brighter summer days producing considerably more electricity than short winter days. The nearest representative Met Office dataset at Winterbourne records an annual average of 1,501.33 sunshine hours, with July averaging 193.48 hours and December 55.60 hours. 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 in Solihull because the borough contains 20 conservation areas and some locations have additional planning controls. White House Way is particularly relevant because its 1960s housing development is designated as a conservation area and is subject to an Article 4 Direction covering specified alterations, including roof changes. The council’s updated appraisal also includes guidance on climate-change adaptations such as solar panels, with the aim of protecting the area’s street scene and architectural integrity. This does not automatically rule out solar, but it makes the property, roof position and applicable planning controls especially important.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Solihull?
For most Solihull homeowners, the right solar and battery system depends on the property, energy use 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 habits 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 Solihull 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 Solihull Homes
We install six things, and most Solihull 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 Solihull and the surrounding area.
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 the city, quoted and installed by the same team.
How to Choose a Solar Installer in Solihull
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 Solihull Homeowners Choose Stratford Energy
Three reasons come up in almost every conversation we have with customers in the city.
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 Solihull property is different, which is why we design each solar system around your home and energy requirements.
Local and accountable.
Solihull is around 18 miles by road from our Stratford-upon-Avon base, with 25 people on the payroll, in-house MCS certified engineers and friendly Renewable Energy Experts on the other end of the phone. We do not claim to operate from a Solihull office. 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 Solihull
Many Solihull installations can be completed without a full planning application where permitted development conditions are met. However, the borough’s conservation areas and specific Article 4 Directions mean some properties require additional checks. Solihull Council confirms that conservation areas can have restrictions on permitted development rights, while the White House Way Conservation Area is subject to an Article 4 Direction affecting specified alterations, including certain roof changes. We therefore assess the property and proposed panel position before installation.
Not necessarily. Roof-mounted solar panels can fall under permitted development where the relevant national conditions are met. However, conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 Directions can introduce additional requirements. We check the individual property’s 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, Solihull Council confirms that conservation areas can carry restrictions on permitted development rights and may also be subject to Article 4 Directions.
White House Way is one example, with an Article 4 Direction and updated guidance addressing climate-change measures such as solar panels. The proposed panel position and the property’s individual designation therefore need to be checked before installation.
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.
Solihull Council confirms that conservation areas may be subject to Article 4 Directions. The White House Way Conservation Area is currently subject to an Article 4 Direction covering specified alterations, including alteration to the roof.
This does not mean every Solihull home is affected, so we check the property’s exact location and the proposed work rather than assuming normal permitted development rights apply.
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.
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 Solihull Home?
Yes, solar panels work well on many homes in Solihull. 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 any local planning controls can also matter in parts of the borough.
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 traditional property around Solihull town centre can be a very different solar project from an inter-war semi-detached home in the wider suburban area, a post-war property in Chelmsley Wood or a later home around Monkspath, Knowle or Dorridge.
The borough’s housing evidence identifies substantial inter-war development, predominantly two-storey semi-detached homes with generous gardens, alongside older historic properties and later estates. That variety creates different roof forms, orientations, shading conditions and planning considerations. The question is therefore not simply whether solar works in Solihull, 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 Solihull 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 Solihull and the surrounding West Midlands and Warwickshire area. Solihull is around 18 miles by road from our Stratford-upon-Avon base, keeping it within straightforward reach of our in-house installation team.
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. The nearest representative Met Office dataset, at Winterbourne, University of Birmingham, records 1,501.33 average sunshine hours a year for 1991-2020. Solihull’s actual output will depend more on roof direction, pitch, shading and system size than temperature.
Not necessarily. Roof-mounted solar panels can fall under permitted development, but conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 Directions can introduce additional requirements. Solihull has 20 conservation areas, and White House Way is subject to an Article 4 Direction affecting specified roof alterations. We check the individual property before installation.
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 Solihull 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 the West Midlands and Nearby
We install solar panels, battery storage and EV chargers across Solihull and the surrounding West Midlands and Warwickshire area, including Shirley, Olton, Monkspath, Knowle, Dorridge, Bentley Heath, Hockley Heath, Balsall Common, Hampton-in-Arden and nearby communities.
Get a Free Solar Quote for Your Solihull 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.
