Your options in Canterbury
- Solar only. Panels on the roof. For most homes this is the best value.
- Solar and battery. Store spare daytime power and use it in the evening.
- Battery only. Add a battery to solar you already have, or charge one from a cheap overnight tariff.
- Plug-in solar. A small approved panel kit of up to 800W that plugs into a socket. No roof work. It cannot take a battery or qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee. Kits start from about £450 to £500, and the Energy Saving Trust puts the saving at about £70 to £100 a year. Ask us for current rules and options.
0% VAT on home solar and batteries ends on 31 March 2027. After that the rate is 5% (GOV.UK). Surveys, approvals and installs take weeks, so book early. Get a free quote.
What it costs
| System | Installed price (0% VAT) | Saving and export income a year | Rough payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar only4 kWp (about 10 panels) | £4,400 to £6,000 | £980 to £1,460 | 4 to 5 years |
| Solar and small battery4 kWp + 5 kWh battery | £6,400 to £9,600 | £1,160 to £1,740 | 4 to 6 years |
| Solar and large battery4 kWp + 10 kWh battery | £8,000 to £12,400 | £1,340 to £2,000 | 5 to 8 years |
| Battery added to existing solar5 kWh battery, existing 4 kWp solar | £2,200 to £3,800 | £180 to £260 | 10 to 17 years |
| Battery added to solar, cheap overnight rate5 kWh battery, existing 4 kWp solar | £2,200 to £3,800 | £360 to £560 | 5 to 8 years |
| Battery only, cheap overnight rate5 kWh battery, no solar | £2,200 to £3,800 | £360 to £540 | 5 to 8 years |
Estimates, not quotes. These are our own installed prices, set below the typical published averages (the Energy Saving Trust puts a 4.5 kWp system at about £7,600 and a 5 kWh battery at about £4,600). Savings and payback assume one of the special smart tariffs offered by suppliers such as Octopus Energy, rather than a standard tariff, with a home that uses about 3,000 kWh a year. Your roof, your use and your tariff change the result. Prices checked October 2026.
More panels, faster payback. Scaffold, inverter, wiring and labour are mostly fixed costs, so doubling the number of panels adds far less than double to the installed price, and payback can fall significantly. We will size and lay out your system to get the most output from your roof, to bring your payback down as far as possible. Ask us to quote a larger array alongside the standard one. A larger system on a smart tariff can pay back in under 4 years in some homes. On our own installation we have achieved a payback as low as 3.7 years, and we will optimise your solar and battery installation to get the best result for your home.
0% VAT until 31 March 2027
Home solar panels and home batteries are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5% (GOV.UK, VAT Notice 708/6). A battery fitted on its own is covered too, from 1 February 2024. The prices above assume 0% VAT.
Who it suits
- Solar only: someone is home in the day, you have a south, east or west roof with little shade, and you want the lowest cost way to cut bills.
- Solar and battery: you are out in the day and use most power in the morning and evening, you have or plan an electric car, or you can use a cheap overnight tariff with a smart meter.
- Battery only: you already export a lot of solar power, or you are on a cheap overnight or time-of-use tariff.
How it works
- You tell us your address and your last 12 months of power use.
- We look at your roof from photos and maps, then book a survey.
- You get a clear quote with the price, the size and the saving, all in plain words.
- It is installed MCS-certified, usually in one to two days for solar.
- We tell the network operator, and you get your MCS certificate. We support your Smart Export Guarantee registration so you can claim export payments.
The electrical side
Solar and battery systems connect to your home wiring, so the condition of that wiring matters. This is where an electrician helps:
- Checking that your consumer unit and earthing suit the new equipment, and replacing the consumer unit where it does not.
- Isolation and cabling between the inverter, the battery and the consumer unit.
- An EICR first, where the existing installation is old or you are unsure of its condition.
- Planning an electric car charger alongside the system, so one design covers both.
All solar installs are MCS-certified, with the certificate issued on completion.
Local notes for Canterbury
Conservation areas, listed buildings and the World Heritage Site
Canterbury has many conservation areas, including the city centre and Chartham, and Canterbury City Council publishes a map and appraisals for them. Most house roofs are permitted development. In a conservation area or the World Heritage Site, panels on a wall that faces the road need planning permission, and a listed building needs listed building consent. Check with the council before you order.
Roof direction
East and west roofs still work well for solar. Shade from trees and neighbouring buildings matters more than direction, so a roof survey comes before any firm price.
Network approval
Your local network operator is South Eastern Power Networks, part of UK Power Networks. Larger systems need their approval before work starts, so the paperwork starts early.
Questions about solar and battery in Canterbury
What does solar and battery cost in Canterbury?
As of October 2026, about £6,400 to £9,600 for 4 kWp with a 5 kWh battery, and about £8,000 to £12,400 with a 10 kWh battery. Solar only is about £4,400 to £6,000. These are estimates, not quotes.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
Usually not. Most house roofs are permitted development. It is not permitted if the house is a listed building, and in a conservation area panels on a wall that faces the road need planning permission. Check with Canterbury City Council if you are unsure.
Will a battery work in a power cut?
Not always. Many home batteries switch off when the grid goes down. Some can run chosen circuits, with extra equipment. Ask for this on your quote.
Is it worth adding a battery?
Often it improves comfort and flexibility more than it saves money. Solar on its own is usually the best value, and a battery pays back slowly unless you use a lot of power in the evening or can charge it cheaply overnight.
Can I get export payments?
Yes, with an MCS-certified install you can apply for the Smart Export Guarantee. Suppliers set their own rates, which must always be above zero. Octopus Energy lists 12p per kWh for Outgoing Octopus as of October 2026.
How long does the VAT relief last?
0% VAT applies to home solar and batteries until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate reverts to 5% unless the law changes.
Last reviewed 12 October 2026. Estimates only, not quotes. Sources: GOV.UK VAT Notice 708/6, Ofgem Smart Export Guarantee, Ofgem price cap, Octopus Outgoing, Energy Saving Trust solar and battery storage, permitted development rules.
Get a free quote
Send your address and a photo of your roof via the contact page, WhatsApp or call 07763 100 477.