Solar FAQs – Northern Ireland (2026 Guide)

Most NI homes now see full payback in around 5 years, depending on:

• your roof direction
• your usage
• whether you add a battery
• electricity prices

After that, most of your electricity is effectively free for 15–20+ years.

No — as of 2026, there are no domestic solar grants in Northern Ireland.

BUT…

Homeowners still benefit from:

• 0% VAT on domestic solar installations
• SEG export payments from some suppliers
• Fast ROI (around 5 years)

No — but adding a battery increases savings and often speeds up payback to 5–7 years.

A battery lets you:

• store energy you'd otherwise export
• use solar at night
• reduce your grid reliance
• protect against outages (backup systems only)

Learn more about solar batteries

Prices vary by system size, but typical NI ranges are:

• 3–4kW system (most homes): £5,000–£7,500
• Add battery: £2,500–£8,000 depending on size
• Larger homes / EV owners: £8,000–£12,000+

You can't know the exact figure until an installer checks:

• roof space
• tilt & orientation
• shading
• energy usage

That's why quotes matter.

Yes — we cover all major NI towns and surrounding areas, including Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Lisburn, Newry, Bangor, Ballymena and many more.

See full coverage

Most modern solar panels last 25–30+ years.

Typical warranties:

• 25-year performance warranty
• 10–12 year product warranty
• Inverters: usually 10–12 years, extendable
• Batteries: 10–15 years depending on brand

Yes — solar still generates electricity in cloudy weather. Northern Ireland gets enough daylight to make solar very viable.

You'll generate less in winter, but the high summer output balances this out across the year.