Solar Panel Installation Swindon
Energy bills in Swindon climb year after year, and the standing charges keep landing even when you cut back. Solar panel installation lets you generate your own power, store what you don’t use and stop handing it all to the grid. With MCS certified solar panels and battery storage from Core Renewable Solutions, you can cut your energy bills by up to 70%.
Lower Your Energy Bills With MCS Certified Solar Panel Installers in Swindon
Every quarter the bill lands higher than the last, and there is not much you can do about it while you buy every unit of electricity from a supplier. Solar changes the maths. You generate your own power during the day, use it in your own home or business, and lean on the national grid for far less.
We are Core Renewable Solutions, a family-run business and a team of certified installers fitting solar panels across Swindon and the South West. Every solar PV system we install is MCS certified, so it meets the highest industry standards for performance and safety, and qualifies for the Smart Export Guarantee. We size each system around your roof, your energy usage and the bills you want gone, and we give you clear, transparent pricing in a written quote after a free survey.
What Our Clients Say About Us
Our Work Speaks for Itself
Domestic Solar Panel Installation for Swindon Homes
If it feels like a chunk of your income leaves again the moment the energy bill arrives, solar puts some of that back in your pocket. You generate power through the day, store what you do not use, and pull far less from the grid, so the bills that used to creep up every year start moving the other way.
We design every set of domestic solar panels around your roof and the way your household actually uses energy, with full MCS certification on every install. Unlike solar thermal panels, which only heat water, solar PV panels generate electricity you can use right across the home. A panel-only setup or a full solar and battery storage system, we build it around your home and how far you want to push toward self-sufficiency and long term savings.
Commercial Solar Panel Installation for Swindon Businesses
For most Swindon businesses, energy is one of the few overheads that keeps rising and will not sit still in a budget. If your premises draws most of its power in daylight hours, that is exactly when solar generates, so a solar PV system offsets the energy you would otherwise be buying at peak and protects you against rising energy costs.
Swindon’s distribution units, warehouses, offices and light-industrial sites often have large flat or shallow-pitched roofs with plenty of room for a system that pays its way. We install commercial solar panels across Swindon and the wider South West, designed around your trading hours, energy demand and roof size, with battery storage to hold on to more of what you generate and lower your running costs and your carbon footprint.
Solar Battery Storage for Swindon Homes and Businesses
Without a battery, most of the energy your solar panels make in the day goes to waste. The average UK home uses only 30-50% of what it generates and exports the surplus solar energy, then buys electricity back at a higher rate in the evening, which is when the household actually needs it. A solar battery closes that gap. Battery storage increases how much of your own power you use to over 80%, reduces your reliance on the grid and helps future proof your home or business against rising prices.
Our battery storage solutions are sized around your daily usage and can be fitted alongside a new installation or added easily to an existing solar PV system as a retrofit. The more of your own surplus energy you store and use, the closer you get to genuine self-sufficiency.
What Your Can Expect
Your Swindon Solar Panel Installation Process
1
Free Site Survey & Quote
We start with a free, no-obligation survey at your Swindon property and an initial consultation about your goals. We look at your roof size, your existing electrics and how much energy you use, then send a clear written quote with transparent pricing and no pressure to go ahead.
2
Solar System Design
Once you give us the go-ahead, we design your solar PV system around your roof, energy use and the system size that suits you, adding battery storage if you want to get the most out of every unit you generate.
3
Solar Installation
Our MCS-certified installation team carries out the full job, from scaffold to inverter and final commissioning. We keep the site tidy, finish to a proper standard and walk you through how everything works before we leave.
4
Certification & Aftercare
We register your installation with MCS, set up your Smart Export Guarantee with your energy supplier and hand over all your warranty paperwork. We also set up your remote monitoring app so you can track generation from your phone, and we are here for the life of the system.
Our Solar Projects
Our Solar Projects Across Swindon & The South West
Get Your Free Solar Quote in Swindon
Tell us about your property and what you are paying now. We will arrange a free, no-obligation survey, give you expert advice and show you what solar could save you.
Prefer to talk? Call us on 0117 992 3966 to schedule your free site survey.
- MCS-certified installers
- Established since 1998
- Respond within 24 hours
- Serving Swindon & the South West
Areas of Swindon We Cover
We install solar panels across all of Swindon and the surrounding South West. Our team works throughout the town and the villages around it, including:
- Old Town
- Stratton St Margaret
- Covingham
- Eldene
- Walcot
- Gorse Hill
- Rodbourne
- Royal Wootton Bassett
- Freshbrook
- Toothill
- Wroughton
- Highworth
- Haydon Wick
- Abbey Meads
Solar Panels for Swindon's New-Builds and Period Homes
Swindon has grown fast, and its housing reflects it. The large modern estates at Wichelstowe, Tadpole Garden Village, Redhouse, Priory Vale and Abbey Meads, along with the newer developments out toward Royal Wootton Bassett, are full of semi-detached and detached homes with simple, unshaded roofs that suit solar panels with very few complications. These installs tend to be quick and clean, with clear roof aspects and no listed-building restrictions to work around.
Old Town and the GWR Railway Village are a different picture. Here you will find Victorian terraces and homes inside conservation areas, where panel placement and visual impact need more thought. We use low-profile panels and design each install to fit the property, and we check whether planning permission applies before any work starts. Where a roof is not suitable, ground mounted systems can be an option on larger plots.
Solar Panels Swindon FAQs
How much do solar panels in Swindon cost?
The cost of a solar installation in Swindon depends on several things: the system size and number of solar PV panels, the brand and efficiency of the panels, whether you add battery storage, the inverter spec, your roof type, pitch and access, scaffolding, and any planning or listed building consent. Rather than quote a one-size figure, we give you a free, no-obligation survey and a written quote with transparent pricing, built around your property, energy use and budget. To talk it through, call a solar specialist on 0117 992 3966 or fill out the contact form.
How much can I expect to save with solar panels?
Most Swindon homeowners cut their energy bills by 50-70% with a combined solar and battery system, depending on how much energy they use and the system size. A typical 4kW installation produces around 3,400-3,800 kWh a year. A battery lets you use more of your own power, with extra income through the Smart Export Guarantee on any surplus energy you send back to the grid. You can see the numbers in more detail on our solar panels cost savings page.
How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?
Most systems in Swindon pay for themselves within 6-10 years, then keep generating for 25+ years after that. Payback depends on system size, how much energy you use and how much you export. Adding battery storage shortens the route to long term savings by letting you use more of what you generate.
Are there any financial grants for solar panels in Swindon?
The ECO4 scheme offers partial or fully funded installations for qualifying low-income households. The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for surplus energy exported to the grid. New domestic solar and battery installations also benefit from 0% VAT until March 2027. We will tell you which schemes apply to you during your free survey.
Are solar panels worth it for Swindon homeowners?
For most Swindon homeowners, yes. Solar panels turn money you currently hand to a supplier into power you generate yourself, and with rising energy costs that gap only grows. Across the industry, the return on solar and battery systems usually lands between 5 and 12 years, and most of the systems we install in Swindon sit at the quicker end, paying back within 6 to 10 years before generating largely free electricity for 25+ years after that. A typical solar panel installation in the UK costs somewhere between £7,712 and £12,877 depending on system size and whether you add battery storage, so the long term savings and the move toward self-sufficiency usually outweigh the upfront cost. We give you the real numbers for your home at your free survey.
Are you MCS-certified solar panel installers?
Yes. Core Renewable Solutions are fully MCS-certified solar panel installers covering Swindon and the South West. We trade under the business name Core Heating and Electrical Solutions Limited and can be found on the MCS Certified find an installer page. You can view our MCS profile here. Our MCS certification number is NAP-77210. MCS certification confirms our installations meet strict UK quality, safety and performance standards, and keeps your system eligible for schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee.
Do your solar panels come with a warranty?
The solar panels we supply come with strong manufacturer warranties covering both product quality and long-term performance. The solar battery and inverter are backed by a 10-year warranty, so you have reliable storage and confidence in the system for years to come.
How long does solar panel installation in Swindon take?
Most domestic installations are completed in around 3 to 5 days. Larger systems, commercial projects or setups with battery storage can take a little longer. We work efficiently to keep disruption down, handling everything from scaffolding to final testing, and we will give you a clear timeframe at your free site survey.
What's the full solar PV installation process?
Our installations run through four stages: free site survey and quote, system design, installation, then certification and aftercare. We assess your roof, design a system around your energy needs, fit it with our MCS-certified installation team, then register it and set up your Smart Export Guarantee payments. We are on hand to answer questions at every stage so you know exactly how your system works.
Do solar panels need much maintenance?
Solar panels need very little maintenance once installed, with no moving parts and a typical lifespan of over 25 years. We recommend an annual inspection to keep everything running at its best and to check the inverter and battery, and your monitoring app will flag anything that needs a look in the meantime.
What happens after my solar panels are installed?
Once the panels are in, we commission the system, register it with MCS and the Smart Export Guarantee through your supplier, and walk you through the monitoring app so you can track generation from your phone. You get all your warranty paperwork and a single point of contact for any aftercare across the life of the system.
Can I combine solar panels with an air source heat pump in Swindon?
Yes. Solar panels and an air source heat pump work well together as a full renewable energy setup. Your panels generate the electricity that runs the heat pump, which brings down the cost of heating your home and your hot water. We install air source heat pumps across Swindon and the South West, often alongside solar PV. Learn more about our air source heat pump installation.
Can I charge my electric vehicle with solar panels in Swindon?
Yes. Pairing solar with an EV charger lets you charge from your own energy during daylight, or store surplus in a battery to charge overnight. Smart EV chargers can be set to prioritise solar generation, so you save money and rely less on the grid. Learn more about our EV charger installation.
Should I add a solar battery to my installation?
A battery is one of the best ways to save money and protect against rising energy costs. It stores the surplus your panels make in the day so you can use it in the evening or during peak-rate periods, and it can be fitted alongside your panels or retrofitted to an existing system. The result is greater self-sufficiency and less reliance on the grid.
Should solar panels be south-facing in Swindon?
South-facing roofs produce the most solar power in Swindon, but east and west-facing roofs work well too. An east-west split system spreads generation across more of the day, which suits households using energy in the mornings and evenings. We assess your roof orientation at the survey and design the system to get the most from how you use energy.
Can solar panels power my whole home in Swindon?
A correctly sized system with battery storage can cover most of your annual electricity, though hitting 100% is hard because of seasonal variation. Most Swindon homes we install for cover 60-80% of their electricity from solar plus battery, with the rest drawn from the grid in the lower-generation months. In practice that means up to a 70% cut in energy bills.
How much sunlight does Swindon get for solar panels?
Swindon sees around 1,500 hours of sunshine a year, broadly in line with the UK average of 1,493 hours. Solar panels generate from daylight rather than direct sun, so they keep producing power on cloudy days. Annual generation has more to do with roof orientation, shading and panel choice than total sunshine hours.
How do solar panels help reduce my carbon footprint?
Solar panels generate electricity from the sun without burning fossil fuels, which cuts the carbon emissions tied to your home or business. A typical 4kW system in Swindon can reduce your annual carbon footprint by around one to one and a half tonnes of CO2. Switching to solar is one of the most effective steps a household can take toward a lower-carbon future.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels in Swindon?
For most Swindon properties, solar panels are considered permitted development and do not need planning permission. Stricter rules apply if your home is listed, sits within a conservation area or falls within the curtilage of a listed building, and permission can also be needed for ground mounted systems or panels on a wall facing a highway. We check this during your free survey, and you can also confirm with Swindon Borough Council whether permission is needed for your installation.
Can I install solar panels on a listed building in Swindon?
Yes, though listed building consent is required and is a separate process from planning permission. For Grade I and Grade II listed properties we use low-profile black-on-black panels and design installations that protect original features. The consent process usually takes 8-12 weeks, and we will guide you through the application.
Are solar panels allowed in Swindon's conservation areas?
Solar panels are generally allowed in Swindon’s conservation areas, though permission may be needed depending on how visible the panels are from public view. Areas such as Old Town and the GWR Railway Village carry conservation status. We run a planning check as part of every survey and help with the application if one is needed.
Can solar panels go on Swindon's Victorian railway-village terraces?
Yes. We install solar on Victorian and Edwardian terraces across Swindon, including the older streets around Old Town and the Railway Village. The main things to weigh up are roof orientation, chimney shading and any conservation or listed building restrictions. South or west-facing rear roofs often work well, and we use low-profile panels to keep the visual impact down. Every install is designed around the property.
What other renewable energy solutions do you install in Swindon?
Solar is one part of what we do. As a renewable energy and electrical company, we install a full range of renewable energy solutions across Swindon, including solar PV, battery storage systems, air source heat pumps for heating and hot water, and EV charging. We also handle the electrical systems behind them, so your panels, battery and EV charger all work together as one setup. Pairing these eco friendly solutions lets your solar power more of your home, from your hot water to your car, and pushes you further toward energy independence. Ask us about combined renewable installations when you book your free survey.
Will solar panels keep my power on during a power cut?
A standard grid-tied solar system shuts down automatically during a power cut, which is a safety feature that protects engineers working on the network. If keeping the lights on matters to you, certain battery storage systems can be set up with backup so essential circuits stay supplied when the grid goes down. This gives you a level of energy security that a panel-only setup cannot, and it works alongside the everyday savings a solar battery brings. We can design your system with backup supply in mind if that is a priority.
