Solar panels for homes in Northern Ireland
We design and install solar panels for home use across Northern Ireland, with battery storage and EV charging options. Every system is sized to your roof and how your household uses electricity.
Local installers with 16 years of solar experience
Solar Power NI has installed solar panels for homes, farms and businesses across Northern Ireland since 2010. We're part of the McHenry Group and based in Ballycastle.
European brands
German SOLARWATT panels, our partner brand since 2010, with European inverters, batteries and smart devices.
Long warranties
SOLARWATT Vision panels carry 30-year product and performance warranties. Classic panels carry 20 and 25 years. Why we choose SOLARWATT.
Certified and reviewed
MCS-certified, NICEIC and RECC, with 100+ five-star reviews on Trustpilot.
Benefits of solar panels for home use
A common myth is that solar panels need direct sunshine. They generate from daylight, so they work in Northern Ireland's climate all year round, producing more in summer and less in winter.
- Use your own electricity during the day and buy less from your supplier
- Sell spare electricity back to your supplier through an export tariff
- Store daytime power for the evening with a battery
- Charge an electric car or heat water from surplus solar
- Very little maintenance once installed
For scale, Power NI bases its typical household bill on 3,200 kWh of electricity a year. Our domestic systems typically generate 3,500 to 6,000 kWh a year, depending on size, roof direction and shading.
What size solar system does my home need?
Most households we work with install a 4kW or 5kW system, and larger homes go up to around 7kW. The right size depends on your roof space, which way it faces, and how much electricity you use during the day.
Which panels?
We fit two SOLARWATT ranges: Vision glass-glass panels with the longest warranty, and Classic glass-foil panels for the best price-performance. Compare Vision and Classic.
Do I need a battery? Not essential, but highly recommended
You don't need one for your solar panels to work, but we highly recommend adding one. Here's why:
- Panels generate most in the middle of the day, when many households are out or using little power.
- Without a battery, that spare power is exported to the grid. You're typically paid less for exported electricity than you pay to buy it back in the evening.
- A battery stores it for later, so you use more of your own solar power and buy less from your supplier.
- It's easier to fit at the same time. Installing panels and battery together means one survey, one install and one set of paperwork.
We install Hinen all-in-one storage and the myenergi eco system, and we'll size the battery to your evening usage.
Try our solar calculator
0% VAT on home solar until 31 March 2027
Solar panels and batteries installed in homes in Northern Ireland currently have 0% VAT. The rate is due to rise to 5% from 1 April 2027 unless the government extends it (HMRC VAT Notice 708/6).
Spare electricity you export is paid for by your supplier: Power NI sets an annual export price, approved by the Utility Regulator.
Your quote includes system size, expected annual generation, cost and estimated payback for your home.
VAT and export information checked October 2026.
Buy right, buy once: how it works
- We're in touch within 48 hours of your enquiry
- We visit to assess your roofs, orientation and energy use
- We design a system around your site
- You get a full report: system size, generation, cost and payback
- Our own team schedules and completes the install
Solar panels for new builds
Building a new home or replacing an ageing roof? In-roof solar sits flush with the tiles for a neater finish than standard on-roof panels.
For developers, fitting solar at the build stage, before the roof goes on, avoids extra costs later and allows in-roof panels for the most polished result.
Get a developer's quote
Homes we've fitted with solar
Every photo is one of our own installs. See more in our gallery and read customer savings on our real installs page.
Home solar panel FAQs
Do solar panels work in Northern Ireland's weather?
Yes. Solar panels generate from daylight, not direct sunshine, so they produce power all year. Output is higher in summer and lower in winter.
Do you need to maintain solar panels?
Very little. Panels are made of durable glass, and rain, wind and snow largely keep them clean.
Will I still get an electricity bill?
Yes. You'll still buy some electricity, especially in winter and at night, but you'll buy less, with the most noticeable difference between spring and summer.
Are there grants for home solar panels in Northern Ireland?
There is no general government grant for home solar in Northern Ireland at present. Home installations currently benefit from 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
Do I need a battery with solar panels?
Not to make them work, but we highly recommend one. A battery stores the spare power your panels make during the day so you can use it in the evening, instead of exporting it for less than you pay to buy electricity back. Explore Hinen battery storage.
Your future. Our energy.
Every home is assessed individually. We'll survey your roof and energy use, then design a system that fits, with no one-size-fits-all packages.
Get a free quote