Solar panels in Kent: are they worth it?

If you’re lucky enough to live in the midst of Kent’s sandy beaches and gorgeous Downs and you’re looking to cut your electricity bills, solar panels could be the best way forward.

From Edenbridge in the west to Broadstairs in the east, this county receives more sunlight than almost any other in the UK, which gives residents with solar panels a massive advantage.

In this guide, we’ll explain how much solar panels cost in Kent, which installers you can trust, how the area’s excellent weather affects savings, and which grants can help you cut the initial expense.

At Sunsave we install across the whole of Kent – so if you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll generate a quick estimate.

What are the best solar panel installers in Kent?

1. Sunsave

At Sunsave, our mission is to make solar accessible to all UK households, which is why we’re offering the UK’s first solar subscription service.

Sunsave Plus allows you to start saving on your energy bills immediately, without having to pay anything upfront.

You’ll get the best-in-class kit installed on your roof, access to the best export tariffs, and the 20-year Sunsave Guarantee, which includes 24/7 monitoring & maintenance, a free replacement battery and inverter, and downtime cover – all for a fixed monthly fee.

Your system will also be insured by Aviva against damage, fire, and theft.

2. Diginet Solar

Owner Jon Sutton launched Diginet Solar in 2022, and the Gillingham-based company has gone from strength to strength in the years since.

The team's work has earned the approval of every major certification and accreditation body.

And perhaps more importantly, Diginet has received a continual stream of praise from customers who've left reviews about the straightforward, seamless, friendly service they enjoyed.

The business has endeavoured to simplify the solar purchasing process by explaining every step and providing post-installation services through a dedicated aftercare team.

3. Renewable Energy Services Team

Having provided the good people of Kent with solar & battery systems, EV chargers, and heat pumps from its Margate base since 2018, Hassan Abdalla's company has broken new ground by opening a physical shop.

Customers can come in and chat with the Renewable Energy Services Team, also known as REST, to get advice from people who know their stuff.

The company has explained that this displays "a commitment to bring green energy closer to you. There, our expert team can provide the best solution that meets your needs."

Customers have rewarded this forward-thinking approach with a Trustpilot rating of 4.3 out of 5 – one of the best around.

Michael from REST told Sunsave that the company offers customers "a variety of office locations, superior protection from regulators, attractive financing plans, excellent aftercare, and a solid financial history for complete peace of mind."

4. SGS Energy

The Whitstable-based firm has been installing solar panels in Kent since 2010, making SGS Energy a veteran in the industry.

Jonathan and Matthew Howes own this family-run business, which is also known as Sungod Solar, and have expanded into electric car chargers and heat pumps as well.

The company's ongoing success has only been made possible by the respectful, professional way it treats customers and projects.

Reviewers often compliment its knowledgeable engineers and high-quality installations.

How much do solar panels cost in Kent?

How many homes in Kent have solar panels?

36,159 households in Kent have had solar panels installed with a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate, as of June 2024.

That means 4.9% of homes in the county have had a solar panel system installed.

This is higher than the nationwide average of 4.6% – as it should be, since Kent is one of the brightest, sunniest counties in the UK.

And these Kent numbers only include installations the MCS has certified, meaning the actual number of households with solar panels is probably slightly higher.

Solar Together Kent

Solar Together is an initiative that helps residents in a specific location secure a sizable discount on their solar installations through collective buying.

So far, more than 3,262 Kent households have signed up to take part in the 2024 edition of the scheme, which is supported by all 12 of Kent’s district councils and Medway Council.

649 homes bought a total of 2,975 solar panels through the scheme the last time it ran in Kent, in 2020.

You can take part in Solar Together if you’re a homeowner, small or medium-sized business owner, or tenant – as long as you have your landlord's permission.

It only runs for a limited amount of time in each area, so if you’re interested, sign up for free before it ends.

To learn more, check out our guide to Solar Together.

Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund

This government scheme gives funding to local councils which they can use to improve the energy efficiency of social homes in their area, including measures like solar panels.

In 2024, the government awarded £373,000 to Gravesham Borough Council, in addition to the £800,000 the council received in 2022.

Other Kent residents have benefited from Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund grants too. 

Folkestone and Hythe District Council was given a combined £4.6 million in 2022 and 2023, while in 2022, Ashford, Dartford, Medway, and Thanet’s councils received £12.1 million between them.

Folkestone and Hythe has so far used its grants to carry out 321 measures across 125 households, while Gravesham has funded 289 improvements in 258 homes, according to the government.

It’s not clear how many of these measures were solar panel installations, but they make up about 10% of all installations across the country.

You can’t apply to the scheme, but if you live in Gravesham, you can contact your local council to advocate for your social housing to be included in any measures.

National grants

Two national grants are available to homes in Kent – and if you’re eligible for either, you should definitely think about applying.

Solar panels can cut your electricity bills by hundreds of pounds per year, shrink your carbon footprint, and increase your property’s value, but the upfront cost is usually high. If you don’t have to pay it, you shouldn’t.

Home Upgrade Grant

The Home Upgrade Grant gives funding to local authorities so they can pay for energy-efficient improvements in low-income households which aren’t connected to the gas grid.

This government-backed scheme is only available to properties that have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a rating of D, E, F, or G.

If your home is eligible, you could get a largely discounted or free solar panel system, wherever you live in Kent.

In the most recent wave of funding, the government gave £82.3 million to a 48-council consortium that included Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone and Hythe, Gravesham, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling, and Tunbridge Wells’ councils.

Another consortium of Dartford and Dover picked up £2.1 million in funding.

To see if you could qualify, apply through the government’s site or call your local council.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)

This government scheme forces large energy suppliers to install energy-saving improvements in low-income and vulnerable households that use electricity to power their heating systems.

If you think you could be eligible and receive at least one qualifying means-tested benefit – such as Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Child Tax Credits – you could potentially get an energy supplier to install a free solar panel system at your property.

More than 21,700 solar panel systems have been installed in the UK through ECO4 since it began in July 2022, which is just over 5% of all measures taken through the programme.

Is Kent sunny enough for solar panels?

Kent receives more sunlight than the great majority of UK counties, with Ashford getting 1,310 kilowatt-hours per square metre (kWh/m²) on average per year – 20% higher than the national average.

This number will change depending on where you are in Kent, but it’s still a fantastic indication.

Ashford’s figure is based on the European Commission's Photovoltaic Geographical Information System, which supplies regularly updated solar irradiance data.

The solar panel industry measures sunlight by tracking the sun’s average intensity in a specific area, which it calls ‘solar irradiance.’

It’s assessed in kilowatt-hours per square metre – that is, how much energy makes it from the sun, across 93 million miles of space, to a specific square metre on Earth.

There are lots of factors that affect solar panel output, but solar irradiance is one of the most important.

As you might expect, the more intense the sunlight that hits your panels, the higher the kWh/m², and the more solar electricity your installation generates – which means more savings for you.

How much power can a solar panel system generate in Kent?

A solar panel system in Kent can generate enough electricity to power most of your home’s electrical needs, allowing you to cut your electricity bills.

We designed the system below for a home in Maidstone that uses around 3,000kWh of electricity per year.

Is it worth getting solar panels in Kent?

It’s absolutely worth getting solar panels in Kent, more so than most places in the country.

Kent benefits from high levels of solar irradiance – particularly when compared to the UK average – which enables residents to save hundreds of pounds per year.

There’s a reason why 4.9% of households in the county have decided to get solar panels – and that percentage will likely rise over the coming years, as energy bills stay high and heat pumps and electric vehicles continue to become increasingly popular.

If you’d like to buy solar panels but the upfront cost puts you off, check if you’re eligible for help from initiatives like the Home Upgrade Grant or ECO4 scheme.

And if you don’t qualify for a government grant, you should consider Sunsave Plus, our all-in-one residential solar and battery solution that’s tailored to your home, and delivered as a monthly subscription at no upfront cost.

It comes with 24/7 monitoring and maintenance, free replacement parts (including a battery and inverter), and downtime cover. Your system will also be insured by Aviva against damage, fire and theft.

At Sunsave we install across the whole of Kent – so if you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll generate a quick estimate.

Solar panels in Kent: FAQs