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, how the area’s excellent weather affects savings, and which grants can help you cut the initial expense.

If you would like to see how much you could save by getting a solar & battery system at no upfront cost, just answer a few quick questions below and we’ll provide an estimate.

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.

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.

How much do solar panels cost in Kent?

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 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 ongoing monitoring and maintenance – including replacement parts and insurance cover provided by Aviva – and gives you priority access to the best export tariffs around, through our partnership with Octopus Energy.

To sign up for Sunsave Plus, just click the button below, answer a few questions, and we’ll be in touch.

Solar panels in Kent: FAQs