Egg’s 4 steps to solar: What is the solar panel installation process?
Becky Mundie | 14/11/2022
What is the process of getting a solar installation and, most importantly, what does it all cost?
At a Glance
A breakdown of our whole process
A breakdown of all the costs
It doesn’t get much cleaner or greener than generating your own solar energy to power your home.
Not only do solar panels drastically reduce the cost of your electricity bills, but they also lower your carbon emissions. The sun is an environmentally friendly and incredibly powerful power source, meaning your pocket and the planet will thank you.
It’s all well and fine putting solar panels on your wish list and imagining a greener future, but how do you get solar panels installed? They aren’t as much of a pipe dream as you think. They are achievable and attainable and the process isn’t as much of a minefield as you’ve been led to believe.
What’s the process of getting solar?
Let’s break down the process, down to costs and timeframes, in just four steps.
1) Your enquiry
After you have made your enquiry, our team will call you to take you through some questions.
We will confirm your location and ask for your home’s annual kWh output (you'll find this on your electricity bill)
We'll give you information about our products available – including both solar and battery storage and their benefits
Then, we'll send you a brochure with everything you need to know
2) The survey
An Egg surveyor will visit your home to take accurate measurements
This involves a shading analysis, measurements of your roof, loft and roof rafters, and an assessment of your electrical supply and cable routes
This survey costs £199 and will be taken off your final price if you choose to have your installation with Egg
Your Installation Proposal and final quote
Within 5 working days of your survey
This is your final design once the measurements are confirmed and is more detailed and bespoke to your home with refined energy outputs
It comes with final costing, details of how long the installation will take, and exactly how many panels fit on your roof
We will follow up to see if you want to go ahead!
3) The legal bits
The contract
We will send you your contract for you to sign and get back to us
Our quotations are valid for 30 days
Once signed, we’ll ask for you to pay your deposit (25% of the total price)
We will send you a handover pack, filled with all the documentation you need – reference numbers, all passwords, and certificates
(Potential) G99 application
Takes up to 60 working days
Not everyone gets this, but it depends on the size of your inverter and energy output
If this is required, we’ll need to inform the DNO (Distribution Network Operation) through a G99 application – which we do for you
The DNO are the people who look after the energy that goes into your home, so this application requests permission to install your solar and battery system
If needed, the DNO can charge £360 to £660 for the application, which is paid directly to them
4) The go-ahead!
Installation day!
Takes approximately 4 days
Scaffolding will arrive and be built a few days before the installation
Once complete, we will send you a final invoice for the remaining 75%
This price is minus the £199 you’ve already paid for your survey
You start reaping the benefits right away!
How much does it cost to get solar panels installed?
What are the costs of a solar panel system? It’s a common (and important!) question.
While upgrading to solar certainly shows in the installation costs, the combination helps to save both energy and money in the long run.
Pairing your solar panels with a battery saves you as much as 90% on your energy bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average home with a 3.5-kilowatt system could reduce its annual energy bills by anywhere between £170 and £440 off its household bills. That makes quite the difference!
So, while the upfront price of solar can be off-putting, you immediately start reaping the benefits as soon as it’s installed.
But what is it you’re paying for? Let’s break down the total cost.
Solar panels - starting from £8,157
Includes installation
This is based on 8 panels, the minimum typically required to generate enough solar energy to meaningfully reduce reliance on the grid
Battery storage - starting at £6,900
Includes installation
If the battery is installed along with the solar panels, it is included in the 0% VAT in that solar installations have
If we install solar and battery storage at the time, you pay 0% VAT. If battery storage is installed after and separately from solar, VAT is 20%
Survey - £199
Paid upfront
This is taken off your final payment if you choose to continue with us
Deposit – 25% of the total price
Paid ahead of the installation
Final payment – 75% of the total price
Paid once completed
Payment of the survey is taken off the total price
Want to make your house a green home? Take that first step to harnessing the sun’s power by making a solar enquiry here.