Useful UK Solar & Energy Resources
Reliable information matters when you are planning solar panels, battery storage or other home energy improvements.
Rules covering planning permission, export payments, grid connections, installation standards and consumer protection can change, and they are not always the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This page brings together trusted official and independent UK resources that homeowners can use to check important information before choosing an installer or making an investment.
Last reviewed: September 2026Solar Panels & Battery Storage
These resources are useful starting points for understanding how solar panels and battery systems work, what they may cost and how they can affect household electricity use.
Energy Saving Trust – Solar Panels
Energy Saving Trust provides practical guidance on residential solar PV, including costs, electricity savings, installation and combining solar panels with battery storage.
Read the solar panel guide →Energy Saving Trust – Battery Storage
This guide explains battery capacity, installation, charging, expected costs and how batteries can work with solar generation or time-of-use electricity tariffs.
Read the battery storage guide →Energy Regulation & Solar Export Payments
Ofgem
Ofgem regulates the energy market in Great Britain and provides official information about energy suppliers, consumer protection, the Feed-in Tariff and the Smart Export Guarantee.
Visit Ofgem →Smart Export Guarantee
The Smart Export Guarantee allows eligible small-scale generators in Great Britain to receive payments from participating electricity suppliers for electricity exported to the grid.
Read the SEG guidance →Solar Installation Standards & Certified Installers
MCS
MCS sets standards for small-scale renewable technologies including solar PV and battery storage and maintains information about certified installers and products.
Visit MCS →Find an MCS-Certified Installer
Homeowners can use the MCS directory to search for certified contractors when comparing quotations for solar panels, batteries and other renewable technologies.
Find an installer →Electricity Networks & DNO Connections
Energy Networks Association
The Energy Networks Association provides information about UK electricity network operators and the connection of technologies such as solar generation and battery storage.
Visit Energy Networks Association →Energy Storage & Network Connections
This resource is useful for understanding electricity storage connections and technical requirements that may apply when batteries or solar inverters interact with the grid.
Read network guidance →Solar Planning Rules Across the UK
Planning rules are devolved, which means homeowners should check the guidance for the part of the UK where the property is located.
Planning Portal – Solar Panels
Planning Portal explains the permitted development rules and restrictions that apply to solar installations on homes in England.
Check England planning guidance →GOV.WALES – Solar Panel Planning Permission
Welsh Government guidance explains when residential roof-mounted and standalone solar installations can qualify as permitted development and the restrictions that apply.
Check Wales planning guidance →Scottish Government – Solar Permitted Development
Scottish Government guidance explains permitted development rights for solar PV and solar thermal equipment on homes, including restrictions affecting listed buildings and conservation areas.
Check Scotland planning guidance →nidirect – Photovoltaic Panels
nidirect provides information for households in Northern Ireland about photovoltaic systems, planning considerations and where to seek local energy advice.
Check Northern Ireland guidance →VAT & Energy-Saving Materials
HMRC – Energy-Saving Materials
HMRC guidance is the best place to verify the current VAT treatment of qualifying energy-saving materials, including solar panels and certain battery storage installations.
Check current VAT guidance →nidirect – Support to Generate Your Own Electricity
Northern Ireland has its own energy-policy context. nidirect provides information about domestic renewable electricity and the VAT treatment of qualifying energy-saving installations.
Read Northern Ireland guidance →Solar Installation Safety
Health and Safety Executive – Roof Work
Rooftop solar installation involves working at height. HSE provides official guidance about roof work, safe access, scaffolding and preventing falls.
Read HSE roof safety guidance →Consumer Protection & Complaints
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice provides guidance if something goes wrong with a solar, battery or other energy-efficiency installation, including problems with performance, contracts, installers or costs.
Read consumer guidance →Green Energy Today Guides & Tools
You can also use our practical guides to understand common solar and battery questions before speaking to an installer.
How We Select Resources
Green Energy Today prioritises government departments, regulators, recognised certification organisations, electricity network bodies and established independent consumer organisations.
We avoid adding websites simply because they sell solar products or installation services.
For planning permission, tax, financial support, network connections or installation standards, we recommend checking the original source before making a decision.
We periodically review this page because solar regulations, energy schemes and technical requirements can change.
There are no affiliate links on this resources page.
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