Wales’ Solar Mandate
From March 2027, Wales will require renewable electricity generation in every new‑build home - effectively making solar the go‑to choice for developers. Published: March 17, 2026
As award-winning solar and battery installers, we design and fit high-performance renewable energy systems that deliver reliable, cost-saving electricity for your home across Wales and England. Our experienced team manages the entire process – from detailed energy assessments and system design through to expert installation and commissioning.
Solar panels work by capturing clean, renewable energy from the sun and converting it into electricity for your home, while battery storage allows you to store excess power for use when the sun isn’t shining. Today’s solar and battery systems are engineered to perform efficiently in UK conditions, helping you reduce energy bills, lower your carbon footprint, and enjoy greater energy independence all year round.
Many homeowners wonder if solar is a good investment. The truth: modern solar panels paired with a battery can significantly cut energy bills and increase energy independence, often paying for themselves in under a decade.
Absolutely. UK solar technology is designed to generate electricity even on cloudy days. Most homes still produce plenty of power year-round.
With a battery system, excess energy captured during the day is stored for use when the sun isn’t shining, keeping your home powered day and night.
Minimal maintenance is required. Solar panels are durable, weather-resistant, and usually only need an occasional clean to stay at peak efficiency.
Without storage, excess solar energy is exported back to the grid.
With the right setup, you can:
Store unused electricity for the evening
Reduce peak-time energy purchases
Sell surplus power back to your provider
Some homeowners also combine solar with smart tariffs to maximise the value of the energy they generate.
Solar panels significantly reduce your bills.
When paired with battery storage, a heat pump, and a smart energy tariff, your home becomes a fully integrated energy system – generating, storing and optimising power automatically.
For some properties, this combination can mean near – £0 annual energy bills.
If you’re interested in seeing how that works, explore our complete smart energy solution.
Solar Panels, Battery Storage & A Heat Pump
“The upgrades have made a huge difference – our home is so much warmer now. Friends walk in and say ‘WOW!’ I’ve already recommended Smart Energy Homes to friends and family and will continue to do so.”
We specialise in solar panel installation for homes throughout Wales and England. Our MCS-accredited engineers design and install high-performance solar PV systems tailored specifically to your home, helping you reduce electricity bills, protect against rising energy costs, and lower your carbon footprint.
Areas We Cover
Wales – covering all regions including South Wales, Mid Wales, North Wales, and West Wales.
South West England – including the Bristol & Bath area, Gloucestershire & The Cotswolds, Somerset & Taunton, and Wiltshire & Swindon.
Wider West & Midlands – reaching parts of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and surrounding areas.
If you’re searching for solar panel installation, our experienced team is ready to help. Contact us today for a free home solar survey and personalised quotation.
If you can’t find the answer to your question here please done hesitate to get in contact with us
Complete our free quote form and a solar expert will be in touch to give you an initial insight into how much you could save on your annual electricity bills and the potential cost of solar and battery storage installation.
Many people decide to explore solar once they realise they are paying for power they could generate themselves. Waiting simply means those costs continue, and you won’t start saving until you do go solar.
Yes. Solar panels work from daylight, not direct sunlight, and the UK gets more than enough across the year for systems to perform well. Output is higher in spring and summer, but panels still produce energy on cloudy days and during the winter months.
Adding a battery can make a big difference in darker seasons. It lets you store any surplus energy made during brighter periods of the day and use it later, such as in the evening when usage is higher. This helps smooth out the natural changes in winter output and gives you better use of the energy your system produces all year round.
Panels on your roof turn daylight into electricity. This passes through an inverter, which changes it into the type of power your home uses. Your house uses this energy first, cutting the amount you buy from the grid. If you add a battery, any extra power can be stored for later, which helps you make the most of the energy you produce each day.
The installation of Solar PV panels typically takes 1 to 3 days, depending on the size and complexity of the system. The process involves mounting the panels on your roof, connecting them to an inverter, and performing necessary electrical work.
Higher gas prices, world events, and shifts in supply all feed into the cost the UK pays for power. These pressures flow through to household bills because much of the country still relies on gas-fired power stations. As a result, many people look for ways to reduce how much of their energy comes from the grid and protect themselves from price swings in future.
Your home doesn’t just have to consume energy, it can produce value. By exporting surplus electricity back to the grid, you can generate additional income while reducing your overall costs.
With the right system in place, you decide when to use energy, when to store it, and when to sell it.
If you’re here, you’re probably thinking about solar panels. But what if we told you that by adding battery storage and a heat pump – and switching to an Octopus Energy tariff – your energy bills could drop to £0?
You could increase your home’s value by up to 13%, sell unused energy back to the grid, and turn your home into an income-generating asset.
Generate it. Store it. Use it. Sell it.
Fair usage limits, terms and exclusions apply. Visit octopus.energy/zero-bills-home for more information.