Popular Brands Compared — and What to Look For
Perlight, JA Solar, and Jinko are the most commonly installed residential solar panel brands in the UK. The right solar panel system for your home depends on your roof space, your daily energy needs, and how much usable electricity you want to generate.
Top 10 Solar Panel Brands for UK Homes (2026)
| # | Brand & Model | Panel Type | Max Efficiency | Max Wattage | Product Warranty | Performance Warranty | Best For |
| 1 | Project Solar Evolution Max | Monocrystalline (TOPCon) | 25.5% | 500W | Lifetime | Lifetime | Highest efficiency on the UK market |
| 2 | LONGi Hi-MO S10 | Monocrystalline (HPBC) | 25.0% | ~490W | 25 years | 30 years (88% retention) | Premium efficiency, strong low-light performance |
| 3 | AIKO Neostar 3 | Monocrystalline (N-Type ABC) | 24–25% | ~440W | 25 years | 30 years | Best power output per square metre |
| 4 | JinkoSolar Tiger Neo 3.0 | Monocrystalline (N-Type TOPCon) | 24.8% | 495W | 25 years | 30 years (87.4% retention) | Large households with high energy needs |
| 5 | SunPower Maxeon 6 | Monocrystalline (Maxeon) | 22.8% | 440W | 40 years | 40 years | Lowest degradation, longest warranty |
| 6 | Perlight Delta 515W | Monocrystalline (N-Type, double glass) | 23.2% | 515W | 30 years | 30 years | Durability, moisture resistance, mid-range cost |
| 7 | REC Alpha Pure-R | Monocrystalline (N-Type) | 22%+ | ~430W | 25 years | 25 years | Low degradation, UK climate performance |
| 8 | JA Solar DeepBlue 3.0 | Monocrystalline (PERC/N-Type) | 21.3–22.5% | 555W | 25 years | 25 years | Best value — solid output at a lower price |
| 9 | Qcells Q.TRON BLK-G2+ | Monocrystalline (Q.ANTUM) | 21–22% | ~400W | 25 years | 25 years | Cloudy climates, cost effectiveness |
| 10 | Panasonic EverVolt | Monocrystalline (HIT) | 21–22% | ~410W | 25 years | 25 years | Brand reliability, consistent energy yield |
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At a Glance
| Brand | Low-Light Performance | Suits Limited Roof Space | Price Point |
| Project Solar Evo Max | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Premium |
| LONGi Hi-MO S10 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Premium |
| AIKO Neostar 3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Premium |
| JinkoSolar Tiger Neo 3.0 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Mid–Premium |
| SunPower Maxeon 6 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | High Premium |
| Perlight Delta 515W | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | Mid |
| REC Alpha Pure-R | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Mid–Premium |
| JA Solar DeepBlue 3.0 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Budget–Mid |
| Qcells Q.TRON BLK-G2+ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Mid |
| Panasonic EverVolt | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Mid |
What to Look For When Choosing Solar Panels
1. Solar Panel Efficiency
Efficiency tells you how much sunlight a panel converts into usable electricity. A panel rated at 19% converts 19% of the sunlight it receives into power for your home.
UK residential panels range from 19% to 23% efficiency. No panel hits 100% — the technology isn't there yet — but 19–23% will run your home and produce surplus electricity. Years of research and heavy investment have pushed panels to this range. The more efficient the panel, the more electricity you generate per square metre, which matters most when roof space is tight.
The Longi Hi-MO 6 Series leads the UK market on efficiency. Its Hybrid Passivated Back Contact (HPBC) technology removes front-side busbars, pushing efficiency to 23.2%.
2. Wattage and Power Output
Wattage is the maximum power output a panel produces under standard test conditions. A 390W panel outputs 390 watts; a 400W panel outputs 400 watts. If your roof has limited space, fewer high-wattage panels will serve you better than more panels at lower output. If your roof is large, wattage matters less.
3. Panel Size
Most domestic solar panels measure around 5.4 feet by 3.25 feet (roughly 1.65m x 1m), though this varies by brand. Check the dimensions of any panel you're considering against your available roof space before committing.
4. Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Solar Panels
Monocrystalline panels are made from a single silicon crystal. They carry higher efficiency ratings, perform better in low light, and suit the UK's cloudy climate. They're the standard choice for UK homes in 2026.
Polycrystalline panels are made from multiple silicon crystals. They cost less but generate less power per square metre. If you have plenty of roof space and a tighter budget, they're worth considering — though they've largely been replaced by monocrystalline panels in the UK residential market.
5. Safety Features
Solar panels carry live electrical current. Buy from a reputable brand through a trusted solar panel installer, and check that the panels are MCS-approved — you'll need MCS certification to access the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and get paid for surplus electricity you export to the grid.
Key safety features to look for:
Fire resistance. Panels are tested to withstand high temperatures and resist sparking or spreading flames.
Overvoltage protection. Built-in devices cap voltage levels during power surges and lightning strikes, protecting your panels and connected equipment.
Electrical isolation. Panels can be switched off during maintenance to prevent electric shock. Never work on your system with it running.
Ground fault protection. Usually built into the inverter or wiring board, this detects current leakage from the array and cuts the risk of electric shock.
Weather resistance. Tempered glass and aluminium frames handle high winds, hail, and temperature extremes. UK weather won't degrade a well-made panel.
6. Warranties
Most panels carry a 25-year product warranty. Perlight extends this to 30 years. The
performance warranty (also called a linear output warranty) is separate — it guarantees a minimum energy output, declining gradually each year. For example: 98% in year one, 97% in year two, and so on.
Your inverter also needs attention. Most inverters need replacing after around 12 years, so factor that into your long-term solar panel costs.
Installation Options
Roof-mounted is the most common setup — panels sit directly on the roof, using your existing sun exposure without taking up ground space.
Ground-mounted systems suit properties with land. You can angle them precisely for maximum output, which often improves energy generation compared to a fixed roof pitch.
Flat roof and wall-mounted systems use adjustable mounting brackets. You get more positioning flexibility, useful if your roof doesn't face south or has shading issues.
Get a professional installer to assess your roof's size, orientation, and condition before you decide. The difference in energy yield between a well-positioned and poorly-positioned system is significant.
Maintenance
A solar panel system needs little hands-on attention, but a few checks keep it running at optimal performance:
Clean the panels a few times a year — dust, bird droppings, and debris cut into energy production more than most people expect. Inspect for cracked glass or loose connections after storms. Check your inverter regularly; it converts DC power from the panels into AC power your home can use. Monitor your system's output — a sudden drop usually signals a fault worth investigating.
Professional maintenance services are available if you'd rather not do it yourself. They'll extend the lifespan of your system and catch problems early.
Costs and Financial Benefits
A typical domestic solar panel system costs between £5,000 and £10,000 installed, in line with most
solar panel installation cost estimates in the UK and what you might pay for
installing around ten solar panels. Several schemes reduce that figure:
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). You sell surplus electricity back to the grid at up to 5.38p/kWh. A well-sized system can earn you up to £745 per year this way.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO4). Low-income and eligible households can access funding toward installation costs.
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Quarterly payments for homeowners who install solar thermal systems.
Local council grants and energy supplier schemes also exist — your installer should know which ones apply to your area. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical system saves homeowners up to £400 a year on energy bills, on top of any SEG income.
Battery Storage
Adding a battery lets you store solar energy generated during the day and use it at night or during a power cut. This cuts your reliance on the grid and helps you avoid peak-rate electricity charges, which is why many larger homes look at 10kW solar systems with battery storage.
A battery adds £5,000 to £9,500 to your installation costs. Whether the long-term savings justify that depends on your household's energy usage and how much surplus electricity your system generates; for example, an 8kW solar system with battery storage can dramatically cut grid imports for high-usage homes. Ask your installer to model it for your specific setup before deciding.
CRG Solar Packages
Full systems installed from £6,300, including MCS certificate, mounting kit, and HIES guarantee.
8 Panel System and Inverter — from £6,300
10 Panel System, Inverter and 5.12kWh Battery — from £9,561 (similar in scale to our 6kW solar panel system package)
5.12kWh Battery and 3.6kW Inverter — from £4,550
We work with GivEnergy, Sunsynk, Growatt, and other leading brands depending on stock. Get in touch for current availability and a free quote.
"Prices are fully installed including mounting kit and HIES guarantee as well as registered with MCS — a proper job, as they say!"
