- Solar advice hub
- Sunsave-announcement
- UK households can now get solar with no upfront cost
UK households can now get solar with no upfront cost
Sunsave Plus can put solar panels on your roof for £0 upfront, enabling you to make savings from day one.
Why you can trust our content
We know that the solar industry is full of misinformation, but we only use reliable sources, including:
- Our experienced solar experts, installers and system designers
- Our own database of solar & battery system designs
- Authoritative bodies like MCS and the UK government
Everyone would love free solar energy to slash their bills, but the high upfront cost makes it hard to afford. What if there was a way for UK households to switch to solar without needing £1000s in the bank?
What is Sunsave Plus and why did we launch it?
We've created Sunsave Plus, the UK’s first solar subscription, because we want to make solar accessible to all UK households.
There are three key reasons why we believe Sunsave Plus has come at just the right time for the UK solar market - here's a little more detail on each one.
1) High upfront costs
70% of UK households want to go solar, but so far only 4% have done so. That's an enormous gap, and the main reason is the upfront cost of buying solar panels is prohibitively high for most people.
Sunsave Plus lets households own solar panels and benefit from the free electricity they provide, without paying anything upfront. Instead, you make fixed monthly payments, spreading out the cost over time.
2) Lack of maintenance support
A 2021 UK government study discovered that 55% of people who aren't keen on solar were worried about the ongoing maintenance, and more than 40% said a guarantee scheme would allay these concerns – so we created one.
Sunsave Plus comes with the Sunsave Guarantee - 20-years of support including free replacement parts, monitoring and maintenance support and bespoke insurance from Aviva. This is really important as industry experts estimate that every year, a typical solar & battery system in the UK has a 15% chance of requiring maintenance, across a 20-year period.
On average, you'll need to make three call outs overall, and each one can add substantially to the cost – not to mention the hassle of finding a reliable solar engineer to help every time.
3) Increasing demand for electricity
Making solar accessible to all households will only become more necessary as the electrification of the UK continues to accelerate over the coming decades.
To make our homes more energy-efficient and cut carbon emissions, we'll end up growing our electricity usage by 50% between 2020 and 2035, according to consultancy firm McKinsey, as heat pumps and electric vehicles become a fixture of people's homes across the country.
To power your heating, devices, and car, you'll need much more electricity - and solar energy is the solution.
Why should you get Sunsave Plus?
There's no upfront cost
20-year monitoring & maintenance support
Free replacement battery and inverter
Savings can exceed payments
Comprehensive insurance from Aviva
Fixed monthly payments
What is the Sunsave Guarantee?
Every Sunsave Plus subscription comes with the Sunsave Guarantee - a 20-year support and aftercare package that provides you with total peace of mind. Once installed, you can rest assured that you’ll have a consistent supply of clean, green electricity for the next 20 years. It's a comprehensive package that includes:
- A 30-year performance warranty on your solar panels
- A free battery replacement once it performs at less than 70% of its original capacity – which typically happens after 10-12 years
- A free inverter replacement, if required
- 24/7 monitoring of your system, including alerting you if something isn’t working
- Troubleshooting of any issues and management of any warranty claims
- Insurance provided by Aviva to protect your system against damage, fire, and theft
- Downtime protection, meaning we’ll compensate you for any prolonged period that your system isn’t working as it should
To find out more about the Sunsave Guarantee, check out our full guide.
Why is Sunsave Plus different to a loan or a roof lease?
Sunsave Plus is a subscription, which is fundamentally better than a roof lease or a loan. Here's why:
How is it better than a roof lease?
Unlike a solar roof lease, with Sunsave Plus you'll own your solar & battery system from day one,
When you enter into a solar roof lease – also known as a rent-a-roof scheme – a company will put solar panels on your roof for free, but you won't own them.
For the length of the contract, which is typically 25 years, your household will be able to use the solar electricity your panels generate as it's being produced, but the profits from selling your excess energy to the grid will go to the company that owns your panels.
You may have to get permission if you want to sell your home in this 25-year period, or if you want to make any changes to your property near the solar panel system, such as a loft conversion of roof repairs.
Even if the company allows you to, you'll likely have to compensate them for any missed export payments.
And if you ever try to sell your property, a potential buyer may struggle to find a mortgage lender who is happy to get involved.
This is why in the UK roof leases have become increasingly unpopular and uncommon.
How is it better than a loan?
The 20-year span of Sunsave Plus sets it apart from solar loans in the UK, which usually only stretch to 10 years – and the 0% interest loans are typically just two or three years long.
Spreading the payments over 20 years allows you to keep your monthly costs so low that your savings may be higher, meaning you can make an immediate return.
And unlike many loans, you can pay off your principal at any time, without incurring penalties or additional interest.
Sunsave Plus also comes with the Sunsave Guarantee, a 20-year commitment to provide you with monitoring and maintenance, free replacement parts, insurance against damage, theft, fire, and any financial losses if the system isn’t working for a prolonged period of time.
The industry standard is a two-year workmanship guarantee, which isn't enough for a solar panel system's minimum 25-year lifespan.
What’s going to happen to UK energy bills?
Even before the energy crisis, electricity prices have increased by 5.5% each year on average since 2000. Nobody can predict the future, but they are expected to remain high until at least the late 2030s.
With Sunsave Plus, your monthly payments are fixed, so you’re protected against inflation from rising energy bills and your savings will increase over time. And after 20 years, your payments end and all the electricity generated is free.
Our calculations
- Electricity price change taken from ONS Consumer price inflation time series (MM23), showing 5.5% average increase between 2000-2021. For our forecast, we’ve assumed the same rate of inflation over the next 20 years and the energy bills are based on a household using 4,000kWh of electricity each year.
- A Cornwall Insight forecast in July 2023 predicts that power prices will remain high until the late 2030s.
Will Sunsave Plus work all year round?
Solar panels work all through the year — even in the UK! All they need is a bit of daylight. Your solar panels generate the most energy in summer. This is when you’ll sell the most excess electricity to the grid. Your solar panel output will drop in winter, but won’t stop completely. You’ll just need to top up with electricity from the grid.
Our calculations
- The chart is based on a typical four-bedroom family home in Essex using 4,000kWh of electricity each year, with a 6kWp solar panel system and a 5.2kWh battery.
- We’ve calculated this electricity generation using EnergyPlus solar irradiance data, plus the orientation and angle of the property’s roof.
What are people saying about Sunsave Plus?
- "Sunsave, a London-based company, will receive £2 million funding [from the UK government] to .... offer households solar panels for a monthly payment, similar to a mobile phone, rather than an upfront sum." - The Daily Telegraph, Jan 2024
- "Sunsave's offering includes installation, insurance, monitoring and maintenance, and is expected to draw interest from consumers grappling with volatile energy bills and the broader cost-of-living crisis." - Sky News, Dec 2023
- "Sunsave appears to be following the U.S. and Continental European models — now approved by regulators — of the flexible, loan-based subscription model. This means the customer fully owns the system and there aren’t any early repayment fees or penalties." - TechCrunch, Dec 2023
Frequently asked questions
What’s Sunsave Plus?
Sunsave Plus is everything you need to go solar, delivered as a 20-year subscription. It includes the design, supply, financing and install of a system tailored to your home, plus ongoing monitoring, maintenance and insurance through the Sunsave Guarantee for the length of your subscription.
How does Sunsave Plus work?
We offer low cost, long-term financing that spreads the cost of your system over 20 years. So instead of paying for a solar system in one go, you make a smaller monthly payment that allows you to save money on your energy bill from day one.
The subscription ends after 20 years, but you’ll keep your system and continue to save on your energy bill.
Our best-in-class kit works with export tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Flux, so you can sell your excess energy to the grid and maximise your savings.
Who is Sunsave Plus for?
Sunsave Plus is a good option for people who want to save on their energy bills with solar, without making a large upfront payment for a system. It also offers security and peace of mind with the Sunsave Guarantee, so you don’t get any surprise costs.
You need to be a homeowner in England or Wales to get Sunsave Plus.
Do I own my system?
Yes. Sunsave Plus isn’t a lease or rental — you own your system from the day it’s installed.
How long do batteries last?
Solar batteries are built to last a long time, although typically not as long as solar panels which work for longer than 25 years. Most batteries last around 10-12 years (our batteries come with a 10-year warranty), so they usually need to be replaced about halfway through the lifespan of your solar panels.
With Sunsave Plus, we’ll provide you with one free out-of-warranty battery replacement, so you don’t need to worry about getting a new battery when your old one stops performing.
To learn more, check out our guide to how long solar batteries last.
What’s the Sunsave Guarantee?
We only use best-in-class kit, and we’re fully accredited by MCS and other relevant industry bodies. The independent experts at Which? have also put us to the test and endorsed Sunsave as a Trusted Trader, demonstrating that we’re one of the highest quality solar installers around.
That said, sometimes things go wrong. And if that happens, you’re covered by the Sunsave Guarantee for the length of your subscription. It includes full system insurance (provided by Aviva), 24/7 remote monitoring, a free battery replacement, and any parts and repairs that are out of warranty.
What’s included
- 25-year manufacturer’s warranty on panels
- 10-year manufacturer’s warranty on battery and inverter
- one free out-of-warranty battery & inverter replacement
- 24/7 system monitoring so we can see if something’s not working as expected
- troubleshooting and support with any warranty claims
- insurance for damage, fire, theft, and any financial losses if the system isn’t working for a prolonged period of time
What’s not included
- panel cleaning
- repair or replacement of bird netting
To learn more, check out our full guide to the Sunsave Guarantee.
When can I get Sunsave Plus?
We’re still working on the finishing touches and hope to roll out Sunsave Plus over the next few months. If you’re interested in signing up, join our waitlist and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Your Sunsave Plus application can have one or two applicants.
If it's a single application, you need to be a UK resident between 18 and 60 years old, an owner of the property, and in full-time employment.
If it’s a joint application, at least one applicant must be in full-time employment, at least one applicant must be aged 60 or younger, and the lead applicant must be an owner of the property.
You won’t be eligible for Sunsave Plus if you’ve been declared bankrupt or received a county court judgement.
Can I end my subscription early?
You can end your subscription early by paying off your balance. You’ll continue to get the benefits of your system, and there are no early repayment fees or penalties.
- For full settlements, the remaining balance would just be the outstanding principal (i.e. not any interest or fees you would have incurred had your contract continued). Once this is paid your agreement would end.
- For partial settlements, the remaining balance would decrease and the end date of your agreement would be brought forwards. Your monthly payments would remain the same.
If you end your subscription early, you’ll no longer be covered by the Sunsave Guarantee.
What happens if I move home?
We know moving home can be stressful, so you’ll have a dedicated Sunsave customer service representative to help you at every step.
We can’t move your Sunsave system, as it’s tailored to your home. But with Sunsave Plus, we have two options that make it simple for you to move.
1. Transfer your subscription to the new homeowner
You can transfer your system to the new homeowner*, in the same way that you transfer a utility contract. While solar subscription is new in the UK, it’s common to transfer a solar subscription when moving home in countries like the US and Germany.
* Subject to acceptance. The new homeowner will need to pass the same eligibility requirements as any new Sunsave Plus customer.
2. Pay off the balance early
There are no early repayment fees or penalties for paying off your balance early. The new homeowner would own the system outright with no further payments, benefiting from energy bill savings.
- Research from WWF & Scottish Power found that solar increases the value of a house by 0.5% to 2.0%. This study excludes the impact of batteries which would likely increase value further.
- A Rightmove study found that increasing a home’s EPC rating raised the value of that home. Adding solar to a home typically increases an EPC by one level, and the study found that increasing EPC from D to C resulted in an average increase of 3%, or £11,157.
Written byJosh Jackman
Josh has written about the rapid rise of home solar for the past five years. His data-driven work has been featured in United Nations and World Health Organisation documents, as well as publications including The Eco Experts, Financial Times, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Times, and The Sun. Josh has also been interviewed as a renewables expert on BBC One’s Rip-Off Britain, ITV1’s Tonight show, and BBC Radio 4 and 5.