No upfront solar costs from £69/month with 70–90% bill reduction and £100–£500/year export income. Full cost breakdown, savings by property size, and 25-year total value analysis.
Get Your Free QuoteA no upfront solar subscription costs from £69 per month and delivers 3 financial benefits simultaneously: electricity bill reductions of 70–90%, surplus energy income of £100–£500 per year through the Smart Export Guarantee, and elimination of all maintenance and replacement costs for 25 years. A typical 4-bedroom household with a 6kW system and 5kWh battery saves approximately £363 per year net of subscription payments in year one — a figure that increases annually as grid electricity prices rise while the subscription payment remains fixed or increases at a slower rate.
The financial case for no upfront solar is not simply "lower electricity bills." No upfront solar restructures the entire cost of domestic electricity from a variable, rising expense into a fixed, predictable monthly payment that includes generation, storage, maintenance, monitoring, insurance, and component replacement. Understanding the full cost picture — including the costs you avoid — is essential for evaluating whether a subscription delivers better value than a cash purchase or a solar loan.
Monthly subscription payments for no upfront solar range from £69 to £150 depending on 4 factors: system size (determined by your roof and electricity consumption), battery capacity, geographic location, and the provider's pricing structure. The monthly payment is fixed for the duration of the subscription term, subject to any annual escalator clause stated in the agreement.
| System Size | Typical Property | Monthly Payment | Panels | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4kW | 2-bed terrace or flat | £69–£89 | 8–10 | 3.6–5kWh |
| 4–5kW | 3-bed semi-detached | £85–£110 | 10–12 | 5–6.5kWh |
| 5–6kW | 3–4 bed detached | £100–£130 | 12–16 | 5–8kWh |
| 6kW+ | 4–5 bed detached | £120–£150 | 16–20 | 8–10kWh |
Solar panels, battery storage, solar inverter, MCS-certified installation, scaffolding, DNO registration, 24/7 remote monitoring, reactive and scheduled maintenance cover, battery and inverter replacement (typically at year 10–12), full system insurance (damage, fire, theft), and 25-year performance warranty.
Some subscription agreements include an annual increase to the monthly payment. This is typically 2–3.9% per year or linked to RPI (Retail Price Index). Over a 25-year term, a £69/month subscription with a 3% annual escalator increases to approximately £140/month by year 25.
Even with an annual escalator, the subscription payment typically remains below the equivalent grid electricity cost. UK electricity prices have risen by an average of 5.5% per year over the past 20 years.
No upfront solar subscribers reduce their electricity bills by 70–90% from the first full month of operation. The precise saving depends on system size relative to household consumption, roof orientation, battery capacity, and seasonal variation in solar generation.
| Property | Annual Consumption | System Size | Annual Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bed terrace | 2,500kWh | 3.5kW + 3.6kWh | £515 |
| 3-bed semi | 3,400kWh | 4.5kW + 5kWh | £698 |
| 4-bed detached | 4,500kWh | 6kW + 6.5kWh | £937 |
| 5-bed detached | 5,500kWh | 8kW + 10kWh | £1,333 |
Solar generation in the UK varies significantly by season, and understanding the seasonal pattern is essential for setting realistic savings expectations. Annual savings figures mask substantial month-to-month variation.
| Season | Months | % of Annual | Bill Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Jun–Aug | 38% | 85–95% |
| Spring | Mar–May | 28% | 70–85% |
| Autumn | Sep–Nov | 22% | 55–70% |
| Winter | Dec–Feb | 12% | 30–50% |
Surplus electricity that your household does not consume or store in the battery is exported to the National Grid and paid for under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). This is a UK government scheme requiring all licensed energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers to offer an export tariff to solar panel owners.
SEG income provides a second revenue stream on top of bill savings. The amount you earn depends on 3 factors: how much electricity you export, which tariff you register for, and whether you have a battery that enables time-of-use optimisation.
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Intelligent Octopus Flux | Up to 30.31p/kWh |
| Scottish Power | SmartGen | 12p/kWh |
| OVO Energy | SEG Install Exclusive | 20p/kWh |
| Octopus Energy | Standard SEG | 4.1p/kWh |
Time-of-use tariffs with battery storage offer the highest export income. These tariffs pay premium rates during peak demand hours (typically 4–7pm) and lower rates off-peak. A battery allows you to store surplus daytime generation and export it during the premium window rather than exporting it during the middle of the day at the standard rate. This strategy can triple your export income compared with a flat-rate tariff.
The full financial value of a no upfront solar subscription includes 4 components: electricity bill savings, Smart Export Guarantee income, avoided maintenance and replacement costs, and preserved capital (the £9,000–£14,000 that would otherwise be spent on a cash purchase).
Calculate Your Savings