Best Solar Panel Manufacturers in the UK

Thinking of going solar? It’s a great choice if you do – you’ll get reduced energy bills, lower carbon emissions, and less reliance on the grid for your electricity.

If that’s convinced you, you might want to know more about solar panel manufacturers. Specifically, the best ones, because among the bewildering number of solar panel manufacturers, a few go the extra mile to stand out.

We’ve gone through 25 solar panel manufacturers operating in the UK and shortlisted them down to the 5 best.

PS We offer MCS-certified solar panel installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and arrange your free design.

Key Points:

• We’ve ranked manufacturers on efficiency rates, warranties, cost-effectiveness, and customer reviews.

• The best overall manufacturer is REA, who make the excellent Fusion 2 solar panel.

• Manufacturers are typically either Tier 1 or Tier 2 solar panel manufacturers.

• Expect to pay more for solar panels from the best manufacturers, but expect greater efficiency and reliability too.

• Our choice of the best solar panel manufacturers might not match your unique circumstance – you might be better off with a different manufacturer depending on your setup.

What To Look for in a Good Solar Panel

All the manufacturers we’ve written about here make bloody good solar panels, but it still can’t hurt to know what you should be looking for.

Let’s start with efficiency first – you always want more efficiency in a solar panel, because the more efficient it is, the more electricity it can generate. This can be really useful in lower light environments, such as the UK. As a general rule of thumb, opt for solar panels with efficiency ratings above 20%, though be aware that some types of solar panels, such as flexible panels, can’t yet reach above 20%.

Keep an eye out for aspects such as bifacial technology too, as these can combine with high efficiency to help solar panels operate better under cloud cover and/or shade.

The other important thing to look for in a solar panel is its power output. You’ll want panels that can meet your energy needs, so you should calculate how much electricity your home uses per year to work out how many solar panels you should get to meet this.

Start by getting your annual electricity usage, then divide this number by the yearly output of a solar panel. In the UK, the average household uses around 2,650 kilowatt hours (kWh), so you’d need around 10 350-watt panels to meet this.

Finally, look for solar panels with good warranties. There are two warranties to be aware of, the product warranty and the performance warranty. The former is the number of years you’ll be covered by the manufacturer if there is an issue with your panels.

A performance warranty on the other hand, is a guarantee that your panels will produce a certain amount of power after so many years. For example, a performance warranty could be that a panel’s power output is guaranteed to be no less than 85% of its original output after 25 years.

At Heatable, all solar panel installations come with a 25-year panel warranty and are insured by an independent insurance company (not just the manufacturer – for extra peace of mind).

Our Top 5 Solar Panel Manufacturers

If you just want to be done with it and see our picks for the best solar panel manufacturers, here you go:

• REA: Best overall solar panel manufacturer

• Panasonic: Best for lighter solar panels

• Aiko: Best for efficiency

• Project Solar: Best manufacturer for warranties

• SunPower: Most reliable solar panels

How Did We Pick Our Top Manufacturers?

We looked closely at each of the 25 solar panel manufacturers we shortlisted for this article, eventually whittling them down to a final five. We ranked each manufacturer according to how well they did in the following categories:

• How efficient a manufacturer’s solar panels are

• Typical power output across a manufacturer’s range

• Available warranties

• Average costs

• Customer reviews

Best Overall Solar Panel Manufacturer: REA

Australian company Renewable Engineering Australia (REA) takes our spot for the best overall solar panel manufacturer, and it’s easy to see why when you look at the solar panels it offers.

Particularly, the REA Fusion 2, which has taken the top spot in our best solar panels list. The Fusion 2’s impressive efficiency (22-24%) and high power output (400-480 watts) make it an ideal choice for any solar setup you might want. These panels work great in the UK too, as the double-sided (bifacial solar panels) technology lets them generate more power for lower light environments (a fancier way of saying the weather in the UK can be pretty naff).

Types of solar panels available

Picking REA as your solar panel manufacturer probably means you’ll be opting for one of its sleek monocrystalline solar panels. If you’re not familiar with monocrystalline, it means solar panels using solar cells cut from a single piece of silicon. What this simply allows is a greater flow of electricity compared to polycrystalline solar panels, so monocrystalline is the better choice if more power is required.

Typical cost of a solar panel system from REA

Buying a 4 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar system from REA will cost you between £7,500 and £9,000 (including installation). Of course, the exact cost will depend on your current setup and whether you qualify for a solar panel grant or not.

For a more accurate picture of what you might pay, you can start by getting a free solar panel quote with Heatable. All you need to do is enter a few details and we’ll give you a fixed quote – see what you can save with solar today!

Customer reviews

According to the testimonials section of its website, REA has an average customer score of 4.9 out of 5 – very impressive indeed.

Prefer video? Check out our review of the REA Fusion 2 solar panels in the video below: 

Best for Lighter Solar Panels: Panasonic

Some roofs might be more fragile than others, or be at such an angle that your average (heavy) solar panel won’t fit properly. If this sounds like you, Panasonic might be the manufacturer to go for.

Its HIT N340 (not a hit name if you ask us) is ideal for situations like this – the HIT N340 weighs just 18.5kg. That’s practically a feather compared to the industry standard of 22.4kg.

This weight difference might not sound like much, but when it comes to roofing, precision matters. Get yourself 10 HIT N340s, and the weight is 185kg, versus roughly 224kg for most other panels. For some roofs, even a difference of 30kg or 40kg could mean a solar panel system isn’t suitable. You could reduce the number of panels on your roof, but you’ll obviously be reducing your system’s power output too.

Types of solar panels available

Panasonic offers monocrystalline panels exclusively, so really any solar panels you buy are going to have the sleek, black aesthetic we all know and love. Most panels Panasonic sells are not only lighter than average, but they take up less space too – a typical Panasonic solar panel takes up just 1.7 square metres of space, versus 2 square metres for other panels.

Typical cost of a solar panel system from Panasonic

Your average solar panel system from Panasonic will probably cost around £7,500, including installation. What you may find is that because Panasonic panels are less powerful than those from other manufacturers on this list, you could end up having to buy more panels overall.

If your roof is capable of holding heavier solar panels, you’ll be better off getting fewer, but more powerful solar panels.

Customer reviews

According to US-based website Energy Sage, customers give Panasonic solar panels an average of 4.5 out of 5.

Related reading:

• Countries most likely to survive climate change

• Solar panel tracking

• Do solar panels work in a power cut?

Best for Efficiency: Aiko

In the solar game, every tiny percentage of efficiency matters, and there’s few manufacturers that apply this logic as effectively as Aiko. Its powerful N-Type ABC White Hole Series pushes efficiency all the way up to 24%, which in terms of residential solar power, is frankly bonkers.

The more efficient solar panels are, the less you’ll potentially need to put on your roof, which could be essential if you’re short of space. Increased efficiency also makes a solar panel more effective in lower light environments, so if your roof isn’t south facing, or you live in an area with low sunlight, Aiko’s solar panels might be a great choice.

Types of solar panels available

Aiko only produces monocrystalline solar panels, which is required to meet the extremely high efficiency ratings. Its panels are also heavy, clocking in at 28.2kg. Compare that to Panasonic’s panels and there’s a real chance your roof won’t be suitable for panels from Aiko.

Typical costs of a solar panel system from Aiko

Aiko panels are expensive, so expect to pay above £9,000 for a typical solar panel system from the Shanghai-based manufacturer (including installation). You do get a great solar system for this investment though, with one of the best performance warranties around (88.85% guaranteed power output after 25 years).

Customer Reviews

Aiko averaged a 4.9 out of 5 rating across the three websites we scouted, with most customers praising the high quality, great aesthetics, and efficiency of Aiko solar panels.

Explore a Solar Case Study: Check out an insightful Q&A session featured in one of our detailed case studies on domestic solar panels. Hear directly from a Heatable customer in the UK and gain valuable perspectives on their experience here.

The image above shows a 23-panel solar installation, carried out by the MCS-certified solar team at Heatable, featuring the REA Fusion2 solar panels.

Best for Warranties: Project Solar

Solar panels last a long time, but over their lifespan, they will start to degrade and perform worse. For this reason, most solar panel manufacturers offer warranties lasting 25 years (some offer up to 40).

Not Project Solar though — its solar panels come with lifetime product warranties, so you’re covered for repairs throughout the entire lifespan of your system. It’s hard to find a better guarantee than that.

One downside we found with solar panels from Project Solar, is that none are bifacial. In layman’s terms, it means they’ll struggle more on cloudy days than bifacial panels such as the Fusion 2.

Types of solar panels from Project Solar

Project Solar offers monocrystalline solar panels going up to a maximum power output of 430W. Oddly for panels from Project Solar, they suffer more than other panels in terms of heat resistance. So in the height of summer when temperatures can climb beyond 30°C, your solar system’s output will likely dip.

Typical cost of a solar panel system from Project Solar

Buying a solar system from Project Solar will cost the average three-bedroom property approximately £9,000. What we discovered in our research among Project Solar customers, was that some were frustrated with the fact Project Solar only gives whole system quotes, so it’s harder to tell what you’re actually paying for each individual solar panel.

Customer Reviews

Project Solar has a genuinely impressive 4.7 out of 5 on TrustPilot, with most people happy with the speed of installation and the excellent warranty. We did discover a fair few very negative reviews on another review aggregator that was unhappy with Project Solar’s high-pressure sales tactics, so this is something to keep in mind.

Best for Reliability: SunPower

Across our testing, SunPower was the manufacturer offering the most reliable solar panels around. Look at the above from Project Solar, who while offering the best product warranty, can only offer a maximum performance warranty of 85% after 25 years.

Then look at SunPower’s Maxeon 6 AC solar panel, which they say will keep at least 88.25% of its original output after a whopping 40 years. Over such a long period of time, this is proof of a solar panel made to last.

A touch we really appreciated learning about was that when these mighty solar panels eventually reach the end of their lifespan, SunPower will recycle it.

Read more:

• Carbon Footprint of Solar Panels — Are They Really Green?

Types of solar panels from SunPower

SunPower offers both monocrystalline and flexible solar panels, so you’re well covered in case you need either solar panels for a roof, or for a more portable application. The latter is where flexibility is key, say on a boat for example – you’ll want panels that can bend and mould to the irregular surface, whereas heavier monocrystalline panels simply won’t.

Typical cost of a solar panel system from SunPower

You’ll pay around £7,500 for an average size solar panel system from SunPower, which is pretty reasonable.

Customer Reviews

SunPower has an average rating of 4.3 out 5, the lowest on our list. Customers had no issue with the solar panels themselves, and in fact we didn’t see a single negative review on the panels alone.

The issues seem to stem from SunPower’s customer service, which we’d seen some describe as lacking and not up to scratch. So the panels might be good, but you could have problems if you find yourself needing customer service to address any issues that arise.

Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:

When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:

• How much do solar panels cost? 

• Are solar panels worth it for your home? 

• Is your roof suitable for solar panels? 

• What are the best solar panels available? 

• Is battery storage worth it? 

To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation. 

Get a Quote for Solar Today 

Without boasting you should get your solar installed with us, here's why: 

• Thousands of Happy Customers: We boast an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, outperforming the market leader.

• Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.

• MCS Accredited: Our accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) ensures high-quality standards.

• Exclusive Panels: We offer REA Fusion solar panels, available only through Heatable.

• Consumer Protection: As members of the HIES consumer code, we provide 2-year deposit protection.

• Flexible Payment Options: Choose from multiple payment methods, including finance options.

• Fixed Price Guarantee: Enjoy transparency with no hidden costs.

• Save Your Quote: You can save your quote and decide later.

• Bespoke Design Tool: Draw your own conclusion (literally) on whether solar is worth it for you, here.