Birmingham Solar Guide: Priority-Area Grants, Article 4 Streets & 13 Verified Installers
13 MCS-certified firms from the Jewellery Quarter to Sutton Coldfield, with output and savings worked out for Birmingham itself.
Birmingham has two very different solar stories. On one side are the city’s conservation areas, 29 of them, and the Article 4 streets in places like Moseley, Bournville Village and Edgbaston, where changing a roof can need planning permission. On the other are tens of thousands of inter-war semis and post-war estates with plain, unshaded roofs, plus a council that has already put solar on hundreds of its own homes and runs a Warm Homes grant in five priority neighbourhoods.
This guide covers both, for Birmingham specifically. A 4kW roof here is estimated to produce 3,758 kWh a year, and each unit you use yourself saves 25.60p at Midlands price-cap rates. Below that are 13 real installers based across the city, each checked against the MCS installer listings and its own website. Solar Panels Funded is based in Digbeth too, so this is our home patch.
At a glance: Birmingham solar installers compared
| Company | Accreditation | Services | Coverage | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels Funded | MCS network | Quote matching, solar PV, battery, panel cleaning, funding guidance | Birmingham, B & West Midlands | — | One enquiry → multiple local quotes |
| MSC Heating Limited | MCS (NICEIC), RECC, TrustMark, Which? | Solar PV, Powerwall, heat pumps, EV charging | East Birmingham | 14 yrs | Homes pairing solar with a heat pump, backed by a long Which? record. |
| EV-PV Ltd | MCS, RECC, NAPIT, TrustMark | Solar PV, Tesla Powerwall, EV charging | Sutton Coldfield (B74) | — | Drivers wanting solar, a Powerwall and an EV charger from one firm. |
| Sam Ward Electrical Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery, EV charging, electrical | Kings Heath (B14) | 10+ yrs | South Birmingham homes that may need electrical upgrades first. |
| Midland Air Conditioning & Facility Management Ltd (MAC) | MCS, NAPIT, Refcom | Solar PV, battery, heat pumps, air con | Castle Bromwich (B36) | — | Homes adding solar alongside air conditioning or cooling. |
| Edan Power (Edanpowerportal Ltd) | MCS, TrustMark, ISO 9001/14001/45001 | Solar PV, battery, EV, heat pumps | Great Barr (B44), Midlands | Since 2010 | Buyers who want finance arranged by the installer. |
| Simple Green Energy Limited | MCS, NAPIT, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery, heat pumps, insulation | Jewellery Quarter (B3), England & Wales | — | Grant-funded upgrades, with clear written terms agreed first. |
| Bee Eco Limited | MCS, PAS 2035, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, insulation, heating | Great Barr (B42) | — | Homes doing insulation and solar as one retrofit project. |
| Greenstorm PV Limited | MCS, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery storage | Jewellery Quarter (B3) | — | Straight panels-and-battery jobs with interest-free finance. |
| Greenwatt Energy Limited | MCS, RECC | Solar PV, Sunsynk battery, EV, commercial | Jewellery Quarter (B3) | 20+ yrs (claimed) | Business roofs and larger homes wanting a Huawei-based system. |
| Apex Nationwide Ltd | MCS | ECO4 solar, heat pumps, insulation | Nechells (B7), nationwide | Since 2013 | Households checking eligibility for free ECO4 solar. |
| Nexus Electrical Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, TrustMark, RECC | Solar PV, battery, heat pumps | Hall Green (B28) | Since 2021 | Hall Green and Acocks Green homes wanting a local firm. |
| One Solar System Ltd | MCS, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, EV charging, maintenance | Jewellery Quarter (B1) | — | A 3D-modelled design before you commit. |
| JB Services (1992) Ltd | MCS | Solar PV, battery, EV, electrical | Stirchley (B30) | — | Smaller jobs bundled with other electrical work in south Birmingham. |
MCS numbers checked 24 September 2026 against the MCS installer listings (via Find Certified Installers), with services and accreditations checked on each firm’s own site and the RECC, TrustMark, Which? and Checkatrade listings where available. Review figures are the ones shown on those listings. Membership can change, so confirm MCS status with the installer before you sign.
Solar in Birmingham by the numbers
These figures are for Birmingham, not a UK average. A 4kW system on a south-facing, 35° roof in the city is estimated to produce 3,758 kWh a year. Output peaks at about 457 kWh in July and falls to 130 kWh in December.
- 3,758 kWh / yearEstimated output of a 4kW roof system in Birmingham
- 25.60p per kWhPrice-cap unit rate for Birmingham’s region (Midlands), Oct–Dec 2026, vs 26.32p GB average
- £385–£575 off your billIf you use 40–60% of what the panels make at home
- + £195–£295 export incomeThe rest sold at 13p/kWh on an open Smart Export Guarantee tariff
That’s roughly £680–£775 a year in total. Against the UK average installed price of about £6,490 for a 4kW system, it pays back in around 8.4–9.6 years. Birmingham sits in the Midlands price region, slightly below the GB average unit rate, so savings per unit are a little lower than in the North West, but the city still out-produces most of the northern towns in this series.
Sources: output from the EU’s PVGIS 5.3 model (SARAH-3 data) for Birmingham, 4kW, 35° south-facing, roof-mounted, 14% system losses. Unit rate from Ofgem’s price cap for 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026. Export rate: Fuse Energy Single Rate Variable, September 2026. Installed cost: Sunsave, August 2026. Your own figures will depend on roof direction, shading and how much electricity you use in daylight.
Areas covered around Birmingham
This guide covers the Birmingham postcode districts B1–B38 and B42–B45, plus Sutton Coldfield (B72–B76). Three firms here trade from St Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter; others are in Kings Heath, Hall Green, Stirchley, Great Barr, Castle Bromwich, Hodge Hill and Four Oaks.
Jewellery QuarterDigbethMoseleyKings HeathEdgbastonHarborneSelly OakBournvilleHall GreenAcocks GreenErdingtonSutton Coldfield
Postcode district coverage from the Royal Mail B postcode area (via Wikipedia). B26, B36 and B74 are shared with Solihull or Walsall.
Planning and grid connection in Birmingham
- 29 conservation areasIncluding Edgbaston, Moseley, the Jewellery Quarter, Bournville Village, Harborne Old Village, Moor Pool, Kings Norton and High Street Sutton Coldfield. Road-facing wall panels need permission in any of them.
- Article 4 streetsArticle 4 directions cover Moseley, St Agnes, Bournville Village, Austin Village, Moor Pool, Selly Park, Old Yardley, High Street Sutton Coldfield and part of Edgbaston. Moseley’s guidance says any alteration to the roof needs planning permission.
- 1,498 listed buildingsAny listed building needs listed building consent from Birmingham City Council before panels go on, whatever the roof slope.
- National Grid Electricity DistributionBirmingham’s network operator (West Midlands). A typical home system is notified after installation (G98); larger systems and some battery set-ups need approval first (G99).
Sources: Birmingham City Council (conservation areas, Article 4 directions, Moseley Article 4(2) guide, Warm Homes: Local Grant 2025–2028, council housing retrofit); planning.data.gov.uk; National Grid Electricity Distribution.
Solar Panels Funded
MCS networkResidential & commercialFunding specialists
Solar Panels Funded is a solar intermediary based at Digbeth Court Business Centre, 162–164 High Street, Birmingham, B12 0LD. It doesn’t install panels itself. It matches Birmingham homeowners with MCS-accredited installers from its network, so one enquiry brings back several quotes without you ringing round.
Because Birmingham is its home city, it can point you to installers who have handled Article 4 and conservation-area roofs in Moseley, Edgbaston and Bournville, and to firms that do large flat and industrial roofs for businesses. It can also check whether your address falls in one of the city’s five Warm Homes priority areas, or whether ECO4 or a no-upfront-cost option might suit you.
Get your free Birmingham quote →
Best for One enquiry → multiple competitive quotes from vetted MCS-accredited installers.
MSC Heating Limited
MCSNICEICRECCWhich? Trusted Trader
MSC Heating is a renewables firm on the east side of the city that installs air and ground source heat pumps, solar PV, Tesla Powerwall batteries and EV chargers. It holds MCS (through NICEIC), RECC and TrustMark, plus Gas Safe and OFTEC for heating work.
It has been a Which? Trusted Trader since May 2019 and scores 5.0 from 214 reviews there, the strongest review record on this list. Heat pumps are its core trade, so it suits homes planning solar and a heating upgrade together.
Best for Homes pairing solar with a heat pump, backed by a long Which? record.
EV-PV Ltd
MCSRECCNAPITTesla Certified
EV-PV is a Sutton Coldfield firm that combines solar PV, battery storage and EV charging. It is a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer, publishes a starting price for Powerwall 3, and fits chargers from Tesla, Andersen, Easee, Hypervolt, Ohme, Zappi and Zaptec.
It shows 5.0 from 188 reviews on its MCS listing and has 121 reviews on Checkatrade, although no new Checkatrade reviews in the last year. It holds MCS, RECC, NAPIT and TrustMark.
Best for Drivers wanting solar, a Powerwall and an EV charger from one firm.
Sam Ward Electrical Ltd
MCSNAPITRECCTrustMark
Sam Ward Electrical is an owner-led electrical contractor in Kings Heath with more than ten years’ experience. As well as solar PV and battery storage, it does EV chargers, rewires, consumer units and EICRs, and offers emergency call-outs.
It shows 5.0 from 46 Google reviews and aims to quote within 24 hours. Being a full electrical firm helps on older Kings Heath and Moseley houses that need wiring or consumer-unit work before a battery can go in.
Best for South Birmingham homes that may need electrical upgrades first.
Midland Air Conditioning & Facility Management Ltd (MAC)
MCSNAPITRefcomSafeContractor
MAC is an air-conditioning specialist in Castle Bromwich that has added domestic and commercial solar PV and battery storage, working with Fox ESS, GivEnergy, Growatt and other brands. It says most installs take one to two days.
It shows 5.0 from 67 reviews on its MCS listing. Solar isn’t its original trade, so ask for recent solar jobs, but it’s a practical choice if you also want air conditioning or an air-to-air heat pump.
Best for Homes adding solar alongside air conditioning or cooling.
Edan Power (Edanpowerportal Ltd)
MCSTrustMarkISO 9001FCA broker
Edan Power is a Great Barr firm that says it has been operating since 2010. It installs domestic and commercial solar PV, SigEnergy and Sunsynk batteries, EV chargers, air source heat pumps and hot-water systems, and holds ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001.
It is an FCA-regulated credit broker (FRN 1015823), so it can arrange finance, and it promises a quote within 24 hours. It shows 4.6 from 45 reviews on its MCS listing; its Checkatrade page has 28 reviews but none in the past year.
Best for Buyers who want finance arranged by the installer.
Simple Green Energy Limited
MCSNAPITTrustMarkGrant checks
Simple Green Energy works from St Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter and covers England and Wales. It fits solar PV, Tesla Powerwall and other batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps, boilers and insulation, and checks grant eligibility as part of its quotes.
Its record is mixed: 4.0 from 118 reviews on its MCS listing, and 3.6 from 197 on Trustpilot, where some one-star reviews describe unfinished work and grant funding withdrawn late. Get the funding position in writing before work starts.
Best for Grant-funded upgrades, with clear written terms agreed first.
Bee Eco Limited
MCSNAPIT PAS 2035RECCTrustMark
Bee Eco is a whole-house retrofit firm in Great Barr. Alongside domestic and commercial solar PV it does wall, loft and flat-roof insulation, render and heating upgrades, and holds PAS 2035, RECC, TrustMark, FENSA and Gas Safe.
It offers a price-match promise and Kanda finance. Reviews are mixed: about 4.1 across 37 reviews overall, with a 3.5 Google score and a recent complaint about damage and unfinished work. Insulation is its main trade.
Best for Homes doing insulation and solar as one retrofit project.
Greenstorm PV Limited
MCSRECCTrustMark0% finance
Greenstorm PV describes itself as a solar PV and battery storage specialist and is registered in St Paul’s Square. It holds MCS, RECC and TrustMark and offers 0% interest finance.
We couldn’t find published reviews for it, and it shares its registered address with Greenwatt Energy below. Ask for local references and check who will carry out the installation.
Best for Straight panels-and-battery jobs with interest-free finance.
Greenwatt Energy Limited
MCSRECCHuawei & SunsynkCommercial focus
Greenwatt Energy works mainly on commercial solar but has a Birmingham residential service too. It uses Huawei inverters and energy management with Sunsynk batteries, and also fits EV chargers. It claims more than 20 years’ experience in the trade.
It holds MCS and RECC. No published reviews were found, and it shares an address with Greenstorm PV, so compare its quote carefully with at least two others.
Best for Business roofs and larger homes wanting a Huawei-based system.
Apex Nationwide Ltd
MCSECO4 installerBoiler Upgrade Scheme
Apex Nationwide is a Nechells-based installer that has been trading since 2013. Most of its work is grant-funded under ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme: solar and batteries, heat pumps, boilers and insulation at no upfront cost for qualifying households.
It shows 4.9 from 108 reviews on its MCS listing, though only three on Trustpilot. It’s most useful if you’re on benefits or a low income and want to know what you can get free.
Best for Households checking eligibility for free ECO4 solar.
Nexus Electrical Ltd
MCSNAPITTrustMarkRECC
Nexus Electrical is a young Hall Green company, incorporated in 2021, that is registered with MCS through NAPIT for both solar PV and air source heat pumps. It also installs battery storage and is a TrustMark and RECC member.
We couldn’t load its website or find published reviews, so details here come from the RECC, TrustMark and Companies House records. Ask to see recent local installations.
Best for Hall Green and Acocks Green homes wanting a local firm.
One Solar System Ltd
MCSRECCTrustMark3D design
One Solar System is based in the Jewellery Quarter and installs domestic and business solar PV and EV chargers, with monitoring and maintenance. It designs systems with 3D roof mapping and helps with Smart Export Guarantee applications.
It holds MCS, RECC and TrustMark, but has only two reviews on its MCS listing, and its website’s customer figures couldn’t be checked. Treat it as one quote among several.
Best for A 3D-modelled design before you commit.
JB Services (1992) Ltd
MCSElectrical contractor
JB Services is a general electrical contractor in Stirchley that includes MCS solar PV and battery systems among its services, alongside EV charge points, rewires, CCTV and landlord certificates.
We found no published reviews and no accreditations listed beyond MCS. Solar is a small part of its business, so it’s best for simpler jobs where you also need other electrical work done.
Best for Smaller jobs bundled with other electrical work in south Birmingham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a Warm Homes grant for solar panels in Birmingham?
Only in certain neighbourhoods. Birmingham City Council’s Warm Homes: Local Grant for 2025–2028 is limited to five priority areas: Balsall Heath, Bromford, Castle Vale, Sparkbrook, and Tyseley and Hay Mills. Next Energy is the delivery partner and aims to upgrade 625 homes, with solar PV among the measures. You need a home rated EPC D–G and either a means-tested benefit, household income of £36,000 or less after housing costs, or a postcode in the most deprived income bands. Applications run through the Shared Works platform.
Is Birmingham City Council putting solar on council homes?
Yes. By September 2025 the council had retrofitted 2,000 of its homes with solar panels, insulation and ventilation, in a £111m programme that included £24m from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. It says tenants are saving £600–£1,200 a year, and the work included the Bradfield and Greenfield House tower blocks in Sheldon. New contractors were appointed in late 2024 to retrofit more than 3,000 homes a year.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels in Moseley, Bournville or Edgbaston?
Quite possibly. All three contain Article 4 directions that remove permitted development rights, and Moseley’s guidance says any alteration to the roof needs planning permission. Birmingham also has 29 conservation areas and 1,498 listed buildings. If you live in one of these areas, speak to the council’s planning team before booking an installer; elsewhere, most roof panels are permitted development.
Does Switch Together (Solar Together) run in Birmingham?
Yes. The council backs Switch Together Birmingham, the group-buying scheme formerly called Solar Together, which reopened for registrations in 2026. Across the West Midlands, the 2025 round fitted 2.1MW of solar on 453 homes, and 94% of them added a battery. Registration is free and you’re not obliged to accept the quote.
How much electricity will solar panels generate in Birmingham?
EU PVGIS modelling puts a south-facing 4kW Birmingham roof at about 3,758 kWh a year. July is the best month at around 457 kWh, and December brings about 130. That’s level with York and about 12% more than Macclesfield, helped by the city’s relatively dry Midlands climate.
What will solar save a Birmingham household?
Electricity in Birmingham is billed at Midlands cap rates: 25.60p per kWh from October to December 2026, a little under the 26.32p national figure. Add 13p for every unit exported and a 4kW array comes to around £680 a year when four-tenths is used in the home, or £775 when six-tenths is. Against a typical £6,490 install, that means breaking even after 8.4–9.6 years.
Which solar installers are based in central Birmingham?
Three firms in this guide are registered in St Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter: Simple Green Energy, Greenstorm PV and Greenwatt Energy, with One Solar System on nearby Regent Place. South of the centre are Sam Ward Electrical in Kings Heath, Nexus Electrical in Hall Green and JB Services in Stirchley. MSC Heating and MAC are on the east side, and Edan Power and Bee Eco in Great Barr.
Final Thoughts
In Birmingham, where you live decides your first step. In Moseley, Bournville Village, Edgbaston and the other Article 4 or conservation areas, check planning before you ask for quotes. In the five Warm Homes priority neighbourhoods, check the council grant before you pay for anything yourself. Everywhere else, most homes can go ahead under permitted development, with about 3,758 kWh a year to expect from a 4kW roof.
Get at least three quotes and ask each installer for a roof-specific output estimate to compare with the figure above. The firms in this guide vary a lot in review history, from MSC Heating’s long Which? record to newer companies with few reviews, so weigh that alongside price.
Related reading on Solar Panels Funded
Solar Energy Funding Specialist & Home Energy Advisor
Zachariah Eaton is a UK-based solar energy funding specialist with a focus on helping homeowners access grants, financing schemes, and cost-saving renewable solutions. He has spent years researching government-backed programmes such as ECO4, Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), and local funding initiatives to make solar more accessible. Zachariah writes practical, easy-to-understand guides that help households reduce energy bills and transition to clean energy with confidence.