Dudley Solar Guide: Community BEES Grants, Borough Rooftops & 10 Verified Installers
10 MCS-certified firms from Sedgley to Stourbridge, with output and savings worked out for the Dudley borough.
Dudley is one of the few Black Country boroughs where a grant for solar panels and a battery is open right now. The council’s Community BEES scheme, delivered by Equans, prioritises Brierley Hill’s DY5 postcode, where homeowners don’t even face a financial check. The council has also been putting panels on its own buildings for years, from Dudley and Duncan Edwards leisure centres to Himley Hall and seven primary schools.
This guide pulls that together for the borough. A 4kW roof here is estimated to produce 3,715 kWh a year, and each unit you use yourself saves 25.60p at Midlands price-cap rates. Below that are ten MCS-certified installers based in the borough, each checked against the MCS listings and its own site or register entries.
At a glance: Dudley solar installers compared
| Company | Accreditation | Services | Coverage | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels Funded | MCS network | Quote matching, solar PV, battery, panel cleaning, funding guidance | Dudley borough, DY & B62–63 | — | One enquiry → multiple local quotes |
| Solec Generation Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, TrustMark, HIES | Solar PV, battery, EV, heat pumps | Dudley (DY2) | Since 2023 | Wide equipment choice from a local family firm. |
| Maisum Renewable Energy Ltd | MCS (NICEIC), RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery, EV, heat pumps | Netherton (DY2) | 25 yrs (claimed) | Netherton and Dudley homes wanting a local, family-run installer. |
| Actismart Ltd | MCS, NICEIC, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery, EV, electrical | Coseley (WV14) | Since 2023 | Buyers who want lots of recent reviews to go on. |
| WM Energy Solutions Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, RECC, OZEV | Solar PV, battery, EV charging | Halesowen (B63) | Since 2021 | Solar plus an EV charger in Halesowen and Cradley. |
| Starkey Electrical Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, RECC, TrustMark, CHAS | Solar PV (in-roof, ground), battery, EV | Stourbridge (DY9) | Since 2009 | In-roof or ground-mounted systems from an established firm. |
| Evergreen MAC (MAC Electrical & Heating Services Ltd) | MCS (NICEIC), RECC | Solar PV, Powerwall, EV, heat pumps | Wall Heath (DY6), England & Wales | Since 2010 | Whole-home energy systems from a firm trading since 2010. |
| Smart Energy West Midlands Ltd | MCS, TrustMark, Which?, HIES, Gas Safe | Solar PV, battery, insulation, heat pumps | Brierley Hill (DY5) | Since 2016 | DY5 homes combining insulation and solar, possibly under BEES. |
| One Source Air & Energy Ltd | MCS (NICEIC), Gas Safe | Solar PV, battery, air con, EV, gas | Dudley (DY1) | Since 2016 | Homes wanting solar, air conditioning and gas work from one contact. |
| R S Miller Roofing Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, RECC, NFRC, CHAS | Roofing, solar PV | Brierley Hill (DY5) | Since 1971 | Roofs that need work before panels are fitted. |
| Edwards Technical Ltd | MCS (NICEIC), Constructionline Gold | Electrical & mechanical, solar PV | Woodsetton (DY1) | Since 2004 | Business premises needing an established M&E contractor. |
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 Dudley by the numbers
These figures are specific to the Dudley borough. A 4kW system on a south-facing, 35° roof is estimated to produce 3,715 kWh a year, with a peak of about 453 kWh in May and 130 kWh in December.
- 3,715 kWh / yearEstimated output of a 4kW roof system in Dudley
- 25.60p per kWhPrice-cap unit rate for Dudley’s region (Midlands), Oct–Dec 2026, vs 26.32p GB average
- £380–£570 off your billIf you use 40–60% of what the panels make at home
- + £195–£290 export incomeThe rest sold at 13p/kWh on an open Smart Export Guarantee tariff
That comes to about £670–£765 a year, covering a typical £6,490 install in around 8.5–9.7 years. Output is almost identical to Wolverhampton’s, and Midlands unit prices sit just below the GB average.
Sources: output from the EU’s PVGIS 5.3 model (SARAH-3 data) for Dudley, 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 Dudley
This guide covers the Dudley borough: postcode districts DY1–DY3, DY5, DY6, DY8 and DY9, plus Halesowen and Cradley in B62 and B63, and Coseley (WV14). Solec Generation, Maisum and Edwards Technical are in and around Dudley town, Smart Energy West Midlands and R S Miller are in Brierley Hill, and others are in Stourbridge, Wall Heath, Halesowen and Coseley.
Dudley TownNethertonSedgleyGornalCoseleyBrierley HillQuarry BankKingswinfordWall HeathStourbridgeWordsleyHalesowen
Postcode district coverage from the Royal Mail DY and B postcode areas (via Wikipedia). DY3, DY8 and DY9 extend into Staffordshire and Worcestershire; DY4 is mainly Sandwell.
Planning and grid connection in Dudley
- 22 conservation areasIncluding Castle Hill, Dudley Town Centre, High Street Stourbridge, Delph Nine Locks, Mushroom Green, The Leasowes, Stourbridge Sixteen Locks and The Village, Kingswinford. Road-facing wall panels need permission in all of them.
- Article 4 directionsMushroom Green, The Leasowes and Love Lane have Article 4 directions that remove some permitted development rights. Check with the council before fitting panels there.
- Listed buildingsListed buildings across the borough need listed building consent from Dudley Council before panels go on.
- National Grid Electricity DistributionThe borough’s network operator (West Midlands). Typical home systems are notified after installation (G98); larger ones need approval first (G99).
Sources: Dudley Council (conservation areas, Community BEES, leisure centre and PSDS solar news, retrofit funding); WMCA; National Grid Electricity Distribution.
Solar Panels Funded
MCS networkResidential & commercialFunding specialists
Solar Panels Funded is a Birmingham-based solar intermediary at Digbeth Court Business Centre, 162–164 High Street, Birmingham, B12 0LD, about eight miles from Dudley. It doesn’t install panels itself. It matches homeowners with MCS-accredited installers from its network, so one enquiry brings back several quotes.
For Dudley, it can help you check whether you qualify for Community BEES before you pay for anything, point you to installers who have worked in conservation areas such as Castle Hill and Stourbridge, and handle larger industrial roofs across Brierley Hill and Netherton.
Best for One enquiry → multiple competitive quotes from vetted MCS-accredited installers.
Solec Generation Ltd
MCSNAPITTrustMarkHIES
Solec Generation is a family-run Dudley firm, incorporated in 2023, that installs domestic and commercial solar PV, battery storage, Zappi EV chargers and air source heat pumps. It works with a wide range of kit, including Tesla, JA Solar, Jinko, Aiko, Solis, Sigenergy and Fogstar.
It also fits bird-proofing under panels. It shows 5.0 from 25 reviews on its MCS listing and offers HIES insurance-backed cover.
Best for Wide equipment choice from a local family firm.
Maisum Renewable Energy Ltd
MCSNICEICRECCTrustMark
Maisum is a Netherton family firm run by Lee and Sarah Tapping, named after their daughters. It installs Trina and Viridian panels, Growatt batteries, EV chargers, air source heat pumps and infrared heating, and does electrical and security work.
It shows 5.0 from 40 reviews on its MCS listing and holds MCS, NICEIC, RECC and TrustMark. One published case study is a 36-panel business system giving 55% grid independence.
Best for Netherton and Dudley homes wanting a local, family-run installer.
Actismart Ltd
MCSNICEICRECCTrustMark
Actismart was founded in 2023 by three brothers in Coseley and has won a start-up business award. It installs solar PV, FoxESS and Tesla batteries and Ohme EV chargers with its own team, and also does CCTV and commercial electrical work.
It has the biggest review count on this list: 5.0 from 189 on its MCS listing. Its Checkatrade profile has only four reviews so far.
Best for Buyers who want lots of recent reviews to go on.
WM Energy Solutions Ltd
MCSNAPITRECCOZEV
WM Energy Solutions started in 2021 as an EV charger installer before adding solar and batteries. It fits domestic PV with Enphase, SolarEdge, FoxESS and GivEnergy equipment, and EV chargers from myenergi, Hypervolt, Easee and Wallbox, using directly employed engineers.
It shows 5.0 from 31 reviews on its MCS listing and is OZEV-approved for EV chargers.
Best for Solar plus an EV charger in Halesowen and Cradley.
Starkey Electrical Ltd
MCSNAPITRECCTrustMark
Starkey Electrical was founded in 2009 by Stuart and Lisa Starkey and now has around ten staff. It installs domestic, commercial and industrial solar, including in-roof and ground-mounted systems, battery storage and, through its sister company StarkEV, EV chargers.
It has won a regional electrical contractor of the year award and shows 4.6 from 11 reviews on its MCS listing. It also holds CHAS and OZEV approval.
Best for In-roof or ground-mounted systems from an established firm.
Evergreen MAC (MAC Electrical & Heating Services Ltd)
MCSNICEICRECCTesla Powerwall
Evergreen MAC has been installing since 2010 and designs solar, battery storage (including Tesla Powerwall), EV charging and heat pumps as one home energy system. It works across England and Wales on domestic and commercial jobs.
It shows 4.9 from 188 reviews on Birdeye. Its address varies between listings (Wall Heath and the Dudley Innovation Centre in Pensnett), so confirm which office will handle your job.
Best for Whole-home energy systems from a firm trading since 2010.
Smart Energy West Midlands Ltd
MCSTrustMarkWhich? Trusted TraderHIES
Smart Energy West Midlands was founded in 2016 and has worked on more than 2,000 UK homes. Its main trade is insulation and retrofit, but it also installs solar PV, battery storage, air source heat pumps and EV points, and offers 0% finance through DivideBuy.
It shows 4.9 from 192 reviews on Trustpilot and is a Which? Trusted Trader. Being in Brierley Hill, it knows the DY5 area where Community BEES is focused.
Best for DY5 homes combining insulation and solar, possibly under BEES.
One Source Air & Energy Ltd
MCSNICEICGas Safe
One Source Air & Energy, formerly LDT Electrical & Security Installations, was renamed in December 2025. It installs solar PV and batteries, air conditioning and EV chargers, and does electrical and gas work, so one firm can cover several jobs.
It shows 4.8 from 118 reviews on Trustpilot, many praising punctual engineers. Its registered office is in Shropshire, but its installer address is in Dudley.
Best for Homes wanting solar, air conditioning and gas work from one contact.
R S Miller Roofing Ltd
MCSNAPITRECCNFRC
R S Miller is a roofing contractor founded in 1971, with more than 50 staff, that pairs pitched and flat roofing with solar PV installation. Most of its solar work is for new-build housing and commercial sites.
It shows 3.0 from 8 reviews on its MCS listing, the lowest here. It’s a sensible call if your roof needs repair or replacement before panels go on.
Best for Roofs that need work before panels are fitted.
Edwards Technical Ltd
MCSNICEICConstructionline GoldCHAS
Edwards Technical is a mechanical and electrical contractor that has traded since 2004, working on residential, commercial and industrial jobs, including fire alarms, CCTV and ventilation. It holds MCS through NICEIC for solar PV.
Its website doesn’t describe solar work and we found no reviews. It’s best suited to business premises and larger projects rather than a standard home install.
Best for Business premises needing an established M&E contractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Community BEES scheme in Dudley?
Community BEES (Better Energy and Environment Scheme) is Dudley Council’s grant-funded home improvement scheme, paid for with more than £8m from WMCA and delivered by Equans. It can fund solar PV with a battery, plus wall and loft insulation. In the Brierley Hill DY5 pilot area, homeowners only need an EPC of D or below, with no financial assessment; about 600 homes are targeted there. Elsewhere in the borough, most applicants also have a financial check. Call 01384 817086 or email winterwarmth@dudley.gov.uk.
Can I apply for the national Warm Homes grant in Dudley?
No. The borough is covered by WMCA’s regional retrofit pilot, and anyone eligible for that has to draw funding through it rather than the national Warm Homes: Local Grant. Dudley’s share, announced in November 2025, is £6.27m for roughly 600 homes, including council housing. Residents are directed to the Dudley Energy Advice Line or to Community BEES.
Has Dudley Council installed solar on its own buildings?
Yes, at several sites. Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre got 416 panels in 2023, expected to generate about 200MWh a year and pay back within five years. Dudley Leisure Centre on Constitution Hill has £132,000 of rooftop solar. A £4.4m decarbonisation grant added solar and batteries at the Council House, Stourbridge Town Hall, Himley Hall and seven primary schools, generating about 452,000kWh a year.
Does Switch Together run in Dudley?
Yes. Switch Together Dudley offers group-buy solar panels, batteries and EV chargers from MCS-certified installers, with a 10-year guarantee. You register free, get a fixed recommendation, and decide whether to go ahead. The council hasn’t published figures from past rounds.
Do I need permission for solar panels in a Dudley conservation area?
Sometimes. The borough has 22 conservation areas, from Castle Hill and Dudley Town Centre to High Street Stourbridge and the Village in Kingswinford, and road-facing wall panels need permission in all of them. Mushroom Green, The Leasowes and Love Lane also have Article 4 directions. Listed buildings always need consent.
How much power do solar panels make in Dudley?
Based on EU PVGIS irradiance data, 4kW of south-facing panels in Dudley should give roughly 3,715 kWh a year. Generation peaks at close to 453 kWh in May and drops to about 130 in December, within 1% of Wolverhampton and Walsall.
What are solar panels worth to a Dudley household?
Priced at the Midlands cap, 25.60p a kWh through the last quarter of 2026, and with surplus sold at 13p, a Dudley 4kW system brings in around £670 annually for a household consuming 40% of its generation. Push self-use to 60% and it’s about £765. Break-even on a typical £6,490 installation comes after 8.5–9.7 years.
Final Thoughts
In Dudley, the first thing to check is Community BEES. If you live in DY5 and your EPC is D or below, you may be able to get solar and a battery funded without a financial assessment. Elsewhere in the borough, check the financial criteria, and if you’re in a conservation area or Article 4 area, ask the council before booking an installer.
If you’re paying yourself, get at least three quotes and ask each installer for a roof-specific estimate to compare with the 3,715 kWh figure above. Firms here range from Starkey Electrical, trading since 2009, to young companies with strong recent reviews such as Actismart.
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.