Sandwell Solar Guide: 600 Solar Council Homes, Retrofit Funding & 10 Verified Installers
10 MCS-certified firms covering West Bromwich, Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and Rowley Regis, with figures worked out for Sandwell.
Sandwell is six towns rather than one, from West Bromwich and Oldbury to Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and Rowley Regis, and much of its housing is council-owned. That shapes the solar picture: the council has already fitted panels to 600 of its homes, plans 1,300 more by 2028, and has put more than 750kW on its own leisure centres, schools and offices. Private owners are the next group in line, through a £17.6m regional retrofit allocation.
This guide covers what that means for a Sandwell household. A 4kW roof here is estimated to produce 3,739 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 or right beside the borough, each checked against the MCS listings and its own site or register entries.
At a glance: Sandwell solar installers compared
| Company | Accreditation | Services | Coverage | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels Funded | MCS network | Quote matching, solar PV, battery, panel cleaning, funding guidance | Sandwell, B64–B71, WS10 & DY4 | — | One enquiry → multiple local quotes |
| A.E. Chapman & Co. (Old Hill) Ltd (Chapmans Electrical) | MCS (NAPIT) | Solar PV, battery, EV, electrical retail | Cradley Heath (B64) | Since 1925 | Buyers who want a long-established local business. |
| Apex Energy Solutions Worldwide Ltd | MCS, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, backup battery, EV | West Bromwich (B70) | Since 2020 | West Bromwich homes wanting solar with battery backup. |
| Green Tech Hub Ltd | MCS (NICEIC), RECC | Commercial & domestic PV, battery, EV | Oldbury (B69) | Since 2015 | Factories and business premises in Oldbury and Tipton. |
| National Eco Ltd | MCS | ECO4 solar, heat pumps, insulation | Oldbury (B68) | Since 2022 | Households on benefits checking free ECO4 solar. |
| B.D.C. Roofing Ltd | MCS (NAPIT), NFRC | Roofing, solar PV | Wednesbury (WS10) | — | Roofs that need repairs or replacement before solar. |
| Gallagher Electrical Ltd | MCS, NICEIC, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery, electrical | Halesowen (B62), ~3 miles | Since 1990 | Rowley Regis and Blackheath homes wanting a family firm. |
| WM Energy Solutions Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, RECC, OZEV | Solar PV, battery, EV charging | Cradley (B63) | Since 2021 | Solar plus an EV charger around Cradley Heath and Old Hill. |
| Actismart Ltd | MCS, NICEIC, RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery, EV | Coseley (WV14), next to Tipton | Since 2023 | Tipton and Great Bridge homes wanting a well-reviewed installer. |
| Kembla Ltd | MCS (NAPIT), ISO | Solar PV, battery, EV, PPAs | Lichfield (WS14) | Since 2020 | Larger homes, schools and businesses wanting a proven installer. |
| Suntec Energy Ltd | MCS, RECC, TrustMark, Gas Safe | Solar PV, battery, EV, heat pumps | Edgbaston (B16), near Bearwood | Since 2024 | Smethwick and Bearwood buyers wanting fixed, published packages. |
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 Sandwell by the numbers
These figures are specific to Sandwell. A 4kW system on a south-facing, 35° roof is estimated to produce 3,739 kWh a year; May is the joint best month at about 455 kWh, and December gives 132 kWh.
- 3,739 kWh / yearEstimated output of a 4kW roof system in Sandwell
- 25.60p per kWhPrice-cap unit rate for Sandwell’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–£290 export incomeThe rest sold at 13p/kWh on an open Smart Export Guarantee tariff
Together that’s about £675–£770 a year, repaying the UK average £6,490 cost of a 4kW system in roughly 8.4–9.6 years. Sandwell’s output sits between Walsall’s and Birmingham’s, and Midlands unit prices are a little below the GB average.
Sources: output from the EU’s PVGIS 5.3 model (SARAH-3 data) for Sandwell, 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 Sandwell
This guide covers the Sandwell borough: postcode districts B64–B71 (Cradley Heath, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Oldbury and West Bromwich), Wednesbury in WS10 and Tipton in DY4. Apex Energy Solutions is in West Bromwich, Green Tech Hub and National Eco are in Oldbury, B.D.C. Roofing is in Wednesbury and Chapmans is in Cradley Heath; others work from Halesowen, Coseley, Edgbaston and Lichfield.
West BromwichOldburyLangleySmethwickBearwoodTiptonGreat BridgeWednesburyRowley RegisBlackheathOld HillCradley Heath
Postcode district coverage from the Royal Mail B, WS and DY postcode areas (via Wikipedia). WS10 and DY4 are shared with Walsall and Dudley.
Planning and grid connection in Sandwell
- 9 conservation areasChurch Square Oldbury, Market Place Wednesbury, Galton Valley and Smethwick Town Centre, Factory Locks Tipton, High Street West Bromwich, Windmill End/Warrens Hall, High Street and Crocketts Lane, and Cape Hill. Road-facing wall panels need permission in each.
- Article 4 directionsThe High Street West Bromwich conservation area and 4–32 Bearwood Road in Smethwick have Article 4 directions. Check with the council before altering roofs there.
- Listed buildingsListed buildings in the borough need listed building consent before panels are fitted.
- National Grid Electricity DistributionSandwell’s network operator (West Midlands). Typical home systems are notified after installation (G98); larger ones need approval first (G99).
Sources: Sandwell Council (climate change pages, Devolved Retrofit Pilot cabinet report December 2025, Switch Together, historic environment); 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, a few miles from Smethwick and West Bromwich. It doesn’t install panels itself. It matches homeowners with MCS-accredited installers from its network, so one enquiry brings back several quotes.
For Sandwell, it can check what funding you might qualify for as the council’s retrofit programme rolls out, and point businesses with large industrial roofs in Oldbury, Tipton and Wednesbury to commercial installers and the council’s decarbonisation grants.
Get your free Sandwell quote →
Best for One enquiry → multiple competitive quotes from vetted MCS-accredited installers.
A.E. Chapman & Co. (Old Hill) Ltd (Chapmans Electrical)
MCSNAPIT100 years trading
Chapmans has traded in Cradley Heath since 1925 and celebrated its centenary in 2025. Alongside its electrical showroom and shop, it installs solar PV, battery storage and EV chargers and carries out energy assessments, with a second site in Bromsgrove.
It has the largest review base among the Sandwell-based firms here: 4.6 from 153 on its MCS listing.
Best for Buyers who want a long-established local business.
Apex Energy Solutions Worldwide Ltd
MCSRECCTrustMarkGreen Deal provider
Apex Energy Solutions is a West Bromwich installer, incorporated in 2020, that fits solar PV, backup batteries and EV chargers. It holds MCS, RECC and TrustMark and is an approved Green Deal provider.
It carries £5m of professional indemnity insurance. It has only five reviews on its MCS listing, all five-star, so ask for local references too.
Best for West Bromwich homes wanting solar with battery backup.
Green Tech Hub Ltd
MCSNICEICRECCCommercial & PPA
Green Tech Hub has been based in Oldbury since 2015 and describes itself as primarily a commercial installer of solar, batteries and EV charging, though it also does homes. It offers funded and power purchase agreement options for business roofs.
It shows 5.0 from 44 Google reviews on its website, and its directors review every enquiry.
Best for Factories and business premises in Oldbury and Tipton.
National Eco Ltd
MCSECO4 installer
National Eco is an Oldbury company, incorporated in 2022, focused on ECO4 grant-funded work: solar, boilers, heat pumps and insulation for households in or at risk of fuel poverty. It offers a free home survey.
It shows 4.9 from 52 reviews on its MCS listing. It mainly serves grant-eligible households rather than self-funded buyers.
Best for Households on benefits checking free ECO4 solar.
B.D.C. Roofing Ltd
MCSNAPITNFRC
B.D.C. Roofing is a Wednesbury roofing contractor that covers pitched and flat roofs in slate, tile, lead and single ply, and also installs MCS solar panels.
It shows 5.0 from 17 reviews on its MCS listing and joined the NFRC in 2024. It’s a practical choice where the roof needs attention before panels go on.
Best for Roofs that need repairs or replacement before solar.
Gallagher Electrical Ltd
MCSNICEICRECCTrustMark
Gallagher Electrical is a family-run electrical firm that directories say has traded since 1990. It installs solar PV and battery storage for homes and businesses, and is about three miles from Rowley Regis.
It holds MCS, NICEIC, RECC and TrustMark. We couldn’t load its website or find reviews, so ask for recent local jobs.
Best for Rowley Regis and Blackheath homes wanting a family firm.
WM Energy Solutions Ltd
MCSNAPITRECCOZEV
WM Energy Solutions works from Cradley, just across the border from Cradley Heath. It began as an EV charger installer in 2021 and now fits solar PV and batteries using Enphase, SolarEdge, FoxESS and GivEnergy equipment, with its own engineers.
It shows 5.0 from 31 reviews on its MCS listing. It also appears in our Dudley guide, as it sits right on the boundary.
Best for Solar plus an EV charger around Cradley Heath and Old Hill.
Actismart Ltd
MCSNICEICRECCTrustMark
Actismart is a Coseley firm, a mile or two from Tipton, founded in 2023 by three brothers. It installs solar PV, FoxESS and Tesla batteries and Ohme EV chargers with its own team.
It shows 5.0 from 189 reviews on its MCS listing, the highest count in this guide. It also features in our Dudley guide.
Best for Tipton and Great Bridge homes wanting a well-reviewed installer.
Kembla Ltd
MCSNAPITSchools & business
Kembla is a family-owned Lichfield solar company, founded in 2020, that installed a 304.85kWp system at Sandwell Academy in West Bromwich. It fits residential and business solar, batteries and EV charging.
It shows 5.0 from 60 reviews on its MCS listing and 4.8 from 43 on Trustpilot. It’s further away than the others here, so ask about survey and aftercare visits.
Best for Larger homes, schools and businesses wanting a proven installer.
Suntec Energy Ltd
MCSRECCTrustMarkGas Safe
Suntec Energy is a young company, incorporated in 2024, on Hagley Road in Edgbaston, close to Bearwood and Smethwick. It publishes fixed solar packages (2.73, 3.68 and 5.46kW) using AIKO panels with Fox ESS and Sunsynk equipment, and also fits batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps and boilers.
It holds MCS, RECC, TrustMark and Gas Safe and is open seven days a week. We didn’t find published reviews yet.
Best for Smethwick and Bearwood buyers wanting fixed, published packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can private homeowners in Sandwell get funding for solar panels?
A route is on the way. Sandwell’s share of WMCA’s devolved retrofit pilot is £17.6m over 2025–2028, including a Warm Homes: Local Grant element worth almost £3m, and solar PV is among the supported measures. It covers up to 1,300 council homes plus eligible private homes, and eligible owner-occupiers won’t need to contribute. The council was procuring a delivery contractor, with works in 2026/27 and 2027/28, and hadn’t opened a public application page when we checked. In the meantime it points residents to LEAP, ECO4 Flex and Act on Energy.
How many Sandwell council homes have solar panels?
About 600 already, according to the council, with a further 1,300 targeted by 2028. New council homes are being built with panels too: 20 at Crosswells Road in Langley and St Vincent’s Crescent in West Bromwich, a £6.2m scheme started in February 2024. A separate £5.5m decarbonisation grant has paid mainly for wall insulation on 625 more homes.
Has Sandwell Council put solar on its own buildings?
Yes, more than 750kW across its estate. That includes Sandwell Council House in Oldbury, which also has heat pumps, the West Bromwich outdoor market, Sandwell Aquatics Centre with both solar PV and solar thermal, and eight schools. Separately, Kembla installed a 304.85kWp system at Sandwell Academy.
Is Switch Together open in Sandwell?
Not right now. The council’s Switch Together round, a group-buying scheme for solar panels, batteries and EV chargers, closed for registration on 5 June 2026. Future rounds can be tracked on the council’s climate change pages, or on 0800 014 8851.
Do I need planning permission for solar in West Bromwich or Smethwick?
For most homes, no. Sandwell has nine conservation areas, such as High Street West Bromwich, Galton Valley and Cape Hill, where road-facing wall panels need permission. Article 4 directions also apply in the High Street West Bromwich conservation area and on 4–32 Bearwood Road, so check with planning there. Listed buildings always need consent.
Can Sandwell businesses get help paying for solar?
Yes. Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Business Growth West Midlands, Sandwell Council offers decarbonisation grants of up to £100,000, covering 50% of project costs, to small and medium-sized firms. That can make solar on the borough’s large industrial roofs pay back much faster.
How much will a solar system generate in Sandwell?
For a south-facing 4kW array, EU PVGIS estimates about 3,739 kWh a year in Sandwell. May and July tie as the strongest months at around 455 kWh, and December gives about 132. That’s slightly less than central Birmingham and slightly more than Walsall.
What can a 4kW system save in Sandwell?
Sandwell sits in the Midlands price-cap region, charged at 25.60p per kWh through October–December 2026. If a household consumes 40% of its generation and sells the surplus at 13p, a 4kW array is worth roughly £675 each year, or around £770 when self-consumption reaches 60%. A typical £6,490 system therefore pays for itself in 8.4–9.6 years.
Final Thoughts
In Sandwell, council tenants are already well served, and the next funding wave is aimed at private homes too, so if your EPC is D or below it may be worth waiting to see what the council’s retrofit programme offers before paying yourself. If you’re in a conservation area or on an Article 4 street, check planning first.
If you’re paying yourself, get three quotes. Firms here range from Chapmans, trading for a century, to young companies with few reviews, and businesses should look at the council’s decarbonisation grants before committing.
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.