Solihull Solar Guide: Airport-Scale Solar, Healthy Homes Grants & 10 Verified Installers
10 MCS-certified firms from Shirley to Meriden, with output and savings worked out for Solihull itself.
Solihull has the strongest solar yield of the Birmingham and Black Country boroughs in our guides, and some of its biggest solar is hidden in plain sight: 12,804 panels line the embankment beside Birmingham Airport’s runway, which sits inside the borough. The council has set a 2041 net-zero target, is building a heat network in the town centre, and in March 2026 started fitting free solar panels to homes in Chelmsley Wood.
This guide covers what that means for your home. A 4kW roof in Solihull is estimated to produce 3,803 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: Solihull solar installers compared
| Company | Accreditation | Services | Coverage | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels Funded | MCS network | Quote matching, solar PV, battery, panel cleaning, funding guidance | Solihull borough, B90–B94, B37 & CV7 | — | One enquiry → multiple local quotes |
| M.E.S Electrical & Solar Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, RECC | Solar PV design & install, electrical | Elmdon (B92) | Since 2011 | A long-standing local firm doing everything in-house. |
| Greenleaf EV | MCS, NICEIC, RECC, Tesla, Octopus | Solar PV, battery, EV charging | Shirley (B90) | 15 yrs in trade | Buyers who like published prices and a Powerwall option. |
| Goodwill Electrical | MCS, NICEIC, TrustMark, CHAS | Solar PV, battery, SEG applications | Meriden (CV7) | 20+ yrs | Meriden, Balsall Common and rural Solihull homes. |
| Solar City Ltd | MCS (NICEIC) | Solar PV, battery | Olton (B92) | Since 2010 | An early-MCS local firm with online system design. |
| The Solar Electrician Ltd | MCS, NAPIT, RECC, Tesla | Solar PV, Tesla Powerwall | Olton (B92) | Since 2012 | A long workmanship warranty on a Powerwall install. |
| Hadley Electrical Contractors Ltd | MCS (NICEIC) | Electrical, solar PV, battery, EV | Solihull (B92) | Since 2003 | Business premises and combined electrical projects. |
| RAMOR Ltd | MCS (NICEIC), RECC | Solar PV, heat pumps, battery, EV | Earlswood (B94) | Since 2023 | Hockley Heath and Earlswood homes wanting solar with a heat pump. |
| Emerald Green Energy Ltd | MCS, NICEIC, Gas Safe, ISO | Solar, battery, EV, insulation, heating | Shirley (B90) | Since 2023 | Households checking grant-funded options first. |
| TJD Electrical Services (TJD Group Ltd) | MCS (NAPIT), RECC | Solar PV, battery, electrical | Solihull (B91) | — | Town-centre homes wanting a nearby electrician for a small system. |
| M J Solar Ltd | MCS (NICEIC) | Solar PV | Solihull (B91) | Since 2022 | Buyers happy to vet a small new firm themselves. |
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 Solihull by the numbers
These figures are for Solihull. A 4kW system on a south-facing, 35° roof is estimated to produce 3,803 kWh a year, peaking at about 466 kWh in July and dropping to 127 kWh in December.
- 3,803 kWh / yearEstimated output of a 4kW roof system in Solihull
- 25.60p per kWhPrice-cap unit rate for Solihull’s region (Midlands), Oct–Dec 2026, vs 26.32p GB average
- £390–£585 off your billIf you use 40–60% of what the panels make at home
- + £200–£295 export incomeThe rest sold at 13p/kWh on an open Smart Export Guarantee tariff
That adds up to about £685–£780 a year, so a typical £6,490 install pays back in around 8.3–9.5 years. Solihull edges ahead of Birmingham and the Black Country on output, although Midlands unit prices sit slightly below the GB average.
Sources: output from the EU’s PVGIS 5.3 model (SARAH-3 data) for Solihull, 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 Solihull
This guide covers the Solihull borough: postcode districts B90–B94 (Shirley, Solihull, Olton, Knowle, Dorridge and Hockley Heath), B37 and B40 (Chelmsley Wood, Marston Green, the NEC and the airport), parts of B26 and B36, and CV7 around Meriden and Balsall Common. M.E.S Electrical, The Solar Electrician and Hadley Electrical are near Olton and Elmdon, Greenleaf EV and Emerald Green Energy in Shirley, and Goodwill Electrical in Meriden.
Solihull Town CentreShirleyDickens HeathOltonKnowleDorridgeHockley HeathChelmsley WoodMarston GreenCastle BromwichHampton-in-ArdenMeriden
Postcode district coverage from the Royal Mail B and CV postcode areas (via Wikipedia). B26 and B36 are shared with Birmingham.
Planning and grid connection in Solihull
- 20 conservation areasIncluding Solihull town centre, Knowle, Olton, Hampton-in-Arden, Meriden Green, Berkswell, Barston, Temple Balsall, Castle Bromwich and Station Approach Dorridge. Road-facing wall panels need permission in any of them.
- Article 4 directionsThe council notes that some conservation areas may carry Article 4 directions. Check your address with its planning team before fitting panels in one.
- Listed buildingsListed buildings across the borough need listed building consent before panels go on.
- National Grid Electricity DistributionSolihull’s network operator (West Midlands). Typical home systems are notified after installation (G98); larger ones need approval first (G99).
Sources: Solihull Council (Healthy Homes, conservation areas, Switch Together, Climate Change Action Plan 2026–2030, town centre energy network); Birmingham Airport; planning committee reporting on Castle Hills solar farm; 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 Solihull. It doesn’t install panels itself. It matches homeowners with MCS-accredited installers from its network, so one enquiry brings back several quotes.
For Solihull, it can point you to installers who have worked in conservation areas such as Knowle, Olton and the town centre, check whether you’re eligible for the Healthy Homes scheme, and find commercial installers for business parks around Blythe Valley and the NEC.
Get your free Solihull quote →
Best for One enquiry → multiple competitive quotes from vetted MCS-accredited installers.
M.E.S Electrical & Solar Ltd
MCSNAPITRECC
M.E.S is a family-run Solihull firm established in 2011 that designs, installs and certifies solar systems in-house, with no subcontractors. It also does domestic and commercial electrical work.
It shows 4.9 from 42 reviews on its MCS listing, the strongest review record among the Solihull-based firms here.
Best for A long-standing local firm doing everything in-house.
Greenleaf EV
MCSNICEICRECCTesla Certified
Greenleaf EV is a Shirley installer with 15 years in the trade that fits domestic solar PV, batteries from Tesla, Sigenergy, EcoFlow and Fox ESS, and EV chargers. It says the person who quotes your job is the person who fits it.
It is a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer and Octopus Trusted Partner, and publishes prices, such as £7,950 for a 4.85kW system with a battery. We didn’t find published review counts.
Best for Buyers who like published prices and a Powerwall option.
Goodwill Electrical
MCSNICEICTrustMarkCheckatrade
Goodwill Electrical is a Meriden firm with more than 20 years in electrical services. It installs domestic and commercial solar and batteries using N-type all-black panels with 30-year performance warranties, and handles Smart Export Guarantee applications.
It quotes £3,500–£9,000 for typical home systems and holds MCS, NICEIC, TrustMark, CHAS and JIB accreditation.
Best for Meriden, Balsall Common and rural Solihull homes.
Solar City Ltd
MCSNICEICOnline design tool
Solar City is a family-run Olton company, incorporated in 2010, with one of the earliest MCS numbers in the region (NIC-1542). It installs domestic solar PV and battery storage and offers an instant online design tool with indicative prices.
We couldn’t find published reviews, and one directory says it isn’t RECC-registered, so ask how deposits are protected.
Best for An early-MCS local firm with online system design.
The Solar Electrician Ltd
MCSNAPITRECCTesla authorised
The Solar Electrician is run by John Smallwood, with 14 years in solar. It installs domestic and commercial PV and Tesla Powerwall batteries, and offers a 15-year workmanship warranty with 10-year battery and inverter installation warranties.
Its only review on the MCS listing is one star, so ask for recent references before choosing.
Best for A long workmanship warranty on a Powerwall install.
Hadley Electrical Contractors Ltd
MCSNICEIC
Hadley Electrical has worked since 2003 on industrial, commercial and domestic electrical jobs across the West Midlands, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, and installs solar PV, battery storage and EV chargers.
It says most of its work comes from repeat customers and referrals. Solar is one service among many, so it’s strongest for commercial or combined electrical projects.
Best for Business premises and combined electrical projects.
RAMOR Ltd
MCSNICEICRECC
RAMOR is based in Earlswood, on the borough’s southern edge, and installs solar PV, heat pumps, battery storage and EV chargers using MCS-approved equipment. It advertises solar from £3,999.
The company was incorporated in 2023, although its site says it was established more than 20 years ago; ask it to explain the history. We didn’t find reviews.
Best for Hockley Heath and Earlswood homes wanting solar with a heat pump.
Emerald Green Energy Ltd
MCSNICEICISO 9001Grant schemes
Emerald Green Energy is a Shirley company, incorporated in 2023, that works on ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme grants as well as paid installs: solar, batteries, EV chargers, insulation, boilers and heat pumps. It runs a sub-brand called Emerald Solar.
It holds MCS, NICEIC, Gas Safe and three ISO standards, and says it has five-star Google and Trustpilot ratings, though we couldn’t confirm the counts.
Best for Households checking grant-funded options first.
TJD Electrical Services (TJD Group Ltd)
MCSNAPITRECC
TJD is a Solihull town-centre electrical firm registered with MCS through NAPIT and a RECC member for solar PV and battery storage.
Its website wasn’t loading securely when we checked, and we found no reviews, so this is a thin profile. Ask for its MCS certificate and examples of completed jobs.
Best for Town-centre homes wanting a nearby electrician for a small system.
M J Solar Ltd
MCSNICEIC
M J Solar is a small Solihull company, incorporated in 2022, that holds MCS certification through NICEIC for solar PV.
We found no website or reviews, so check its certificate, insurance and references directly before booking.
Best for Buyers happy to vet a small new firm themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Healthy Homes scheme in Solihull?
It’s Solihull’s Warm Homes: Local Grant project, funded by the government through WMCA. It’s aimed at homes rated EPC D–G in listed Chelmsley Wood postcodes and neighbouring wards, and fully funds measures such as solar panels, loft and cavity insulation, ventilation and air source heat pumps. Act on Energy handles enquiries (0800 988 2881, quoting “Healthy Homes Scheme”) and Dodd Group installs. The first homes had panels fitted by March 2026.
Is there a group-buying solar scheme in Solihull?
Yes. Solihull Council works with Switch Together (formerly Solar Together), which had a registration round from March to June 2025 and was open again when we checked. You register free, receive a personal recommendation, and pay a £150 deposit only if you accept it. The helpline is 0800 014 8851.
How much solar is there at Birmingham Airport?
A lot, and it’s in Solihull. The airport fitted 12,804 panels (6.8MW) along the 1.5km “Alpha Bund” embankment beside the runway between September 2023 and May 2024, supplying at least a fifth of its electricity. The airport is aiming for net zero by 2033.
What happened to the Castle Hills solar farm near the airport?
TotalEnergies proposed a 49.9MW solar farm with a 5MW battery on 63 hectares at Woodhouse Farm, between Catherine-de-Barnes and Bickenhill. Solihull’s planning committee refused it 7–2 in 2026 on green belt and highways grounds, against its officers’ recommendation. It doesn’t affect panels on your own roof.
Do I need permission for solar panels in Knowle, Olton or the town centre?
Not usually for roof panels, but those are three of Solihull’s 20 conservation areas. Inside them, panels mounted on an elevation facing the street require an application, and some properties may be covered by Article 4 directions. A listed home needs consent whatever you fit. If in doubt, ask the council’s planning team or apply for a Lawful Development Certificate.
How much electricity do solar panels generate in Solihull?
EU PVGIS irradiance data suggests a south-orientated four-kilowatt array in Solihull produces roughly 3,803 kWh annually, about 1% more than Birmingham, ahead of the Black Country boroughs and just below Coventry. July peaks at around 466 kWh, with December close to 127.
How much could a Solihull home save with solar?
Households in Solihull are on the Midlands cap, 25.60p per unit from October to December 2026. At 40% self-use plus 13p for exported units, four kilowatts of panels bring in around £685 annually, climbing to roughly £780 at 60%. Set against an average £6,490 installation, the money comes back in 8.3 to 9.5 years.
Final Thoughts
In Solihull, check first whether you’re in the Chelmsley Wood Healthy Homes area, where solar may be free for homes rated D or below. In Knowle, Olton, the town centre and the other conservation areas, confirm what needs permission. Everywhere else, most roofs can go ahead, with about 3,803 kWh a year to expect from a 4kW system.
Get at least three quotes. Firms here range from M.E.S, trading since 2011 with a strong review record, to newer or thinly documented companies, so weigh reviews and guarantees 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.