What does Martin Lewis say about solar panels?

Less than you might expect in his own words. Martin Lewis founded MoneySavingExpert (MSE) and still chairs it, but the site’s solar advice comes from its editorial team in a guide called “Solar panels: are they worth it?”. That guide carries no direct quotes from him. When people say “Martin Lewis says” about solar, they almost always mean “MSE’s guide says”.

He has commented personally from time to time. When the government scrapped VAT on solar panels in March 2022, he wrote that it was “great for those who can afford it”, but no help with the immediate cost-of-living crisis. That fits the tone of MSE’s guidance generally: solar is a long-term investment for households with the money and the right roof, not a quick fix for high bills.

MSE’s guide sets out a list of things to know before buying. In plain terms:

• Solar panels have a large upfront cost, about £7,600 on average.
• Using what you generate could cut your bills by up to £330 a year.
• You need an export tariff to be paid for what you don’t use, and rates vary hugely.
• It takes at least ten years or so to break even.
• You save most by using electricity while the panels are generating.
• A battery could add years to your break-even point.
• Not every home is suitable.
• If you’re likely to move in the next decade, it might not add up.
• Don’t assume you’ll get the cost back in your home’s value.
• You can still switch energy supplier.
• Panels last around 25 years and need little maintenance.
• Watch out for scam adverts.

MSE’s numbers: cost, savings and payback

MSE’s figures come from the Energy Saving Trust. They’re for a typical 4.5kW system costing £7,600, in a household using 2,500kWh of electricity a year with no heat pump or electric heating. The assumptions are an electricity price of 25.8p/kWh and an export rate of 12p/kWh.

The range in each row depends on whether someone is home all day, which means bigger bill savings and smaller export payments, or out all day, which means the reverse. MSE stresses these are estimates and that both energy prices and export rates change. Our own figures for different system sizes are in solar panel cost UK and the solar calculator.

Are solar panels worth it, according to MSE?

MSE’s answer is “it depends”, and it lists who solar suits and who it doesn’t.

On house prices, MSE quotes estate agents’ body Propertymark saying panels don’t add value in the short term, alongside industry studies suggesting anything from 2% to 14%. Its advice is not to bank on it. We cover both sides in do solar panels add value and moving house with solar panels. For roof direction, see east-west roofs, north-facing roofs and shading. Our full answer is in are solar panels worth it.

What MSE says about solar batteries

MSE is cautious. It puts the average battery at about £5,000 and says one “could add years to your break even point”. It also accepts the logic for storing your own power, because export rates are usually far lower than the price you pay for electricity from the grid.

That’s a fair summary of the trade-off. Whether a battery pays depends mostly on your tariff. With a cheap overnight rate, a battery can be filled at under 8p/kWh in winter and used during the day, which changes the sums considerably. We work through it in are solar batteries worth it, off-peak charging and what size battery.

Best tariff for solar panels: MSE’s export picks

MSE keeps a separate guide to export tariffs, updated on 29 September 2026. Its key message is that rates range from 1p to 25p per kWh, so being on the wrong one can cost you hundreds of pounds a year. The top rates it listed:

The pattern MSE points out is that the best rates are tied tariffs. You get them by also buying your electricity from that supplier, or by having it install your system. You are allowed to export to one supplier and buy from another, but those standalone rates are much lower. To be paid at all, you need a smart meter and an MCS certificate for your system (solar panels and smart meters, MCS certification).

One caution from us: a high export rate isn’t a reason to pay more for the installation. A 20p rate fixed for one year is worth far less than £1,000 off the price of the system. Our comparison is in SEG tariffs compared, with Intelligent Octopus Go for EV drivers.

Has Martin Lewis reviewed Octopus or other solar companies?

No. This is one of the most common searches, and the honest answer is that neither Martin Lewis nor MSE has reviewed, ranked or recommended any solar installer. MSE’s guide says most big energy suppliers sell solar panels and that some offer 0% finance for up to three years, but it doesn’t name a best one. The only place suppliers are compared is the export tariff table above.

MSE does mention a quote tool run with the Federation of Master Builders, which lists a small number of installers offering a discount. A mention in that tool is not a review or a recommendation, and MSE tells readers to do their own research before committing. If a company’s advert or salesperson claims “as recommended by Martin Lewis”, that claim is false.

MSE’s advice on buying and solar panel quotes

MSE describes three ways to buy:

1. Find registered installers and get three quotes. This is its main route. Get at least three quotes in writing, from installers that are MCS-certified and members of a consumer code, either RECC or HIES. Check their reviews too.
2. Buy through an energy supplier. Most of the big names sell solar, some with 0% finance for a limited period.
3. A subscription. You pay monthly over a long term, such as 20 years. MSE warns that this can complicate selling your home and says to check the terms carefully.

MSE also lists what a quote should include: scaffolding, internal wiring, the grid connection agreement, the electrical connection work and a generation meter. We’d add a named panel, inverter and battery, a shade analysis and a ten-year insurance-backed workmanship guarantee. See how to choose a solar installer, warranties and solar panel finance.

Martin Lewis on free solar panels and grants

MSE doesn’t say free solar panels are available to everyone, because they aren’t. Its guide lists the funding that does exist:

• England: the Warm Homes: Local Grant. For low-income households, people on certain benefits or in certain postcode areas, in homes with a poor energy rating. It can include solar panels. You apply through your local council, and not every council has funding.
• Wales: the Warm Homes Nest scheme. Free improvements, which can include solar, for owners and private renters on a means-tested benefit or with certain health conditions.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland. MSE says there are no grants for solar panels.

Everyone in the UK also pays 0% VAT on installed solar until 31 March 2027. More detail: free solar panels, who actually qualifies and solar grants UK.

Fake Martin Lewis solar adverts and mis-sold panels

Martin Lewis is one of the most impersonated people in Britain. Scammers use his face and name on adverts for everything from investments to boilers and energy schemes, and he once sued Facebook over it. MSE’s position is blunt: “Martin NEVER endorses products and nor does MSE”. Its rule of thumb is that any advert featuring Martin Lewis that doesn’t link back to MSE is fake. MSE asks people to send screenshots to scamadverts@moneysavingexpert.com.

So if you see “Martin Lewis reveals free solar panel scheme” on social media, or a site asking for your details to check eligibility for a “Martin Lewis solar grant”, close it. MSE’s solar guide also warns specifically about scam adverts for cheap installation and maintenance. Our guide to solar panel scams covers the common ones.

Mis-sold solar panels. We couldn’t find a dedicated MSE guide on this, though its forum has long-running threads. Most cases involve panels sold with a loan years ago, on promises that the savings would cover the repayments. If that’s you, complain in writing to the lender first, then go to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free. You don’t need a claims company, which would take a share of anything you win.

HMRC “solar panel fines”

In January 2026 several news sites ran stories saying thousands of solar owners faced a £100 HMRC fine. These didn’t come from Martin Lewis or MSE. The £100 is the standard penalty for filing a self-assessment tax return late, which applies to anyone who has to file one.

For most households, payments for electricity exported from panels on your own home are free of income tax, as long as the system isn’t designed to generate far more than the home uses. If you have a very large system, or panels on a rental or business property, check with HMRC or an accountant.

Plug-in solar panels

MSE published a guide to plug-in solar on 23 September 2026, after the panels went on sale in England, Wales and Scotland on 27 August 2026. It puts an 800W kit at £500–£1,200, saving about £70–£110 a year, with payback in roughly 5 to 10 years. It recommends an electrical safety check first and notes that you must register the system within 28 days. MSE’s view is that they suit homes with no space for roof panels, and that the savings are modest. Our guide: plug-in solar panels UK.

Where we agree with MSE, and where we differ

This section is our view, not MSE’s.

Our savings figures use the October to December 2026 price cap of 26.32p/kWh and assume about half the output is used at home. Timing matters less than people think: see buy now or wait and the best time to install.

Martin Lewis and solar panels: frequently asked questions

This page is an independent summary and is not affiliated with, approved by or endorsed by Martin Lewis or MoneySavingExpert.com. MSE’s figures, advice and tariff rates are taken from its guides “Solar panels: are they worth it?” (updated 28 September 2026), its export tariff guide (29 September 2026), its plug-in solar guide (23 September 2026) and its page on fake Martin Lewis adverts, all checked on 2 October 2026. MSE updates its guides regularly, so check the originals for current figures. Martin Lewis’s 2022 comment on VAT is from his public social media post of 23 March 2022. The tax paragraph is general information, not tax advice. Our own prices and savings are typical 2026 UK estimates with 0% VAT, which applies until 31 March 2027, using the Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026.