So Energy Solar Panels Review (2026): Price, Wait Times & Verdict
So Energy, the London-based supplier, has been installing its own solar and battery systems since 2020. It pays one of the UK’s highest export rates, 20p/kWh, on systems it fits. This independent review covers the kit, how pricing and the Hometree payment plan work, wait times, the warranty, the So Bright and So Export Flex tariffs, what customers say, and how it compares with a local MCS installer.
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Going Solar UK rating
So Energy solar installation
★★★★☆ Strong export rate and UK batteries, but no published prices
The bottom line: good kit, a 20p export rate and better workmanship cover than most big suppliers. The lack of published prices means you can only judge the value by comparing its quote with another.
Get a local price to compare →What So Energy Solar is
So Energy is a London-based gas and electricity supplier with around 300,000 customers, backed by Ireland’s ESB Group after merging with ESB Energy’s UK household business. It started a solar and battery trial in 2020 and has sold full installations since 2021. Unlike some suppliers that pass jobs to subcontractors, So Energy says its systems are fitted by its own engineers. It lists MCS, RECC, TrustMark and NAPIT accreditations.
You can get a quote whether or not you buy your energy from So Energy. Its headline export rate is reserved for systems it installed, though (see tariffs).
So Energy solar panel prices
So Energy doesn’t publish prices. You get a quote after a virtual or in-person survey. That makes it harder to judge value than suppliers with fixed packages, such as E.ON, so it’s worth having a benchmark ready:
| System | Typical local MCS installer (0% VAT) | With 5kWh battery |
|---|---|---|
| 3kW (7 panels) | £4,500–£6,000 | £7,500–£9,500 |
| 4kW (9–10 panels) | £5,500–£7,500 | £9,000–£11,500 |
| 6kW (13–14 panels) | £7,000–£9,500 | £10,500–£13,000 |
If a So Energy quote for the same size of system and battery lands inside these ranges, the 20p export rate and five-year workmanship cover make it good value. If it’s well above them, the tariff rarely makes up the gap. So Energy also offers 0% finance on selected products, a Hometree payment plan (below) and a £200 referral reward. Installed solar and batteries are 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. See solar panel cost UK and solar finance.
No published price? Get a benchmark first
A vetted local installer will price the same size of system and battery, named in writing, so you know whether So Energy’s quote is fair before you sign.
Compare With a Local MCS Quote →What panels and batteries does So Energy use?
- Panels: 440W all-black high-efficiency panels with a 30-year warranty. So Energy doesn’t name the manufacturer on its website, so ask for the model and datasheet. At 440W, it’s likely to be a modern N-type panel similar to the Jinko, JA Solar or Canadian Solar panels most installers fit.
- Batteries: UK-manufactured Duracell batteries. They’re made under licence by Puredrive Energy in Cheltenham, in AC and DC versions, from 5kWh up to 75kWh, with a 10-year warranty. So Energy quotes a 10,000-cycle lifetime. See our Duracell battery review and Puredrive review.
- Inverter: not named online. Ask which one you’re getting and its warranty, because the inverter is the part most likely to need replacing within 25 years (how long inverters last).
AC batteries can be added to an existing system, so So Energy is an option if you already have panels and want to add a battery. See what size battery you need.
Who installs So Energy solar, and wait times
So Energy says its engineers complete a typical installation in one to two days once on site. It doesn’t publish overall lead times. For customers on its Hometree payment plan, installation follows within four to six weeks of approval, which is a reasonable guide to the wait from survey to fitting. After installation, allow a few more weeks for the export tariff to go live while the DNO registers your export. A local MCS installer can often fit within two to eight weeks. See how long installation takes.
So Energy solar warranties
| Cover | So Energy | Other big suppliers | Good local installer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panels | 30 years | 25–30 years | 25–30 years |
| Battery | 10 years (Duracell) | 10 years | 10 years |
| Workmanship | 5 years | 2 years at E.ON and ScottishPower | 10 years, often insurance-backed |
Five years of workmanship cover is a real advantage over E.ON and ScottishPower, which give two. It’s still half the ten years most independent MCS installers offer, and roof leaks or fixing problems can take years to appear. Ask whether the workmanship guarantee is insurance-backed. See solar panel warranties explained.
So Bright and So Export Flex tariffs
| Tariff | Export rate | Who can get it |
|---|---|---|
| So Bright Export | 20p/kWh, fixed for 12 months | Systems installed by So Energy. Some comparison sites list it as also needing So Energy as your electricity supplier, so confirm when you order |
| So Export Flex | 4.5p/kWh | Anyone with eligible panels, whoever supplies their electricity |
20p is one of the highest export rates in the UK. For comparison, in July 2026 Uswitch listed Ecotricity at 16p, EDF’s standard export and Good Energy at 15p, and Octopus Outgoing at 12p. A few deals tied to a supplier’s own customers, such as EDF’s and E.ON’s, pay 17.5–18p. On a 4kW system exporting around 1,800kWh a year, 20p rather than 15p is worth about £90 a year. It’s fixed for 12 months, though, so check what it renews at. If So Energy didn’t install your panels, 4.5p is poor, and you’ll do far better elsewhere (SEG tariffs compared). To apply for any So Energy export tariff you need your MCS certificate, the G98 or G99 connection paperwork, proof of ownership and a smart meter.
The Hometree payment plan
In March 2025 So Energy teamed up with Hometree on a payment plan for homes in England and Wales. Prices start at around £75 a month, spread over 5 to 25 years, and include maintenance, repairs and replacement of any equipment that fails during the plan. That’s a useful option if you don’t have the cash, and the included cover is genuinely valuable. Before you sign, check three things:
- The total you’ll pay over the term, compared with the cash price.
- The interest rate.
- Whether you own the system at the end, and what happens if you sell the house mid-plan (moving with solar panels).
A long plan can cost far more than buying outright. See how to finance solar.
Paying monthly? Check the cash price first
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Match Me With a Local Installer →What So Energy customers say
So Energy scores 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot from more than 30,000 reviews, though most are about energy supply rather than solar installation. Citizens Advice rated it 2.85 out of 5 for April to June 2026, 11th in its supplier table, so service on the energy side is mid-table. Solar reviews on So Energy’s own site are positive about the install teams. As always, ask for the name of the engineer or team and check the MCS register.
So Energy vs a local installer
| So Energy | Good local MCS installer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Quote only | Fixed, itemised quote |
| Panels | 440W all-black, maker not named online | Named in writing, your choice |
| Battery | Duracell (UK-made), 5–75kWh | Your choice of brand |
| Installed by | So Energy engineers | Themselves |
| Workmanship warranty | 5 years | 10 years typical |
| Export tariff | 20p (So-installed) | Any SEG supplier (typically 12–16p, up to 18p on supplier-tied deals) |
| Finance | 0% on selected products, Hometree plan | Varies |
Other supplier reviews: E.ON, Octopus, British Gas, EDF, OVO and ScottishPower, all compared in solar panel companies UK.
So Energy solar panels: pros and cons
Pros
- 20p/kWh So Bright export rate, one of the UK’s highest
- 5-year workmanship warranty, better than several big suppliers
- Installed by So Energy’s own engineers
- UK-made Duracell batteries, 5–75kWh, with a 10-year warranty
- 440W all-black panels with a 30-year warranty
- 0% finance and a Hometree plan that includes maintenance
Cons
- No published prices
- Panel and inverter makers not named online
- Workmanship cover half what most local installers give
- Only 4.5p export if So Energy didn’t install your panels
- The 20p rate is fixed for just 12 months
- Mid-table Citizens Advice customer service score
Verdict: should you buy solar panels from So Energy?
3.9 / 5. So Energy is one of the stronger supplier options. It has its own engineers, UK-made Duracell batteries, a five-year workmanship warranty and a 20p export rate that few can match. The catch is that you can’t see a price until you’re quoted. Get the exact panel, inverter and battery in writing, check the total if you’re paying monthly, and put the quote next to a vetted local MCS installer’s. If So Energy’s price is close, its export rate makes it a good choice. If it isn’t, a local installer’s ten-year guarantee and lower price will usually win.
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So Energy solar panels: frequently asked questions
Are So Energy solar panels any good?
Yes, So Energy is one of the stronger supplier-led options. It fits 440W all-black panels with a 30-year warranty and UK-made Duracell batteries using its own engineers, gives a 5-year workmanship warranty and pays 20p/kWh export on systems it installs. The downsides are that it doesn’t publish prices and its workmanship cover is half the ten years most independent MCS installers offer, so compare its quote with a local one.
How much do So Energy solar panels cost?
So Energy doesn’t publish prices. You get a quote after a virtual or in-person survey. As a benchmark, a typical 4kW system of 9–10 panels from a local MCS installer costs £5,500–£7,500 with 0% VAT, or £9,000–£11,500 with a 5kWh battery. So Energy also offers 0% finance on selected products and a Hometree payment plan from around £75 a month.
What export rate does So Energy pay for solar?
So Energy’s So Bright Export tariff pays 20p/kWh, fixed for 12 months, for systems So Energy installed. Some comparison sites list it as also requiring So Energy as your electricity supplier, so confirm when you order. Its So Export Flex tariff, open to anyone with eligible panels, pays 4.5p/kWh.
What battery does So Energy install?
So Energy installs UK-manufactured Duracell batteries, made under licence by Puredrive Energy in Cheltenham. They come in AC and DC versions from 5kWh up to 75kWh, with a 10-year warranty, and So Energy quotes a 10,000-cycle lifetime. AC batteries can be added to an existing solar system.
How long does So Energy take to install solar panels?
So Energy says a typical installation takes one to two days once its engineers are on site. It doesn’t publish overall lead times, but for customers on its Hometree payment plan, installation follows within four to six weeks of approval. Allow a few more weeks after that for the export tariff to go live.
Do I need to be a So Energy customer to get solar panels from So Energy?
No, you can get a quote whoever supplies your energy. The 20p So Bright export rate is reserved for systems So Energy installed, and some sources say you also need So Energy as your electricity supplier to get it, so check when you order. Its 4.5p So Export Flex tariff is open to anyone.
Going Solar UK is independent and not affiliated with So Energy. Product, warranty and tariff details are from So Energy’s website and support pages as of September 2026 and can change. Check the current terms on So Energy’s solar page. Other suppliers’ export rates are as listed by Uswitch on 15 July 2026. Hometree plan details are from its March 2025 launch announcement. Customer ratings are from Trustpilot and Citizens Advice (April to June 2026). Local installer prices are typical 2026 UK ranges with 0% VAT, which applies until 31 March 2027.