Solar Panel Installers Northern Ireland
Looking for solar panel installation for your home in the Midlands?
The NimbleFins team researched local solar panel installers in Northern Ireland looking for the companies with the best customer ratings. We've also sourced information regarding the geographic areas covered by each local installer, some of the solar brands each works with and when each installer was incorporated.
You can also use a larger UK-wide solar panel installer but if you want a local NI company, we hope the list below is a useful resource to get your started in your research.
| Solar Panel Installers Northern Ireland | Area | Brands Include | TrustScore | Year Incorporated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encom Energy Ltd | Based in Belfast; installs across Northern Ireland and beyond | various | 4.7 | 2021 |
| Next-Gen-Power | Belfast | GivEnergy | 4.5 | 2013 |
The companies listed above are based in NI, are MCS certified and achieved Trustpilot ratings of at least 4.5 out of 5. This list can be a starting point for your research, but of course there may be other solar panel installers more suited to your needs. The above list is meant to show local companies based in Northern Ireland, but there are other companies to consider as well.
You can also check Google maps for other solar installers in your area, and you can even ask neighbors with solar panels about their installers. We've found neighbors to be a great source of information—and people with solar panels typically love to talk about them and their experiences!
Are you not sure if you should go with a large UK or a smaller, local company? Below we discuss some of the pros and cons of each.
Should I use a local NI solar panel installer or a large UK-wide installer?
When deciding which type of installer to use—smaller, local vs. larger, national—here are some factors to keep in mind:
Pros and cons of using a larger company
A larger, UK-wide company might be better at the following:
- Quick quote turnaround
- Offering discounts due to volume discounts
- Deep product knowledge (e.g. if they only work with a limited set of products)
A larger company might be worse due to the following:
- Installation teams might be outsourced/contracted out
- Limited solar panel manufacturers only (e.g. some install only 1 or two types of panels)
- Quote and technical survey might be online or phone only (not on site)
Note: 'online' or 'phone'-only quotes and technical surveys can be good for efficiency—you can get a quote in literally minutes. But an onsite quote and technical survey can save you time in the long run and help ensure that the system you get is truly optimised for your situation. For example, in some cases it can be difficult for online or over-the-phone quotes to accurately estimate the number of panels that can actually fit on a roof—this may or may not be a factor for you. If your roof is small compared to your needs, then you need to maximise the panels on the roof.
Want to learn more? Read our related article about the best national solar panel installers.
Pros and cons of using a local NI company
A local company might be better at the following:
- Installation teams might be more likely to be in-house (as opposed to contracted out)
- Knowing the 'sunniness' of your area (and therefore what power generation can really be achieved)
- Hand holding their customers
- Having your company nearby in case of problems
- On site quotes and surveys (vs remote)
- Sourcing specific equipment you desire (e.g. they may be more open to installing your choice of panels)
A local company might be worse due to the following:
- Quote turnaround might be slower
- If they do less volume, they may not be able to pass on bulk discounts to customers
Also, if you want some guidance on how to choose a solar panel installer, please read our thoughts here.