Solar Panels for Detached Garage UK: November 2024 Guide

Solar panels have become a common sight on many UK roofs. That’s no surprise - these sun-powered powerhouses can provide electricity all year round, increase the market value of your property and help you reduce your carbon footprint.

When installing solar panels on a detached garage, it’s worth exploring how much value do solar panels add to a house UK to understand the potential impact on your property’s overall value

While most homeowners think of home-related benefits whenever they hear the words ‘solar panels’, these nifty devices can be used in far more locations. That raises an important question: can I use solar panels for a detached garage? And if so, how would one go about it?

In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about using solar power for a detached garage in the UK.

If you're ready to start getting solar panels for your garage today, that's certainly possible with GreenMatch! The first step is to gather quotes from UK installers to compare. You can easily get up to 4 quotes from qualified local installers by clicking the button below and filling in the 30-second contact form.

Short answer: yes! You can put solar panels on your detached garage, which can be a great alternative to running electricity to your garage. Keep in mind that, like with any solar panel, your detached garage does need to receive sufficient sunlight. Furthermore, your detached garage roof must be big enough for the solar panels to generate enough electricity.

With the proper setup, solar panels on your detached garage could even make your garage’s power independent from your home.

If you’re interested in getting started with your solar-powered detached garage, let us offer you a free and simple helping hand with getting the most competitive price for your solar panels. By filling in our form, we will put you in contact with up to 4 professional installers, thus saving you hours of research time. The service is completely free and non-binding.

If you’re considering using solar power for your detached garage, it’s certainly worth looking into the pros and cons of installing solar panels on your outbuilding. Let’s look at them in detail.

Pros of using solar power for a detached garage in the UK

Cons of using solar power for a detached garage in the UK

You can expect to pay between £2,500 - £10,500 for a new solar panel system. The financial requirements of using solar energy to power your detached garage differ from case to case. Some important factors are:

Sometimes, a small solar system can suffice. The initial financial impact of installing such a system is minor. On the other hand, a complex solar panel system could take approximately 9.5 years to pay for itself due to its high initial cost.

For more information about what you’re likely to end up paying, please consult our blog post on the cost of solar panels in the UK.

Since 2008, planning permission for solar panels has been no longer necessary in most cases. As long as the solar panels are placed on a building and that building is not a listed building nor situated within a conservation area, you can install solar panels on your detached garage without planning permission. 

There are still some rules that homeowners in the UK have to follow to be permitted to place solar panels on their detached garage’s roofs. Let’s take a look at them.

Yes, you can put solar panels on a flat roof, including that of a detached garage. This means that you don't necessarily need to have tiles in place on your roof to be able to install a solar panel system.

In fact, installing your panels on a flat roof comes with several advantages, such as easier maintenance and less exposure from the street. Furthermore, solar panels on a flat garage roof are easy to install, use less material per square foot and are more cost-effective.

There’s one important thing to keep in mind, though, and that’s the drainage on the detached garage roof. Standing water can be a threat to your solar system. Therefore, it's necessary to work with a seasoned technician to make sure you won’t face any issues.

Once you have installed solar panels on your garage roof, you can utilise these nifty devices for all sorts of helpful purposes. Just think about it. You can use your solar panels for the garage lights, to draw power for tools, to charge your electronic devices and more.

If you have any doubts about the suitability of your garage roof for a solar panel installation, you can contact one of the specialists in our network for peace of mind. They can offer you tailored advice and provide a high-quality installation that you can enjoy for years to come.

To get in touch with them, simply click below and fill in our 30-second form to request free, non-binding quotes from up to 4 of our partner installers. Then, just compare prices and information to secure the best deal for your home and find the right installer for you.