1
MCS certification — verified against the official register
Every listed installer must hold a current MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certificate. When an installer applies for a listing, they supply their MCS number. Our team checks that number manually against the MCS register before the listing goes live. We record the date checked and the reviewer. There is no automated check — a person does this every time.
Why MCS matters to you. MCS is the recognised industry standard for domestic solar PV in the UK. An MCS installation is a condition of eligibility for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) export tariff — the payment your energy supplier makes for electricity your panels send to the grid. It is also a condition of most solar panel manufacturer warranties. An installer without MCS certification cannot issue the documentation you need for either. If you want to understand MCS in more depth, see our guide on MCS certified solar installers.
2
A real company with a real solar offering
We check that the installer is an active, trading business — not a dormant shell — and that they genuinely install solar panels as a service. Pure resellers, lead brokers, and comparison sites do not qualify for a listing and will be rejected. The check includes their website (must resolve, must mention solar PV installation as a service) and their contact details (phone and email must be real and reachable).
3
Honest about what they offer
We scan each applicant's website for obvious overclaims before approving a listing. Phrases such as "free solar panels", "guaranteed payback", or "government-approved installer" are red flags. An installer who overclaims in their own marketing is not suitable to list next to a tool designed to give homeowners accurate estimates.
4
Service area declared
Every listed installer tells us the areas they cover — postcode districts, towns, or a named region. We check that the declared area is plausible for their location. A company will not appear in results for an area they have not declared, so when you see installers on your Solarable Report or in the directory, they have told us they cover your area.
What a listing means — and what it doesn't
A listed installer has cleared the checks above. Specifically:
- They hold a valid MCS certificate that our team verified against the official register.
- They are an active business that genuinely installs solar PV.
- Their website, at the time of our check, did not contain obvious overclaims.
- They have declared a service area that includes your postcode.
A listing is not a Solarable endorsement of their workmanship, pricing, or customer
service. We do not inspect their previous installations, negotiate on price on your
behalf, or route your details to them. You choose who to contact and you control the
conversation.
A listing does not replace an installer survey. Solarable estimates roof
suitability and potential annual benefit based on direction and area-average data. The only
way to get a reliable assessment of your specific roof — covering condition, shading, pitch,
and the right system size — is an on-site survey from a qualified installer. Always get that
survey before committing.
Ongoing integrity
Our checks are done at the point of approval. We do not monitor every listing continuously.
If you come across a listed installer and something does not seem right — their MCS status
has lapsed, their contact details have stopped working, or their marketing has changed
significantly — please let us know at hello@solarable.org and we will
review.