Solar installers in Belfast.

Sun figures from PVGIS; roof estimates include solar data from Google. How we measure.

Local context

Solar in Belfast: quick guide.

Belfast sits at a similar latitude to northern Britain, so modern panels make solar worthwhile here. But Northern Ireland works differently from Great Britain, and that is worth understanding before you start:

• Northern Ireland has its own planning system. Domestic solar is generally permitted development under the Planning (Northern Ireland) rules, administered by your local council rather than the England or Wales systems. Conservation areas and listed buildings carry extra conditions.
• A separate electricity market. Northern Ireland is not covered by the GB Smart Export Guarantee. Payment for power you export is arranged through NI suppliers on their own terms, so it is worth checking what your supplier offers.
• Red-brick terraces. East and south Belfast, off the Ormeau and Cregagh roads, have street after street of solid red-brick terraces with simple pitched roofs. Fine for solar, with the structural check mattering more on older roofs.
• Suburban semis. Newtownabbey, Lisburn, Dundonald and the outer metro have plenty of interwar and post-war semis with straightforward roofs.
• Greater Belfast only. This page covers the Belfast metropolitan area. The rest of Northern Ireland, including Craigavon, Armagh, the North West and Fermanagh, is not covered here.

Grants & support

What help is available in Belfast?

Solar and battery installations across the UK are currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 — a straight saving on the installed price for every household, with no application needed. Northern Ireland works differently from Great Britain. The GB ECO4 scheme does not run here; support has instead come through NI-specific programmes such as the NI Sustainable Energy Programme and the Affordable Warmth scheme, run through your local council and NI Direct. Export payments also differ, because the GB Smart Export Guarantee does not apply in NI, so it is worth checking directly what your electricity supplier pays for power you export.

Eligibility for grant schemes depends on your income, home and circumstances, and the schemes change. We keep the current picture on one page rather than guess what you'll qualify for.