Solar installers in Birmingham.

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

Local context

Solar in Birmingham: quick guide.

Birmingham has one of the UK's largest and most varied housing stocks. Solar fundamentals are good — the West Midlands sits roughly mid-table on UK irradiation, plenty for solar PV to pay back, and most homes have at least one usable roof face.

A few Birmingham-specific things to think about:

• Inner-city Victorian terraces. B1–B12 includes a mix of Victorian stock and post-war high-rise replacements. Period roofs are fine for solar but the structural check matters more on older terraces.
• Outer suburbs. B13–B45 is predominantly interwar and post-war semi-detached housing — straightforward solar candidates with simple roof shapes. Rear gardens often put the rear roof on a south-leaning aspect.
• Conservation areas. Jewellery Quarter, parts of Edgbaston and Moseley have conservation rules that can affect what's allowed on a front-facing roof. A local installer will know which streets need additional paperwork.
• Wider B postcode. Includes Solihull (B91–B94), Sutton Coldfield (B72–B76) and parts of Bromsgrove. Listed installers often cover the whole metro area rather than just the city boundary.
• Battery storage. With time-of-use tariffs spreading, battery economics are usually worth running through the savings calculator.

Grants & support

What help is available in Birmingham?

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. In England, ECO4 and the Warm Homes scheme can help eligible lower-income households with energy-efficiency measures through their energy supplier or local council.

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.