Did you know that the first solar panels used in the UK was in 1978 and installed at the University of Sussex? Eight years later in 1986, social housing developments in Woking, Surry incorporated solar panels on their buildings, and in 1994 panels were first connected to the national grid.1
Fast forward to over 30 years later and there are now 1.7 million homes out of 29 million homes in the UK which have solar panels. Since the beginning of January 2022, more than 600,000 solar panel installations have been recorded. South West England has the highest percentage of households with solar panels, Wales has 7.2%, and East England 6.7%. 2
Whether you were one of the original advocates for renewable energy decades ago or have recently chosen to join the solar power revolution, getting the appropriate level of cover for your panels is crucial. With solar panels for domestic use costing thousands of pounds, insuring your installation can provide financial protection, cover for replacement costs, and help keep your energy system working for you.
Are solar panels covered by Home Insurance?
In many cases, solar panels can be covered under a standard Home Insurance policy, but this isn’t automatic or guaranteed across every insurer. Because panels are fixed to your roof, most insurers treat them as part of the building itself, which means they may fall under your buildings insurance rather than your contents cover.
Securing insurance with Naturesave means your solar panels are automatically insured under your Home Insurance. We provide cover for a wide range of systems, including:
- Solar panels
- Heat pumps
- Biomass boilers
- Micro-hydro systems
Cover is for material damage (including storm, fire, lightning and theft), mechanical breakdown, Public Liability, and Loss of Revenue/Income.
Call: 01803 864390
Or visit: www.naturesave.co.uk/personal-insurance/green-home-insurance/
What are the criteria for Solar Panel Insurance?
Always check your policy wording or speak directly to your insurer to confirm whether your specific panels are included in your policy. Make sure any associated equipment like inverters or mounting frames are included. Cover often depends on several factors:
- How the panels are mounted
- Value of the panels
- Installation process (professional instalment)
- Whether you informed your insurer about the solar panels
Many standard Home Insurance policies automatically include solar panels up to a certain value, while others exclude them completely unless you add them as a specified item or take out additional cover. Naturesave covers solar panels as standard when you arrange Home Insurance through us, but you will need to tell us you have solar panels to ensure accurate coverage.
Do I need separate Solar Panel Insurance?
If you have a large or high value solar installation you might need enhanced coverage. Or, if your system includes extras like battery storage or smart monitoring equipment, it may be worth asking us about additional cover or an endorsement to your policy. This can make sure you’re not left underinsured if something goes wrong, such as storm damage, theft, or an electrical fault.
It’s also worth considering insurance for Loss of Income if you receive payments through a feed-in tariff or smart export guarantee scheme. This is because damage to your panels could interrupt your earnings. The Energy Systems Insurance we provide can cover you for Loss of Revenue/Income, but if you need further information about this, talk to the Naturesave team who will be able to help.
Does Buildings Insurance cover solar panels?
Because solar panels are permanently fixed to your roof, they are usually considered to be part of your building’s structure rather than its contents. This means Buildings Insurance, not Contents Insurance is usually the most suitable type of cover.
Buildings Insurance can protect against risks such as fire, storm damage, and flood. If your solar panels are included within your sum insured, damage from these events should be covered in the same way as damage to your roof tiles or guttering.
However, it’s important to check that your total buildings sum insured has been adjusted to reflect the added value of your solar installation. If you don’t increase your cover level after installing panels, you could find yourself underinsured, meaning any payout may not fully cover the cost of replacement or repair.
It’s also worth checking whether your policy covers costs like scaffolding or specialist removal and refitting of panels if roof repairs are needed elsewhere, as these can add significantly to a claim.
What else do we provide insurance for?
Building, buying or maintaining a sustainable, green home needs a holistic approach. Naturesave also provides wider green home insurance which can cover:
- Batteries
- EV chargers
- Hydro systems
- Heat pumps
If you would like to discuss your options with us, please get in touch.
Getting the right cover
Solar panels and renewable energy systems are a fantastic investment for your home and the environment, but they do require a proactive approach to your insurance. To safeguard against any shortfalls in your insurance cover make sure that you have:
- Told us about any new installations
- Checked with us whether your buildings sum insured reflects the added value
- Made sure you’re covered for Loss of Revenue/Income
Talking to Naturesave, who understands sustainable, eco-friendly properties can help ensure your green investment is properly protected from day one.
To discuss your Green Home Insurance, call our team today. With years of experience in providing sustainable Home Insurance for eco homes and domestic energy systems, we’re best placed to source and arrange your Solar Panel Insurance.
Call: 01803 864390
Or visit: www.naturesave.co.uk/personal-insurance/green-home-insurance/
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