Solar & renewables

Solar panels, batteries and EV chargers in Bolton & Wigan

Generate your own electricity, store it for the evening, and charge the car with it. Here is what each part costs, how they fit together, and the grants and rules that apply in Bolton, Wigan and the towns around them.

Prices and rules checked November 2026

Typical installed prices, 2026

System	Typical range	Basis
Solar panel installation	£5,800 – £7,250	3.6kW, 2–3 bed semi
Home battery storage	£5,000 – £7,500	6–9 kWh, installed
EV charger installation	£800 – £1,200	7kW, supplied & fitted
Solar panels and a battery together	£10,300 – £13,750	3.6kW plus a battery fitted at the same time

Published UK ranges, not quotes or Bolton and Wigan averages. The combined line adds MyJobQuote’s £4,500 to £6,500 battery add-on to its 3.6kW solar range. Open each guide for the full breakdown and sources.

Solar panel installation £5,800 – £7,250 3.6kW, 2–3 bed semi Home battery storage £5,000 – £7,500 6–9 kWh, installed EV charger installation £800 – £1,200 7kW, supplied & fitted

How they work together

Solar makes it

Panels generate in daylight, most around the middle of the day. The house uses what it needs first, and anything left over is stored or exported.

A battery stores it

Spare solar power, or cheap overnight grid power, is kept for the evening, when most homes use the most and grid power costs the most.

The car uses it

A smart charger can charge the car overnight on an off-peak tariff, and some have a solar mode that charges only from spare solar.

You do not need all three. Many people start with whichever fits their house and bills: an EV charger if they have a drive and an electric car, a battery on its own to run on a cheap night tariff, or solar panels on a good roof. If you think you will want more than one, say so at the survey: one installer can size the inverter and the consumer unit for everything, which avoids paying twice.

Money: VAT, export and grants

0% VAT on installing solar panels and batteries in a home, including a standalone battery, until 31 March 2027. GOV.UK says it goes back to 5% after that. It only applies when the installer supplies the equipment.
Smart Export Guarantee: some electricity suppliers must offer to pay for solar power you export. Rates vary widely, so compare them.
Warm Homes: Local Grant: free solar panels and other improvements for eligible homes in England with an EPC of D to G and, usually, a household income of £36,000 or less. Bolton and Wigan residents apply on GOV.UK.
EV chargepoint grant: up to £500 off a home charger, but only for renters and flat owners with off-street parking.

Before you sign

For solar, use an MCS-certified installer, or you may not be paid for your export.
Check the installer will notify Electricity North West, the network operator for Bolton and Wigan. Larger systems need its approval before fitting.
Ask whether the quote includes scaffolding and any consumer unit upgrade.
Most houses do not need planning permission for roof panels. Listed buildings and conservation areas are the exceptions.
Get the expected yearly generation in writing, based on your roof, not a national average.

Solar in Bolton and Wigan homes

The North West gets less sun than the south of England, so a system here generates towards the lower end of UK estimates. Roof direction and shading matter more than the town you live in. A south, east or west facing roof with no tall trees or chimneys in the way is the best starting point. Terraced rows in Bolton and Wigan often have a usable rear roof slope even where the front faces the wrong way, and because the rules on conservation areas cover roofs facing the road, a rear slope can be an option there too.

Older houses often need a new consumer unit before solar, a battery or an EV charger can be connected. If your board still has rewireable fuses, see our consumer unit guide and budget for it.

Questions people ask

Do I need solar panels to have a battery?

No. A battery can charge overnight on a cheap off-peak tariff and run the house in the evening. A standalone battery also gets 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.

Can I charge my electric car from solar panels?

Yes. Any home charger draws from the house supply, so spare solar power goes into the car during the day. Some smart chargers have a solar-only mode that waits for spare solar before charging.

Are there grants for solar panels in Bolton and Wigan?

The main one is the Warm Homes: Local Grant, delivered by councils in England. It covers privately owned or privately rented homes with an EPC of D to G and, usually, a household income of £36,000 or less. Everyone else benefits from 0% VAT on solar and batteries until 31 March 2027.

Who installs solar panels, batteries and EV chargers?

Solar is usually fitted by an MCS-certified installer, and batteries and EV chargers by an electrician registered for that work. Many firms do all three. Whoever it is, they should test the work, give you a certificate and notify Electricity North West.

Should I get everything at once?

Fitting solar and a battery together shares the scaffolding, labour and inverter, so it usually costs less than doing them years apart. If money is tight, ask for a hybrid inverter with the solar so a battery can be added later.

Will panels or a battery add value to my house?

There is no reliable local figure for that, so we do not give one. Keep the MCS certificate, electrical certificates and the export agreement: buyers’ solicitors will ask for them.

Sources

Checked in November 2026. How we price.