Solar panels come in two distinct versions: Solar thermal panels for making hot water and solar photovoltaic panels for making electricity.

Solarcentury specialise in solar photovoltaics and offer a wide range of products from the world's most trusted manufacturers. As an entirely independent solar energy company we can offer a choice of photovoltaic panels within short lead times and at competitive prices.

Solarcentury keeps a well stocked warehouse in Surrey and supplies solar panels to MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) registered installers throughout the UK. Home owners can apply for a quote to have solar panels installed using our ‘online calculator’, which provides an instant estimate and will put you in touch with your local solar panel installer, who will contact you to provide a final quotation.

As well as providing our own Solarcentury branded solar panel, and a huge selection of solar panels from Sharp, Sanyo, Sunpower, Yingli and Suntech, Solarcentury have developed a solar tile and solar slates for new build and re-roofing projects.

For existing homes, solar panels are normally installed above the existing roof, on a metal framing system. A basic survey by an installer will determine the best method of installation for your particular circumstances, although solar panels make most energy if they are angled to the south at thirty to forty degrees from the horizontal.

Solar panels can also be installed on flat roofs, or on free standing structures and should be positioned where they will not be shaded at any time of the day in order to generate the most electricity. The more southerly the location of the panels the more energy they will generate.

Solar panels are rated in ‘watt peak’ (Wp) or ‘kilowatt peak’ (kWp), for example the Solarcentury solar panel is called an SC-M185 and produces 185 watts in peak power conditions. Solar panels contain a series of solar cells which are wired together to form the panels, which produce DC (Direct Current) electricity. To convert the power for use in the home the electricity is usually converted to AC (Alternating Current) by an inverter, which is an integral part of most grid-based solar panel systems.

Solarcentury is the UK's largest, independent solar company and a trusted supplier to government, industry, schools and thousands of homeowners.

Founded in 1998 by energy industry expert Jeremy Leggett, Solarcentury has been associated with many of the UK's highest profile solar power projects, including work with the Eden Project, the Environment Agency, the National Trust Headquarters, the CIS Tower and the Big Brother House.

Employing over 100 people with diverse expertise, our work spans the entire solar process, from designing and manufacturing right through to advising, specifying and installation.

The team is made up of designers, engineers, project managers, consultants, logistics and support staff. We come from a broad range of backgrounds including the oil and power industries, environmental groups, construction, the armed forces, government, development and aid/environmental charities, the IT industry, and investment banking. Visit our Company Profile page for more information on our directors.

Despite this huge diversity we are united in our belief that solar energy is a key solution to alleviate the growing energy crisis, and is vital for sustainability and combating global warming. 

We continually strive to reduce the environmental impact of our operations. We have solar electric and solar thermal panels installed on our offices in Waterloo and have annual targets to reduce our environmental impact as part of our EMAS and ISO14001 accreditations. Solarcentury is in business for a purpose: to make a big difference in the fight against climate change. We envisage solar systems on the roof of every building, backed up by other micro renewables, supplying clean power and achieving deep cuts in carbon emissions.

Solarcentury operates according to ten working principles on which the company was founded. We have also won a range of awards for both our company and our solar tile product.

We produce an annual Environmental Statement covering all of our activities in the UK. If you would like more information on solar energy from the UK’s leading solar energy company please see the FAQ and get in touch  if you can not find the answer you are looking for.