Hive Solar & Battery

Solar power made a whole lot smarter

Shrink your bills by up to 92% with solar panels, a home battery and our exclusive energy offer.¹

Renewable energy from your rooftop

Get solar panels and a home battery fitted by our trusted installers and control it all in the Hive app. Greener living has never been so smart.

Generate your own free, greener electricity

Go energy independent with smart solar panels at home. Power your home with renewable electricity and significantly cut your carbon emissions.

Store what you don’t use

Add a solar battery and keep on using green energy, even when the sun goes down.

Or sell what you don’t need

Earn extra money by selling your spare solar energy back to the grid – all easily managed in the Hive app.

Harness your solar power with the Hive app

Image of a phone with a rock

See what you’re generating at a glance

Get an instant overview of how much solar electricity your panels are generating at any time with Live Energy Flow. Making it easy to keep an eye on what’s happening, right from your dashboard.

Advanced insights without the spreadsheet

Open your Insights tab to see how much energy you’ve generated, stored and sold by day, month, or in total. And you don’t need a PhD to use it either– our intuitive app makes it easy to keep track.

Review your spending and your savings

Sync your app to your electricity tariff for real time information on energy costs, past bills and how much you’ve saved in pounds and pence. Need to switch tariff? It’s easy to update in just a few taps.

Transform your home energy in just 4 steps

Expert recommended

Don’t forget our energy offer

Save up to 92% on your electricity costs with solar panels, a home battery and our exclusive energy offer.

1

Get an online estimate

Your installer will ask about your home and give you an online estimate that includes everything you’ll need.

2

Book your home survey

Their experts will visit your home to confirm all the details, plan your installation and give you a final quote.

3

Get it installed

Your installer will fit your brand new solar set up, including any home batteries, on a date that suits you.

4

Get started with the Hive app

Once it’s in, they’ll show you how to use your Hive app to get the best from your new solar equipment.

Expert recommended

Don’t forget our energy offer

Save up to 92% on your electricity costs with solar panels, a home battery and our exclusive energy offer.

Meet our trusted solar installers

Effective homes logo

Effective Home

In England and Wales, Effective Homes has been the leading solar installer for over 15 years. They’ve been providing reliable and advanced solar energy systems at affordable prices.⁴

Forster Group

In Scotland, Forster Group is one of the largest and most trusted solar installers. They currently install solar products to 1 in 5 new homes across the country.⁴

Heatable

In England, Heatable have been fitting affordable home technology since 2013. So far, their family-run business has completed over 50,000 energy-saving installations.⁴

Greener Energy Group

In Scotland, we’ve teamed up with Greener Energy Group – an award-winning organisation with 30 years of combined experience installing sustainable energy solutions.⁴

Get even smarter with a solar battery

Adding a battery is optional but highly recommended. With a battery installed from £4,295, nothing you generate goes to waste. Spare energy can be stored and used later – or sold back to the grid to lower your electricity bills even more.
Solar Panels on a roof of a house

Large capacity storage

Its 5.23kWh battery stores enough energy to keep you powered when the sun goes down.

Compact design

Slimline and low-profile, it can be installed in a wide variety of locations to suit you.

10 year warranty

Relax with a worry-free warranty on your battery and inverter. So if anything goes wrong, you’re covered.

Intuitive app control

Manage how you store and sell your spare electricity directly from the Hive app.

Hive logoBritish Gas logo

Shrink bills by up to 92% with Hive and British Gas

Pair your panels and battery with our exclusive Hive Solar Saver offer, plus a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff from British Gas. Then sit back and watch those sun-powered savings stack up.

Here's how it works:

Get up to 25% off your electricity use on any British Gas fixed tariff with our Hive Solar Saver offer

Better yet, join their Export and Earn Plus SEG tariff and sell your spare electricity back to the grid at 15.1p per kWh

Together, they’ll lower your bills by up to 92%!¹

Tell me more

Hear from our customers

Hive Solar has already helped our customers save on bills and get their homes closer to net zero – but don’t just take our word for it. Scroll through our videos to see what they have to say.
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Here's what Effective Home customers think...

“Process was great”

The whole solar process was great and gave us peace of mind.

Martine

Doncaster, 2024

“Seamless experience”

Getting solar fitted on my home was seamless. I've now reduced my electricity usage from the grid with solar..

Macey

Crawley, 2024

“Out of this world”

The solar installation was out of this world, the guys that fitted it were all quite brilliant.

Simon

Derby, 2024

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to connect my solar panels and battery to the Hive app?
Your installers will fit a Hive Bridge – and also a Hive Hub if you don’t already have one. These are provided at no extra cost as part of your installation when you buy compatible solar equipment from Effective Home, Forster Group, Heatable or Greener Energy Group after an introduction from us. Please note that we are only responsible for the Hive products that are provided to you – and you can find the T&Cs for the Hive Bridge and Hive Hub here.
Does Hive install my solar equipment?
No, Hive doesn’t provide or install solar panels and other equipment. Once you share your details on the Hive website, we’ll introduce you to the installers – either Effective Home, Forster Group, Heatable or Greener Energy Group, depending on where you live. They will take care of your purchase and installation. Because you’ve been introduced through Hive, you’ll get a Hive Bridge (and also a Hive Hub if you don’t have one) at no extra cost. These will connect your panels and other equipment to the Hive app. Please note that Hive is not responsible for solar installations and does not guarantee the work carried out by Effective Home, Forster Group, Heatable or Greener Energy Group. You are responsible for making a decision on their suitability.
How much do solar panels cost?
The average price for an 8-panel solar system is £5,245. This gives you:
  • 8 solar panels (400W)
  • Survey, scaffolding and installation
The average price for an 8-panel solar system and a 5.32kWh home battery is £8,485.³
If you add a 5.32kWh battery to store any surplus energy, your total price would be £8,485.
Find our more here: How much do solar panels cost in the UK?
Are solar panels worth it?
Yes, solar panels are a long-term investment that can reduce your electricity bills. You can save up to £827 in the first year of getting solar with a British Gas export tariff plus the exclusive Hive Solar Saver discount.¹ And because the electricity solar generates is zero carbon, it’s a brilliant way of making your home greener too.
How does solar energy work?
As the sun shines onto a solar panel, its energy is absorbed by the photovoltaic (PV) cells. The energy from this makes electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field within the solar panel’s cell. This then causes electricity to flow, which can be used around your home.
How many solar panels do I need?
It’s up to you. The more panels you have, the more electricity your system will generate. The minimum we install is four – and the maximum depends on the space available on your roof.
However, our solar experts will be there throughout the process to advise you on the right system for your home and your needs.
Find our more here: How many solar panels do I need?
How long do solar panels take to install?
Solar panel installation usually only takes a day.
How much energy does a solar panel produce?
A solar power system is made up of several panels, with each panel generating around 400W of energy in strong sunlight. Typical systems contain around 10 panels.
Is solar right for my home?
Yes, if you live in a house with a standard (not flat) roof, then solar can be an excellent home improvement. Our free survey will give you a clear idea of how much solar power you can expect to generate.
What are the benefits of getting a battery installed?
Without a battery, any energy you generate needs to be used immediately by your home – or sold back to the grid. But a battery gives you the option of storing energy so it can be used later. You’ll use less energy from the grid, which will mean lower electricity bills.
How do I make money by selling my surplus energy back to the grid?
Just sign up to a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff and you can sell your surplus energy back to the grid.
What is an inverter and why do I need one?
An inverter is a device that converts electricity from Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC), which is the kind of electricity supplied by the grid and used by appliances around your home. The inverter is usually installed in your loft.
Do I pay VAT on solar panels or battery?
Solar panels and battery installed in homes have a zero rate of VAT so you won’t need to pay VAT on them.
UK government’s VAT relief on energy saving materials (ESMs) applies to installations from Feb 2024.

Get more from Hive

  1. 1.

    Based on a medium demand (2,700 kWh) property in London, with south-facing 10 panel 4kW arrays and a battery providing 35% of the home’s electricity needs. Excess energy is sold back to the grid at 15.1p per kWh using the British Gas ‘Export & Earn Plus’ SEG tariff. Saving includes ‘Hive Solar Saver’ discount of 25% on electricity unit rate in first year and savings will vary after that. We will give at least one months’ advance notice of the offer ending on the BG website. Typical bill calculated using national average Jan-March 25 price cap rates. Actual savings will depend on location, installation, aspect and electricity use. For full details please see the Hive Solar Saver Terms & Conditions.

  2. 2.

    This price is based on purchasing a 10-panel system, 400W panels with Effective Home. Fitting to concrete tiles (not slate), single elevation of scaffold, with single phase electrics and no complexities. The full cash price for this system is £5,245 which excludes battery.

  3. 3.

    For both solar & battery, the price is £8,485 with Effective Home. This price is based on purchasing a 10 panel system, 400W premium panels and a 5.32kWh solar battery. Price includes full system and install.

  4. 4.

    We act as an introducer between you and Effective Energy Group Ltd (company number 09805175), Forster Roofing Services Ltd (company number SC123604), Greener Energy Group Ltd (company number SC467672) or Heatable Ltd (company number 08804726) . The terms on which any installations are carried out are as agreed between you and Effective Energy Group, Forster Roofing Services, Greener Energy Group or Heatable and, other than for any Hive equipment you receive, we are not responsible or liable for the end products or services that are provided.