Using a HIES Consumer Code member when choosing an installer for your solar panel installation could provide you with an extra layer of confidence in the installation for your home.
On this page
- Why choose HIES members?
- Benefits of wall-mounted solar panels
- Related renewable technologies
- Frequently asked questions
- Limited roof space? You could expand your system capability with wall-mounted solar panels.
- Existing solar PV system? Combine roof & wall-mounted solar to increase your system size.
- Roof not south-facing? Utilising south-facing walls could increase your property’s generation potential.
Why Choose HIES Members to Install Your Wall-Mounted Solar Panels?
As a consumer protection organisation, our vision is to transform consumer protection by respecting, protecting and educating homeowners. From our inception to 15th January 2025, HIES members have installed 321,484 solar PV installations.
- Accredited installers – all members have successfully passed our accreditation process for the product (or products) they want to be accredited for.
- Deposit and stage-payment protection insurance – once your installation is registered with us, this covers up to 25% of the contract value (maximum limit of £5,000) for 120 days (from the date you sign the contract). No protection is in place until we have written to you and confirmed the cover. We do not hold any deposits or money you may have paid.
- Insurance-backed guarantees – an IBG provides protection if your installer ceases (stops) trading and cannot honour the terms of their written guarantee. IBGs range from two to 10 years and the length of the IBG you receive may be different from the length of the written guarantee provided by the member.
Benefits of Wall-Mounted Solar Panels
If you are considering installing wall-mounted solar panels, you may be wondering about the benefits of this type of solar system. Compared to traditional roof-mounted solar panels, wall-mounted solar panels offer several advantages in terms of aesthetics, efficiency, and versatility. For example:
- Wall-mounted solar panels are less visible from the ground, which is advantageous if your home’s aesthetics are an important consideration.
- The mounting allows the solar panels to be installed on walls facing different directions, allowing them to capture more sunlight throughout the day. This system is a good choice for buildings with accessible walls facing in different directions.
- For high-rise buildings or multi-storey buildings with limited roof space, wall-mounted solar panels could be a viable option to maximise the building’s surface area for solar power generation.
- If your home has a complex or steep roof, then wall-mounted solar panels may be preferred where roof-mounted solar is limited.
- Wall-mounted solar panels can be installed at different heights, reducing shading and improving the system’s performance.
Related Renewable Technologies
- Solar panels – solar panels could be a great way of saving money on electricity through natural sunlight, reducing your carbon footprint and electricity bills.
- Air source heat pumps – air source heat pumps can heat your home using the outside air without the need for burning natural gas or other fossil fuels.
- Solar battery systems – combining solar panels and battery storage could save the electricity you generate for evening use, or you could be paid for the energy you generate but don’t use.
Find an Accredited HIES Installer
The protection offered by HIES, which includes alternative dispute resolution services and insurance-backed guarantees, aims to ensure that consumers have protection mechanisms in place when placing an order with a member.
This level of protection helps protect consumers by providing them with confidence and peace of mind when having their installation carried out, and that HIES’ mediation team can assist to help resolve any disputes should any problems arise.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are our commonly asked questions about wall-mounted solar panels.
I already have solar panels on my roof. Can wall-mounted solar panels be integrated into my current PV system?
Yes, HIES installers should create a design which achieves the maximum performance out of your current solar PV system by adding the additional wall-mounted solar panels into the existing design. A survey of your current system will need to be conducted to establish if the existing technology (such as the solar inverter) can support additional panels on a separate string.
Are vertically mounted solar panels easier to maintain?
Solar panels mounted on walls are easier to maintain than those mounted on the roof. Typically, the wall-mounted solar panels are within a ladder reach, making maintenance or cleaning more accessible.
Will I need planning permission for my wall-mounted solar panels?
Solar PV panels, in general, are considered ‘permitted developments’ and often don’t require planning permission, as long as, so far as practicable, they are sited to minimise their effect on the external appearance of the building and amenity of the area. However, exceptions apply, and it’s best to check with your local planning office for guidance.
Part 14 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 covers information regarding planning and solar panels. Typically, wall-mounted PV panels will not have an impact on planning unless it is a conservation area or significantly alters the building’s appearance.
Additional restrictions may apply if you live in a listed building, conservation area, or national park.
Are wall-mounted solar panels more expensive than roof mounted?
The cost of solar panels and installation is determined by several factors, including your location, the characteristics of your home, the product technology you select, and the actual installation process.