Bassetlaw District Council · DN11
Solar panels and installers in Harworth
A typical 4kW solar system for a three-bed Harworth home costs about £7,300 to £7,500 fitted, and could cut your electricity bill by around £400–£650 a year. We are a free introduction service that puts you in touch with up to three vetted, MCS-certified local installers.
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0% VAT on solar ends 31 March 2027. That's under six months away, and it's due to go back to 5% after.
What the VAT change means for youWhy does solar suit homes in Harworth?
Harworth & Bircotes suits solar because most of its homes have simple, unshaded roofs. The town of around 8,000 people grew up around Harworth Colliery, whose shafts reached coal in 1923, and much of its housing dates from the mining era onwards. Brick semis, terraces and bungalows with plain pitched roofs are common. These are often a good fit for a standard 4kW system, which makes about 3,400 kWh a year facing south.
Harworth is also growing fast. Simpson Park, on the 43-hectare former colliery site, is planned for about 1,300 homes, built in three phases, according to NHBC. Modern homes are well insulated and use less energy, so panels and a battery can cover a large share of their needs. Many new-build roofs are also clean and uncluttered, which keeps fitting simple.
Harworth homeowners also have a strong grant route. Bassetlaw District Council runs its own Warm Homes: Local Grant with Nottingham Energy Partnership, and older, less efficient homes in the town may qualify. With electricity at 26.32p/kWh under the October–December 2026 price cap, a well-placed system can save around £400–£650 a year before export payments, with payback in roughly 9–14 years.
We do not fit panels ourselves. We pass your enquiry to up to three vetted, MCS-certified installers who cover the Harworth area, and they quote you directly.
How much do solar panels cost for a Harworth home?
A typical 4kW system for a three-bed home costs about £7,300 to £7,500 fitted, based on MCS data from spring 2026 (The Eco Experts). The average across England is £1,586 per kW. Here is a rough guide by home size:
| Home | System size | Panels only (rough guide) | With a battery (rough guide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bed terrace or small bungalow | 3kW | around £4,750 | around £7,750–£9,750 |
| 3-bed semi or larger bungalow | 4kW | £6,500–£8,500 | £10,000–£14,000 |
| 4-bed+ detached | 5–6kW | around £7,950–£9,500 | around £10,950–£14,500 |
The 3kW and 5–6kW rows are worked out from the £1,586 per kW average. The battery rows add a typical £3,000–£5,000 for a 4–5kWh battery (Renewable Energy Hub). The 4kW figures come from Heatable. Your real price depends on your roof, scaffolding and the kit you choose.
A 4kW south-facing system makes about 3,400 kWh a year (Stratford Energy). With electricity capped at 26.32p per kWh from October to December 2026 (Uswitch), that could save around £400–£650 a year before export payments. Try your own numbers below.
Want the full picture? Read our guide to solar panel costs in Nottinghamshire, or find out whether a battery is worth it.
Rough solar savings estimator
Change the answers to see a rough guide for your home. An installer's survey gives the real figure.
- Likely system size
- 4 kW
- Typical installed cost
- £5,500–£7,000
- Bill savings and export
- £400–£600 a year
- Rough payback
- 9–14 years
Mostly north-facing roofs make much less power. An installer can tell you if another roof, a garage or the garden would work better.
Based on the MCS average cost of £1,586 per kW in England (October 2026), batteries at £3,000–£5,000, electricity at 26.32p per kWh (October–December 2026 price cap) and export at 10p per kWh. Your figures will differ.
Get exact quotes for my home
Do you need planning permission for solar panels in Harworth & Bircotes?
Usually not. Most roof-mounted panels on houses in Harworth & Bircotes count as permitted development, as long as they sit no more than 200mm proud of the roof and do not go above the ridge. Panels on a flat roof are limited to 600mm above the roof. The national rules were updated on 27 August 2026, with a transition period to 27 August 2027, so ask your installer which version they are working to. The Planning Portal has the full detail.
Planning is handled by Bassetlaw District Council. Harworth & Bircotes is not among the 12 conservation areas with a published appraisal on Bassetlaw's website. That means most homes face only the standard national rules. The council is reviewing all 33 of its conservation areas, so if your home is near the old village centre, check the council's heritage map first. On new estates, also check for any planning conditions on your home.
Listed buildings are few. The parish has eight, all Grade II, according to Wikipedia's list of Historic England records. They include All Saints' Church, the war memorial, and farmhouses and barns on Main Street such as High Farmhouse, Grange Farmhouse and Syringa House. Fixing panels to a listed building normally needs listed building consent. Panels on other buildings within its grounds are not permitted development either.
Our planning permission guide explains the rules in more detail.
Can you add solar panels to a new-build home on Simpson Park?
Yes, you can usually add solar to a new-build home in Harworth under normal permitted development.
First check whether your home already has panels or was built ready for them. Then look at your title deeds and any estate management rules for covenants, and ask your solicitor if anything is unclear. Also check that fitting panels will not affect your new-home warranty.
New-build owners should not count on a grant. Warm Homes: Local Grant needs an EPC of D to G, and most new homes are rated higher. Some Nottinghamshire schemes also exclude homes that have never been lived in. The good news is that efficient homes use less energy, so a modest system and a battery can still cut bills, and 0% VAT applies until 31 March 2027.
What grants and help are there in Harworth?
Some Harworth homeowners can get solar panels free through the Bassetlaw Warm Homes: Local Grant.
It covers owner-occupied and privately rented homes rated EPC D to G, where household income is under £36,000 or the home is in an eligible postcode. Solar PV is included, but insulation comes first. Owner-occupiers get the work free. Apply through Nottingham Energy Partnership on 0115 947 2207. There is a long waiting list, so register early.
You pay 0% VAT on home solar panels and batteries until 31 March 2027, after which it is due to return to 5%. On a typical 4kW system costing around £7,300–£7,500 that saving is already built into the price. ECO4, the supplier-funded scheme, is winding down and ends on 31 December 2026, so do not plan around it. To earn money for spare power through the Smart Export Guarantee (roughly 5–15p/kWh) your system must be MCS-certified.
See our grants guide for more on what is available across Nottinghamshire.
Solar panel installers and solar companies in Harworth
Looking for solar panel installers near you in Harworth? We pass your enquiry to up to three MCS-certified solar companies that cover DN11, so you can compare written quotes without ringing round.
Solar panel installation in Harworth. After a survey, most home systems are fitted in a day or two once the scaffolding is up. Our installation guide explains each step.
Solar batteries. Most installers also fit batteries, including adding one to panels you already have. See solar batteries in Nottinghamshire.
Other renewable energy. Thinking about a heat pump or an EV charger too? Mention it on the form. Solar can cover part of the electricity they use.
Only MCS-certified installers. MCS certification means you can claim Smart Export Guarantee payments, and most mortgage lenders expect it.
Which areas around Harworth do we cover?
We cover Harworth and the surrounding DN11 area, including Bircotes, Styrrup, Oldcotes, Blyth, Serlby, Scrooby, Ranskill, Torworth, Langold, Carlton in Lindrick, Bawtry, Tickhill and Misson.
Not listed? You can still ask for quotes.
How does getting a quote work?
Tell us about your home. Fill in the short form. It takes about two minutes.
We pass it on. We send your details to up to three installers who cover Harworth. Every one is MCS-certified and checked by us. You can read how we vet installers.
Compare and decide. They contact you, visit if needed and quote. It is free, and you are under no obligation to go ahead.
Solar panel questions from Harworth homeowners
Quick answers to what people in Harworth ask most.
Is Harworth in a conservation area?
Harworth & Bircotes does not appear among the conservation areas with published appraisals on Bassetlaw's website. Bassetlaw is reviewing all its conservation areas, so check the council's heritage map if your home is in the old village.
Who handles planning in Harworth & Bircotes?
Bassetlaw District Council, even though the town has a Doncaster (DN11) postcode. Most roof solar is permitted development and needs no application.
Can I get free solar panels in Harworth?
Possibly. Bassetlaw's Warm Homes: Local Grant can fund solar PV for homes rated EPC D to G where income is under £36,000 or the postcode qualifies. Call Nottingham Energy Partnership on 0115 947 2207.
My house has a DN11 Doncaster postcode. Can I use Doncaster's grants?
No, grants follow the council area, not the postcode. Harworth & Bircotes is in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, so use Bassetlaw's Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Is solar worth it on an older Bircotes semi?
Often, yes. Many have plain pitched roofs with little shading. If your home is poorly insulated, the Bassetlaw grant may fund insulation first, which also helps your savings.
Are solar panels worth it in Harworth?
For most homes with a south, east or west-facing roof, yes. A 4kW system costs about £7,300 to £7,500 fitted and typically cuts electricity bills by around £400 to £650 a year, plus export payments. That usually means a payback of roughly 9 to 14 years, on panels that last 25 years or more.
How many solar panels do I need for a 3-bed house?
Most three-bed homes suit a 4kW system, which is about 9 or 10 modern 400–450W panels. Smaller homes often fit 3kW (7 or 8 panels) and larger detached homes 5–6kW.
Do solar panels work in winter and on cloudy days?
Yes. Panels run on daylight, not heat, so they still work when it is cloudy. Output is much lower in winter, and most of the roughly 3,400 kWh a 4kW system makes each year comes between April and September.
How long do solar panels last?
Usually 25 to 30 years or more, and most panels come with a 25-year performance warranty. The inverter normally needs replacing once, after about 10 to 15 years.
Do I need a battery with solar panels?
No, but it helps if the house is empty during the day. A 4–5kWh battery typically adds £3,000 to £5,000 and stores daytime power for the evening. Batteries also have 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
How much can I earn selling electricity back to the grid?
Under the Smart Export Guarantee, energy suppliers pay roughly 5p to 15p for each kWh you export. Your system must be MCS-certified to qualify, and rates vary, so it pays to compare suppliers.
Is my roof suitable for solar panels?
South-facing roofs are best, but east and west-facing roofs work well too. The roof should be in good condition with little shade. Mostly north-facing roofs make much less power. An installer's survey will confirm.
Are you a Harworth solar installer?
No. We are a free introduction service. We pass your enquiry to up to three vetted, MCS-certified installers who cover your area, and they quote you directly.
Do solar panels work in a power cut?
Not on their own. For safety, a normal grid-connected system switches off when the grid goes down. You need a battery with a backup or EPS (emergency power supply) feature to keep some power running. Ask installers if you want this.
Can I have solar panels on a flat roof or garage?
Usually, yes. Panels go on angled frames on flat roofs and garages, and a garage or outbuilding can also take panels. See our guide to solar panels and your roof.
Do solar panels damage your roof?
Not when fitted properly. Installers fix brackets to the rafters and fit them under the tiles, and a good installer checks the roof first. See solar panels and your roof for leaks, weight and bird proofing.
How do I find solar panel installers near me in Harworth?
Fill in our short form. We pass your enquiry to up to three MCS-certified installers who cover DN11, and they contact you to arrange a survey and quote. It's free and there's no obligation.
Sources
Last updated 21 October 2026.
- Warm Homes: Local Grant – Bassetlaw District Council
- Conservation area appraisals – Bassetlaw District Council
- Simpson Park case study – NHBC
- Progress for 1,300-home colliery redevelopment (Dec 2022) – Worksop Guardian
- Listed buildings in Harworth Bircotes – Wikipedia
- Harworth – Wikipedia
- Harworth Colliery – Wikipedia
- Notts home energy support – Nottinghamshire County Council
- Solar panels: planning permission – Planning Portal