Solar Panels and Battery Storage in Tilehurst
Solar panels, battery storage and EV chargers for homes in Tilehurst, designed and fitted by our own MCS-certified team.
- 5.0 on Google
- Fixed written quotation
- No doorstep sales
- Berkshire
- RG30
- RG31
Accredited by
Our warranty cover
- 30yearsSolar panels
- 10yearsBattery
- 10yearsInverter
- 6yearsOur workmanship
Tilehurst runs up a hill, and that single fact shapes most solar designs here. Properties on the upper slopes around Kentwood and Norcot often have long, clear views to the south and very little shading. Properties lower down, or on the north side of the ridge, can be overlooked by the ground rising behind them and by mature trees along the older roads.
The housing is mostly interwar and immediately post-war semi-detached, with pockets of Victorian cottages nearer the old village and later estate development towards Calcot.
Customer Reviews
5.0 · rated on Google
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"Ben from SolarFX and his team have done a great job for us. Kept us in the loop at all stages, and Ben has been really supportive following the install with support, set up and managing the new system. During the recent sunny period our average cost per day for electricity was 60p. Would strongly recommend SolarFX."
Alistair Shaw Google
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"Ben at SolarFX did an outstanding job on a 3.6kW solar system which included 11 solar panels, hybrid inverter and battery storage. The workmanship and attention to detail was brilliant — Ben did exactly what he said he would do. Highly recommend Ben and his team."
Umar Saeed Google
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"Ben was great to work with — an expert in both the installation practicalities and the analysis to choose the right system for our property. Our bills have reduced by 80% since the system was installed."
James Lort Google
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"Ben from SolarFX has been fantastic — working out what was wrong with our solar system and fixing it promptly, installing a new EV charger and fixing kitchen lights too. Helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Great value and high quality too."
Maria Evans Google
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"Ben, Paul and Dom make a great team to bring together an excellent solar installation. Our original ask was a solar system to improve our overall energy footprint (EPC rating) and through the process we ended up with a highly efficient…"
Michael P. Google
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"Ben did an outstanding job with our solar system installation from start to finish. He was professional, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain everything clearly throughout the process. The installation was completed efficiently…"
Lee Butler Google
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"We recently had a full panel and battery storage system installed by SolarFX, and I couldn't be happier with the entire experience…"
Clare Waters Google
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"Exceeded expectations. Ben was very helpful from start to finish. From the initial contact with all my questions he was very knowledgeable and made this investment an easy choice…"
Katie F. Google
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"Highly recommended. Getting solar panels and a battery is a big financial commitment so we had surveys and quotes from five different companies. We felt Ben understood our requirements and was more diligent and reassuring in his knowledge…"
Ed Reeve Google
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"We recently had Ben from SolarFX install the Anker SOLIX X1 energy storage system along with solar panels, and we couldn't be happier with the service. Ben is incredibly hardworking and a very tidy, professional installer…"
Beata Malinowska Google
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"I had been meaning to look into solar panels and battery storage for some time, and when investigating who to use the name SolarFX came up on review sites. So I asked Ben and team to site survey, discuss and quote for their best options…"
Mark Winandy Google
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"Superb service. Ben is a very knowledgeable professional. Gave clear and easily understandable explanations about the process and the systems. The standard of Ben's work was exceptional. He went the extra mile. Very highly recommend them."
Mark Hutchings Google
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"Zero hassle, very clean, and savings of £6,000 for a job well done."
Roger Hudson Google
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"The team at SolarFX were great! We had a solar system installed by them and we are seeing massive benefits!"
Lara Dymott Google
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"Ben is a fantastic installer. Going over and above to make sure you are happy with every part of your installation."
Linda Ashworth Google
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"Really pleased with the service. Ben installed our solar panels and we have not had any problems…"
Preety Sahaye Google
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"Ben was very professional and knowledgeable on the products. Great service, and we will continue using this company for future solar-related products."
Jason Mohammed Google
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"Very professional, polite, clean and very knowledgeable, with great after-sales service."
Lorraine Hirschfield Google
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"Great professional service. On time and with great support. I highly recommend."
Andrzej Ostapko Google
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"Friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. The entire process was smooth and stress-free."
Anne Roy Google
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"First class all round experience. A great team of professionals!"
Oliver Tobias Google
Installations we've documented near Tilehurst
Real jobs from our own team, written up in full: what was on the roof, what we fitted and why.
Reading, BerkshireA 9.5kWp slate-roof arrayTwenty black 475W panels across an existing slate roof, with the FOX EVO equipment kept in the garage.Read the case study
Reading, BerkshireA complete home energy systemTen panels on a pitched garage roof, storage below and an EV charger, designed as one system.Read the case study
Padworth, BerkshireSolar, storage and EV chargingSolar PV, battery storage, EV charging and a surplus diverter for hot water.Read the case study
Bath Road, Reading7.125kWp with Anker SOLIX storageFifteen AIKO 475W panels at around 20 degrees, an 8kW hybrid inverter and 10kWh of storage.Read the case study
Tadley, HampshireA compact 3.6kWp AIKO array on clay tileEight AIKO 445W Gen 2 panels on a Renusol system with 24 roof hooks.Read the case study
Tadley, HampshireFlat-roof solar with FOX ESS storageTwelve panels raised across a flat roof, inverter and battery consolidated in the plant room.Read the case study
Benson, OxfordshireFlat-roof solar PVA specialist flat-roof mounting system and a tidy internal electrical installation.Read the case study
East Horsley, SurreyA battery upgrade that became a full rebuildFour roof orientations sharing two MPPTs, and around 30kWh of storage rebuilt at ground level.Read the case study
Offer Free EV charger with every solar panel installation
EV charger installation in Tilehurst
We fit home EV charge points across Tilehurst and Berkshire, as a standalone job or alongside solar panels and a battery. We cover RG30, RG31 and the surrounding streets.
- Load assessment firstWe check your main fuse, consumer unit and demand, and add load management where the supply needs it.
- Safe earthing, every timePEN fault protection or a dedicated earth, established at survey rather than assumed.
- Charge from your own solarWith solar and a battery, a solar-aware charger fills the car from your roof instead of the grid.
- Smart, app-controlledCompliant smart charging with off-peak schedules, so you charge when electricity is cheapest.
What we install in Tilehurst
Every one of these is available across Tilehurst and the surrounding area. Each page explains what is included, what is not, and what affects the price.
- Solar panel installationSurvey, design, roof works, electrical works and commissioning for a domestic solar PV system.
- Battery storage installationHome battery systems sized against your consumption, sited properly and commissioned with the tariff in mind.
- Solar and battery systemsPanels, hybrid inverter and storage designed as one system, on one scaffold, with one commissioning.
- EV charger installationHome charge points installed with a proper load assessment, PEN fault protection and solar-aware scheduling.
- Battery retrofitAdding storage to a solar system that is already on the roof, without disturbing what works.
- Solar panel maintenanceScheduled servicing of the whole system — array, fixings, DC side, inverter and monitoring — not just the glass.
What we find on Tilehurst roofs
- Hipped roofs are the norm on the 1930s semis, which costs you the corners of an array. A twelve-panel layout on paper often becomes ten once you keep clear of hip and ridge.
- Concrete interlocking tile dominates. It is straightforward to work with, but older tiles chip at the edges and it is worth having spares on site.
- The hill means roof heights vary considerably between neighbouring properties, so a neighbour's roof can shade yours in a way that is not obvious from a map.
- Most streets have off-street parking or a driveway, which makes scaffolding and delivery simpler than in central Reading.
For most Tilehurst semis the design question is whether to accept a smaller array on the good slope or split it across two orientations. With a battery in the system, splitting is often worth it: an east and west split produces a flatter curve across the day, and storage soaks up whatever the house is not using at the time.
Where a property backs onto the golf course or open ground the southern aspect is usually clear and a straightforward south array is the right answer. Where it is hemmed in by houses higher up the slope, we will model the shading properly before committing to a layout.
What affects the price in Tilehurst
System size and specification drive most of the cost, but access and the condition of the existing electrics drive the variation between two apparently similar houses. We assess both at survey so the quotation is fixed rather than provisional.
What affects the cost of solar panels · How payback is worked out
How an installation in Tilehurst runs
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Enquiry | You tell us the postcode, the property and roughly what you spend on electricity. |
| 2. Remote design | An indicative design and proposal based on the roof, your usage and your objectives. |
| 3. Site survey | Roof, structure, electrics, access and shading assessed in person. |
| 4. Final design and fixed quotation | A written specification and a fixed price before anything is ordered. |
| 5. Permissions and DNO | Any consent required, plus the G98 notification or G99 application. |
| 6. Installation | Scaffolding, roof works, electrical works and commissioning. |
| 7. Handover | Certification, monitoring setup, warranty registration and export tariff support. |
Many domestic installations are completed in one to three days once scaffolding is in place, although the actual duration depends on system size, roof type, access, electrical works and whether a battery is included. Read the full process.
Start here
Technology worth understanding first
- Power optimisersPer-panel DC electronics that keep conversion in one accessible box: the middle option between string and micro.
- MicroinvertersOne inverter per panel mounted on the roof: what per-panel conversion buys, and what it costs.
- Mounting systemsHooks, rails, clamps and fixings — the part of the installation that decides whether the roof stays watertight.
- String invertersThe conventional central inverter: how strings are designed, where it is the best value, and where it is the wrong choice.
Guides for Tilehurst property types
- Victorian terracesNarrow slate slopes, party walls, rear back-additions and scaffolding through a shared alley — terraced solar on its own terms.
- Pre-1920 homesSolar on Victorian and Edwardian houses: brittle coverings, irregular rafters, ageing electrics and planning sensitivity.
- 1930s semi-detached homesThe classic suburban semi — hipped or gabled roof, party wall stack, bay window and a side elevation that changes everything.
- 1920 to 1965 homesInterwar and early post-war housing: hipped roofs, clay and early concrete tile, central chimneys and modest incoming supplies.
What homeowners in Tilehurst ask us first
Does being on the hill in Tilehurst help or hurt generation?
Usually it helps. Upper-slope properties often have a clear southern aspect with nothing tall in front of them. The exception is the north side of the ridge, where the ground rising behind can shade a low roof in winter when the sun stays low. It is worth a proper shading assessment rather than an assumption either way.
Can you fit solar to a hipped roof?
Yes, routinely — nearly every 1930s semi in Tilehurst has one. The array becomes a rectangle set within the hip rather than filling the whole slope, so you fit fewer panels than the roof area suggests. We work out the real panel count at survey, not from the footprint.
Our work, photographed on site
Every photo here is from one of our own installations across Berkshire. No stock imagery.
Get a fixed price for your Tilehurst home
Send us your postcode and roughly what you spend on electricity. We'll come back with an indicative design and a price before anyone visits.
Also covered from our base
Get a free design and quotation for your Tilehurst property
No obligation. We will review the details, come back to arrange the next step, and issue a written design and fixed quotation before anything is agreed.
Prefer to talk? Call 0118 227 7444.