Solar Installer: Job Profile and Role

For years now, renewable energies have been one focus when it comes to sustainability and ways to stop climate change. Be it wind parks, electric cars or generating electricity through solar panels – being an expert is rapidly becoming not only a good way to save the planet but also to get a promising career. In this blog, we focus on the job of a solar installer who is also known as a solar panel installer or solar photovoltaic (PV) installer. 

What does it take to get into this profession, and what skills are the most needed by most employers? These are only two questions we will answer. Besides, we will tell you where you can find employment and what to expect when it comes to your annual salary. Moreover, you get practical insights into a solar installer’s working day and three tips to advance your career.

Short Summary

• As a solar installer, you design and install solar panels and photovoltaic (PV) systems and are also responsible for maintenance work and repairs.
• As a solar installer, you are tasked with preliminary site assessment and obtaining permits and approvals for solar system installations.
• As a solar installer, you must promote sustainability, for example, by using recycled materials and knowing methods to reduce the carbon footprint. You are working with renewable energies, after all.

Job description

If you want to work with solar panel systems and installations, you should first be very environmentally conscious. Working with renewable energy sources will only be plausible if you promote sustainability in every step of your work. With this in mind, you can provide excellent service when it comes to site assessment and designing and installing solar systems accordingly. Your job includes checking the needed permits and obtaining these along with other approvals. Once installed, you are also in charge of servicing, maintenance and repair work of solar PV systems, where you need to adhere to health and safety regulations in place for all electrical work.

Responsibilities

• Environmental Considerations
• Obtaining Permits/Approvals
• Testing and Commissioning
• Maintenance and Repairs
• Designing Solar Systems
• Solar Panel Installation
• Servicing Solar Panels
• Customer Interaction
• Site Assessment
• Electrical Work

Different types of Solar Installers

• Off-Grid Solar Installer
• Solar Thermal Installer
• Utility-Scale Solar Installer
• Commercial Solar Installer
• Solar Panel Maintenance Specialist

Salary

Your annual salary as a solar installer in the UK ranges from ￡24,000 to ￡39,000. Note that you will earn a higher salary when you have gained sufficient work experience and expertise, for example, by having further qualifications. Also, keep in mind that your employer affects your salary, along with your location.

You may be interested to know that Scotland currently pays above-average salaries which can amount to ￡50,000 and more annually. Here, it is not only cities like Glasgow that pay exceptionally well but also the Highland and Islands.

Working Hours

If the job of a solar installer is your perfect fit, you need to factor in 37 to 40 working hours per week. These will mainly take place outside – and sometimes at considerable heights. Your working hours can vary considerably since they are dependent on the weather. Keep in mind that you will spend more time indoors chasing work permits and approvals during the winter and the rainy season. You should furthermore be prepared to work the odd weekend, overtime, evening work and travelling to an installation site can also be a part of your weekly workload.

Employers

You may already be employed by an electrical company that is branching out into renewable energies, in which case this can be one of your employers. If this is not the case, further employment ports of call are the following: solar energy companies, electrical contractors offering renewable energy systems, energy efficiency companies, and government institutions promoting the installation and use of sustainable energy sources. With the necessary training, qualifications and work experience, you can also be your own boss and work self-employed.

UK Solar Energy Facts

You probably did not know that the first ever solar panel was created in 1883! This is only one fascinating fact about solar energy The Independent has shared. According to the newspaper, solar energy has been responsible for over 40 per cent of renewable energy in the UK in 2022 which was possible by the installation of more than 100,000 solar PV systems. And solar energy is not only used for general electricity but also for hot water. The sustainability factor aside, solar energy is also one of the most cost-effective ways to generate energy in the UK.

Qualifications

To become a solar installer in the UK, you need to be a qualified electrician or roofer. These two jobs require GCSEs at pass grades 9 to 3 (A* to D) or 9 to 4 (A* to C) to enter the appropriate college courses, T levels, or apprenticeships. After you have finished this first “education run”, you can train to become a solar installer. Accredited and recognised qualifications are awarded by the MCS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. Similar qualifications are also offered by City & Guilds as one renowned institution. A beneficial option can be the Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Small-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems.

Skills

Even though you should always check which skills your future employer requires, we are fairly certain that the following three competencies are among those needed when working with solar installations.

Comfortable with Heights

Hardly any solar panel is being installed on ground level, even though this is also possible. Still, most photovoltaic systems are to be found on a building’s roof, meaning that you will spend a lot of time “up in the air”. Therefore, you need to be comfortable with heights which is also a requirement when you first train as a roofer. If you suffer from vertigo, however, you may want to look into the admin side of solar panel installations and look into consultancy work.

Electrical/Roofing Skills

Since you typically become a solar installer by first having trained and worked as either an electrician or a roofer, you know that electrical and roofing skills are another requirement. You need to be proficient in wiring, grounding, and electrical compliance as well as in roofing techniques, materials, and methods for weatherproofing and sealing which will be important when it comes to a solar system’s safety aspects.

Safety Awareness

This brings us to our third skill a solar installer must have: safety awareness. Solar installations may be ways to generate renewable energies but they still do not function without wiring. They also need to be fixed safely to a roof to prevent flaws and – even worse – accidents and damage to properties and people. When you want to work in this profession, you need to be up-to-date on every health and safety regulation in place for both electrical and roofing work. Naturally, you furthermore need to adhere to these at all times.

Career Path

Before you can start your career as a solar installer in the UK, you need to complete your training as an electrician – in some cases, the job of a roofer can also qualify you for entering the solar installation profession. With the necessary training and certifications completed, you can start working in solar installations. Depending on your employment preferences, you can decide between part-time or full-time employment with a company specialising in photovoltaic or offer your expertise as a self-employed solar installer.

Educational Background

If you want to work as a solar installer in the UK, you can get into this profession by considering a T level, the apprenticeship route, or completing a National Vocational Qualification/NVQ (for Scotland, you need to look into Scottish Vocational Qualifications/SVQ).

T Level

You can undertake a T level when you are at least 16 years of age. Completing this education generally takes two to three years. One of the advantages is that you gain a lot of practical experience besides theoretical knowledge. If this is an interesting option for you, you can look into a T level in construction (electrical installation) or in building services engineering for construction.

College Course

A college course is equally possible if you want to train as a solar panel installer later on. Here, you have the following options: 

Roofer:

• Level 2 Diploma in Roofing Occupations
• Level 2 Diploma in Roof Slating and Tiling

Electrician:

• Level 2 Diploma in Access to Building Services Engineering (Electrical)
• Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation

Apprenticeship

Completing an apprenticeship also offers you practical and theoretical knowledge. Note that the entry grades tend to be higher than for a T level. If this first approach to becoming a solar panel installer is your perfect education fit, you can look into an installation and maintenance electrician Level 3 apprenticeship. If you want to train as a roofer first, you can complete a roofer intermediate apprenticeship.

National Vocational Qualification/Scottish Vocational Qualification

Appropriate options for an NVQ and SVQ, respectively, are Level 2 or Level 3 Diplomas in Electrical Installation. Here, you learn the necessary skills for electrical work which also sets you up for further solar installation training.

Here, you can also look into prior NVQs/SVQs for the jobs of an electrician and a roofer, such as the following:

• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Roof Slater and Tiler)
• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Roofer)

Training

We have already told you that you can earn the relevant qualifications through the MCS. To become a certified MCS member, you need prior approvals. These include an approved Consumer Code, either the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or the Home Insulation & Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme (HIES). After you have gained your MSC certification, you have access to the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), two incentives run by the UK government.

Continuous Learning

Your MCS certification is one surefire way to become a solar installer in the UK. As already mentioned, you can look into further qualifications offered by other accredited UK institutions. City & Guilds offers training, for example, in the installation, service, and maintenance of environmental technology systems or the Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Small-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems. Another option is a NICEIC certification (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) focusing on renewable energy technologies and solar PV systems.

A Day in the Life of a Solar Installer

We know, we have pretty much drowned you in all the info needed to become a solar installer in the UK. To give you an idea of how you will apply your qualifications, knowledge, and skills, we now look at three typical tasks you will perform daily or regularly.

Site Assessment

Site assessment will not be a daily occurrence but it is a vital task. Before you start designing a solar system and apply for the required permits and approvals, you need to check whether a construction site or finished property is suited for a PV system. Factors that you need to consider here are the roof orientation, the existing electrical infrastructure, shading (aka how much sunlight a roof gets), and the structural base of the building.

Permits and Approvals

After you have checked a property’s suitability for a solar panel installation, you need to ensure that all permits and approvals are granted and in place. Even though renewable energies are on most communities’ agendas, you still need to check the existing regulations and apply for the appropriate permits and check that your work complies with the current regulations. 

Designing and Installing

Only after you have ticked your daily/regular tasks 1 and 2 can you start designing a solar panel system. It needs to comply with your customer’s expectations and needs as well as with the building’s set-up and roof architecture and the overall electrical system/provider in situ. During the design stage, you regularly check on-site if any adjustments need to be made. When this work is done, you can finally advance to installing your solar panel system.

Tips for Thriving as a Solar Installer

Since you already have all the facts on how to become a solar installer, we will now focus on further knowledge that will benefit you in this job. In this section, we also explore some competencies that you should improve to thrive when working with solar panel installations in the UK:

• Know the regulations
• Customer education
• Sustainability

Know the Regulations

The job of a solar installer in the UK involves a lot of regulatory knowledge, starting with the BS 7671 Electrical Wiring Regulations Guide and continuing with The Electricity at Work Regulations of 1989 and The Building Act 1984 & 2000. You also need to know the current building and roofing standards in the UK and be on top of what’s new regarding the FIT (Feed-in Tariff) and the RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive).

Also, you should have your CSCS card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme). Further information on all regulations is furthermore provided by the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) where you find out more about solar panel installations and the required (health and safety) regulations.

Customer Education

With your training, you are naturally the expert on solar panels and photovoltaic installations. Keep in mind that most of your customers do not have the same level of knowledge. Therefore, you need to invest time and sometimes effort into educating your customers. Research easily understandable ways and methods to teach them about the advantages and benefits of solar installations, including cost-saving and the reduction of waste and the carbon footprint. This way, you get them on board and contribute to your success.

Sustainability

Working in accord with sustainability should be one of your priorities – both for succeeding in your profession and to be credible. You will come across as a hypocrite or a fraud if your work ethic and methods do not comply with environmentally friendly approaches and techniques. Therefore, you must invest time into researching sustainable work materials and ways to keep waste and energy consumption while performing a job to a bare minimum. This work ethic will ideally impress your customers who, in turn, may be more aware of ways to help the planet.

Frequently Asked Questions