Solar panel installers in Sunderland
Sunderland is home for UKEM. Our head office is on Crown Road, and we fit solar panels and batteries across Sunderland, Washington, Houghton-le-Spring and Seaham.
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Why Sunderland homes choose a local solar company
Managed from a few miles away
Your job is planned and run from our Crown Road office, not a call centre at the other end of the country.
If you need us after the install, you are dealing with people you can visit.
Works with any heating
Solar does not care how you heat your home. It pairs with a gas boiler, storage heaters or a heat pump.
In East Rainton we added panels to a semi that already ran on a heat pump, so its heating now uses power made on its own roof.
Keep the daytime sun for your evenings
Panels make the most power around midday, when many people are at work. A battery stores that power for teatime, when you need it most.
We fit Fox ESS and Tesla batteries, with manufacturer warranties of up to 10 years. You can add one with the panels or later.
Solar jobs around Sunderland
Three Wearside homes we have fitted panels on.
-
Semi-detached house
East Rainton, Houghton-le-Spring
- Solar panels, added to a home already on a heat pump
Installed March 2025 -
Rural home
near Seaham
- Solar panels
- Air source heat pump
- Loft insulation
Installed November 2023 -
Home
Pennywell, Sunderland
- Solar panels
- Air source heat pump
Installed October 2024
Panels alone, or panels with a battery?
Both work. The right choice depends on when you are at home and how you like to use your power.
| Compare | Panels only | Panels and battery |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime use | Runs your home while the sun is up | Runs your home, and saves the spare |
| Evening use | Mostly from the grid | From power stored earlier in the day |
| Spare power | Exported to the grid | Charges the battery first, then exports |
| Suits | Homes with someone in during the day | Homes that are empty until the evening |
| Adding later | A battery can be added in future | Nothing more to add |
The kit we fit on Wearside roofs
What we take off your plate
- Scaffolding booked and taken down
- Registration with Northern Powergrid
- Your MCS certificate, so you can sign up for export payments
- App setup so you can see what your roof makes each day
Solar panels in Sunderland: what people ask us
Do you install solar panels in Sunderland?
Yes. Our head office is at 6 Crown Road, Quay West Business Village, Sunderland, and we fit solar across the city and nearby towns, including Washington, Houghton-le-Spring and Seaham.
Can I add solar panels to a home that already has a heat pump?
Yes. A heat pump runs on electricity, so solar panels cut what it draws from the grid. We did this for a semi-detached home in East Rainton in March 2025.
Who deals with the electricity network when I get solar?
We do. Solar has to be registered with the local network operator, which for Sunderland is Northern Powergrid. We handle that as part of the install, along with your MCS certificate, which you need to be paid for the electricity you export.
Can I add a battery after the panels go in?
Yes. Many people start with panels and add a battery once they see how much power they export. Our guide to adding a battery to existing solar explains what is involved.
What do solar customers say about UKEM?
Verified reviews from customers who had their home energy systems installed by our engineers.
1,644 reviews on Trustpilot Places we cover from our Sunderland base
- Sunderland
- Washington
- Houghton-le-Spring
- East Rainton
- Seaham
Also in Sunderland: boilers, heat pumps.
Solar panels in other areas: Newcastle and Gateshead, Teesside.