UK PV industry takes on the cowboys with installer ratings site

October 10, 2013
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The UK solar industry has united to build a new installer ratings website to help consumers avoid the cowboys.

The Rated Solar Installer platform, supported by the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA) and the UK's National Solar Centre among others, will allow customers to rate their experience with installers and products, similar to other websites covering mechanics, plumbers, electricians and building contractors.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“The main point is that the industry is healthier now that it has been in the past three years. It’s our duty to ensure the quality remains high and the public are protected,” said Reza Shaybani, chairman of the BPVA.

“The platform will ensure high quality products and installers. The public are familiar with the concept used in Rated Solar Installer from sites like TripAdvisor and Rated People. We want the public to stay in love with PV,” added Shaybani.

“We want to cut sub-standard products and installers. A small minority have created headaches for the industry,” he said.

Users will be able to leave feedback for installers who can respond to any comments prior to publishing.

The site will also offer a ‘virtual solar system’ that will allow customers to register their roof in order to see how much power a solar array could generate for them. Undecided customers will receive a virtual cheque every month showing them how much money their roof would have generated through the feed-in tariff (FiT).

Purchases made through the website will also receive 12 months free insurance, have access to finance and be offered the option to buy maintenance contracts, Shaybani confirmed.

The site is currently in the closing stages of development.

Read Next

October 23, 2025
Spanish power electronics specialist Ingeteam has won a contract to supply inverters and control systems for European Energy Australia's 100MW Winton North solar-plus-storage project in northeast Victoria.
October 23, 2025
Powerlink Queensland is seeking federal approval to expand its existing 330kV Bulli Creek Substation in Southern Queensland to accommodate the grid connection of Genex Power's 775MW Bulli Creek solar PV power plant.
October 23, 2025
Queensland's rooftop solar systems have exceeded 5GW of output for the first time, marking a milestone in Australia's solar expansion.
October 22, 2025
Recurrent Energy, Ampliform and Dimension Energy have announced new financing rounds this month for US solar projects.
Sponsored
October 22, 2025
LONGi vice president Dennis She discusses the value logic behind the company's strategic focus on back contact technology.
October 22, 2025
Leeward Renewable Energy has started commercial operations at its 177MW Ridgely solar project in the US state of Tennessee.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany