Harrow solar panel scheme: register free by 25 September

Harrow Council has opened a new round of its solar panel and battery storage scheme, and residents who want a price for their own roof have until 25 September 2026 to register. Signing up is free, carries no obligation, and is done at switchtogether.co.uk, the council announced on 6 August.

The scheme is a group-buying arrangement: “The scheme brings residents together to secure better prices. That means the more residents who take part the greater the buying power is,” the council says. It is administered by the council’s partner Switch Together, which negotiates deals with what the council describes as “trusted, vetted installers”, using an approach it says has already helped thousands of households across the UK.

The process after registering is deliberately low commitment. In the council’s words: “Simply sign up, see the price that’s offered, and decide from there whether it’s right for you.”

Alongside the panels themselves, the scheme offers battery storage. The council’s case for it is that a battery lets you keep the electricity your panels generate during the day and use it in the evening, so less of your power comes from the grid and you are less exposed to future price rises.

Cllr Pritesh Patel, the council’s portfolio holder for cleaner streets and public safety, said: “Rising energy costs and climate change are a real concern for many residents, and this scheme gives people a practical way to do something about it.” The council says the initiative is part of its climate strategy.

What it means for you

If you are curious but not committed, registering is the whole first step: it costs nothing, and the offer you receive sets out what solar panels and battery storage would cost for your property before you decide anything. The one hard date is the registration deadline of 25 September 2026.

On planning permission, roof-mounted solar panels on houses can often be installed as permitted development, without a planning application, though the Planning Portal notes there are “important limits and conditions” and that local rules can differ, so check its guidance for your property type before committing. For what is currently moving through the borough’s own register, see our Harrow planning news page.

If you miss the window, this is a repeating scheme: the council describes the current round as “a new round” of the programme, so registration periods do come back. But an installation ordered through this round starts with registering before the September deadline.