- Fast facts
- Key features
- Pros and cons
- How do Project Solar Evolution Elite panels work?
- Project Solar versus its competitors
- How much do Project Solar Evolution Elite solar panels cost?
- Project Solaru2019s quotation and installation process
- Solar panel maintenance
- What the experts say
- What customers say
- Our recommendation
- Methodology
- Solar panel FAQs
- Project Solar’s quotation and installation process
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Project Solar is one of the UK’s leading solar panel providers, with many households opting for its Evolution Elite panels due to the savings and environmental benefits they offer.
After thoroughly researching the product, we’ve compiled an in-depth solar panels review on the Evolution Elite model. Here, we explore everything you need to know about this high-quality product, which has been upgraded from the popular Evolution Ultramax model.
Our insight should help you decide whether the Evolution Elite panels are worth it by explaining how they work, what they cost, and how they compare to other solar panels, as well as offering recommendations from experts and customers.
About Project Solar
Project Solar was first established in 2011 by Gurmukh Singh Bahra. In 2012 it was taken over by Simon Peat, with directors Colin Wood and Andrew Walton Green joining the company in 2018. The company is currently based in Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England.
Project Solar designs, supplies and installs solar panels across the UK, as well as offering solar roof tiles, solar batteries, electric vehicle chargers, smart heating, and infrared heaters.
Since its inception, Project Solar has established itself as a leader in its field, preventing the emission of 3,750 tonnes of greenhouse gases by installing over 35,000 solar panels.
Project Solar is regulated by the Home Insulation and Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme (HIES).
Fast facts about Project Solar Evolution Elite solar panels
- Range: 395 W–415 W
- Maximum Module Efficiency: 20%
- Number of Busbars: Nine—reduces natural loss and improves performance
- Warranty: Limited peak power warranty of 30 years at 80% output, and lifetime product warranty
- Weight: 20 kg
- Dimensions: 1798 mm x 992 mm x 35 mm
- Cost: £8,000 per system, including installation
Key features
- Cost: £8,000 per system, including installation
- Type: Monocrystalline solar modules with PERC passivated emitter and rear contact technology
- Aesthetic: Ultra-black panels
- Guarantee options: Lifetime product and performance warranty up to 30 years at 80% output
- Protection: Features water drainage covers which prevent dirt build-up
Upsides and downsides of Project Solar Evolution Elite solar panels
Before deciding on which solar panels to purchase, it is important to understand the pros and cons of each model. Here are the upsides and downsides of the Project Solar Evolution Elite that we found during our research.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Optional smart-ready design |
Project Solar does not provide prices per panel |
|
The best warranty on the market |
Expensive installation |
|
Ultrareflective backing sheet helps increase sunlight absorption |
The company has only been running for 10 years and therefore not as well established as competitors |
|
10% more power per square metre compared to standard models |
Poor customer service complaints |
How do Project Solar Evolution Elite panels work?
Project Solar’s Evolution Elite monocrystalline solar panels offer the best warranty on the market, with a guarantee of up to 80% output for 30 years. In addition, the product offers 20% module efficiency, which is the percentage of the sunlight that hits the panel and converts to electricity. This is excellent compared to other products, which only offer an average of around 15% to 18%. Furthermore, the efficient PERC cell technology significantly improves cell voltage, and the product boasts 10% more power per square metre in comparison to other solar modules.
The Evolution Elite solar panels offer a large range of outputs from 395 W to 415 W, which is a significant upgrade from the Evolution Ultramax’s 345 W.
In the darker months, Evolution Elite solar panels promise significantly better low-light performance. They also feature an ultra-reflective backing sheet, which helps to increase sunlight absorption. Furthermore, the panels have five wiring configurations that decrease energy loss.
Project Solar offers a range of add-ons to UK customers to enhance its solar technology. This includes the Blackline mounting brackets, which make the panels look more discreet and also ensure they are robust and long-standing.
Another popular add-on is the Tigo Optimizer, which is ideal for shady areas on a roof. It harvests more energy, resulting in excellent efficiency.
Project Solar also provides monitoring devices that track the energy performance of your solar panels. In addition, you can opt for radiator zone-heating controls, which enable you to control the temperature in certain areas of your home. Project Solar also supplies EV chargers that can pull energy from the solar panels to power your vehicle.
Project Solar versus its competitors
Below we compare Project Solar alongside some of the top solar panel suppliers in the UK. Project Solar is clearly the winner in terms of warranty, as no other competitor offers a lifetime guarantee.
| Product | Maximum output | Warranty | Efficiency | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Project Solar Evolution Elite |
415 W |
Lifetime |
19.34% |
20 kg |
|
Sharp Sunsnap ND-F2Q235 |
235 W |
25 years |
14.40% |
21.2 kg |
|
Sunpower Maxeon 3 |
400 W |
40 years* |
22.60% |
19 kg |
|
LG Neon R |
440 W |
25 years |
22.10% |
20.5 kg |
*The SunPower Maxeon 3 panels have a 40-year warranty, although this may change to 25 years if certain conditions aren’t met.
How much do Project Solar Evolution Elite solar panels cost?
According to our research, the average cost of Project Solar’s Evolution Elite solar panel system for a typical home is £8,000—of which 85%–90% goes towards the installation and materials, including the panels and an inverter and brackets, while the remaining 10%–15% covers the labour costs.
Instead of single panel prices, Project Solar only offers full system prices based on roof size, roof shape, roof direction, number of panels, type of panels, and how much energy is needed. There may also be some additional costs for add-ons, such as solar batteries and solar panel inverters, as well as ongoing maintenance and repair costs.
The table below sets out a cost comparison between Project Solar’s Evolution Elite, Sharp Sunsnap ND-F2Q325, and Sunpower Maxeon 3 solar panels.
| Product | Overall cost (14 panels) | Cost per panel |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Solar Evolution Elite |
£8,000 |
Price not given |
|
Sharp Sunsnap ND-F2Q235 |
£5,400 |
From £300 |
|
Sunpower Maxeon 3 |
£6,170 |
From £355 |
Note that solar panel grants may help to reduce how much you pay for solar panels for your home. As part of phase four of the Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO4), the government has allocated £4 billion towards the installation of heat pumps and solar panels in the UK. The main aim of ECO4 is to improve energy efficiency in low-income and vulnerable households.
If you don’t qualify for the free grant, then you can always set up a finance plan with Project Solar, as all of the products are finance approved.
Project Solar’s quotation and installation process
Project Solar offers a relatively quick quotation and installation process, which follows these steps:
Solar panel maintenance
Project Solar boasts that you won’t need to clean your solar panels unless you live in a smog-prone area or in a location where there’s a lot of dust or sand. In these cases, you may want to schedule a professional clean once a year to ensure your solar panels are as efficient as possible.
If your panels are particularly dirty and you can’t get a professional out straight away, you can spray your panels with a hose while you are on the ground. This will remove any debris and dirt which will ensure your panels work more efficiently.
What the experts say
Here are some expert opinions on Project Solar’s products:
“Project Solar has sold some of the best solar equipment on the market for more than a decade. So you can trust that when this company chooses to add a product to its list of offerings, it’s a high-quality item that will cut your carbon footprint and your energy bills.” —The Eco Experts
“The lifetime product warranty and guaranteed 80% power output for 30 years make it a fantastic fit-and-forget option. What’s more, superb customer service is a consistent theme from the company’s many online reviews.” —Federation of Master Builders
“A lifetime warranty is a very attractive feature when investing in something as costly and permanent as solar panels for your home. And with a promise of 80% performance after 30 years, Project Solar UK’s solar panels seem a safe investment you can count on.” —EcoWatch
What customers say
On Trustpilot, Project Solar has 2,833 reviews with a score of 4.1 out of 5. On Review Centre, Project Solar has 971 reviews, with a rating of 4.7 out of 5. Most reviews are positive, with many praising Project Solar for its excellent customer service. The majority of negative comments focus on the slow installation process.
“We had 13 Solar Panels fitted (5.2 kW) with a set of three batteries (7.8 kW) in April this year. They are working like a dream. Since April, we have not paid more than 4 pence a day for electricity.” —Brent H via Trustpilot
“The salesperson was extremely informed and answered all questions. The installation was so rapid, from scaffolding to installation and connection. It is easy to get addicted to the app, which shows how much electricity you are generating.” —AndyDe via Review Centre
“DO NOT use this company. The fitters installed the solar panels by drilling through the roof but failed to seal the mounting brackets, so every time it rains there is water in the loft. I complained to Project Solar, and they demanded I get an independent builders report or pay £325 for their engineer to come and inspect their rubbish workmanship.” —Shinyton via Review Centre
Our recommendation
Project Solar’s Evolution Elite solar panels are the perfect choice for anyone looking to make a long-term and eco-friendly investment. This product offers a lifetime guarantee, along with the potential for huge savings in the long run. Its high-efficiency cell technology and excellent add-ons could significantly reduce your energy consumption and your bills.
Project Solar also offers a fully-fledged bespoke service, which starts with a free quotation and ends with a quick, fuss-free installation that’s guaranteed to produce results straight away.
How we chose the best solar panels in the UK
We conducted thorough research and compared some of the top-rated solar panels UK suppliers to help us offer an honest and informative Project Solar Evolution Elite solar panels review. To do this, we looked at costs, product quality, warranty terms, customer reviews, and expert opinions. This enabled us to develop our own view of Project Solar’s solar panels system.
Frequently asked questions about solar panels
How do solar panels work?
Most residential solar panel systems utilise something called the photovoltaic effect. Solar panels are constructed of cells made with semiconducting materials such as silicon. When light hits the cells, photons in the electromagnetic radiation from the sun heat them up, which causes electrons to start moving. This movement creates an electric current, which is then captured by plates and wires within the solar panel in the form of a direct current (DC) electrical charge. An inverter connected to the solar panels converts the DC into alternating current (AC), which can then be used to power all of the electric appliances in your house.
Are solar panels worth it?
In short, yes—solar panels can be a worthwhile investment thanks to a number of factors, including a decrease in cost over the last decade, the savings that can be made on rapidly rising energy bills, income from excess electricity sold back to the grid via the Smart Export Guarantee, and advancements in solar panel technology that have made them more efficient using less space.
Do solar panels work in the UK?
While the amount of electricity that can be produced by solar panels varies in different parts of the UK—a system in the south of England will typically be more efficient than a system in Scotland, for instance—they do work well across the nation. It is said that if you can see outside without artificial light, your solar panels are working. This is because they do not need direct sunlight to work. This means solar panels work even in the rain, on cloudy days, and during the winter when it is snowing—all typical weather conditions seen throughout the UK.