If you’ve been thinking about solar panels over the past year, you are not alone. We have spoken to homeowners and businesses right across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who are all asking similar questions about energy costs, reliability and whether solar is actually worth the investment.
Our 2025 recap video shows a selection of our residential and commercial installs from the past year and we hear from our customers on why they would recommend Encom to friends and family for home installs, and to customers, suppliers and partners for commercial projects.
Are solar panels really worth it for homes in Northern Ireland in 2026?
For most homeowners, the main reason for considering solar is simple, reducing electricity bills and relying less on the grid.
A well designed solar system allows your home to generate its own electricity during the day. When paired with battery storage, any unused energy can be stored and used later in the evening or overnight. Over the course of the year this can make a massive difference to household energy costs.
At Encom, we look at how your home actually uses electricity before recommending a system. That means sizing panels and batteries properly rather than selling a one size fits all solution.
Why are more businesses choosing solar in 2026?
We have seen a real shift in the number of businesses turning to solar over the past year. For many, energy has become one of the biggest overheads and solar offers a practical way to bring that cost under control.
Most commercial buildings use the bulk of their electricity during daylight hours, which makes solar particularly effective. Several of the businesses featured in this recap have already told us they plan to roll out Encom solar across other sites after seeing the results from their first installation.
Encom works closely with commercial clients to assess usage patterns, future plans and payback expectations so systems are designed with long term value in mind.
Can solar work for both residential and commercial properties in 2026?
Solar works well in both settings, but the approach needs to be different.
Residential systems are usually designed around lifestyle patterns such as evening energy use, home working, EV charging and overnight battery use. Commercial systems focus more on daytime demand, scalability and return on investment.
Because Encom works across both residential and commercial projects, our team understands how to design systems that suit each property rather than forcing the same solution onto every job.
What do customers say about working with Encom?
One of the things we are most proud of in this video is hearing customers speak for themselves.
Homeowners talk about recommending Encom to friends and family because the process felt clear, straightforward and delivered the savings they expected. Commercial customers speak about trust, repeat work and confidence in using us again at other sites.
Those recommendations matter to us because they come from customers who have lived with their systems and seen how they perform over time.
How does Encom make the process simple?
For many people, the hardest part of solar is knowing where to start. Between system sizes, grants, payback periods and technical jargon, it can feel overwhelming.
Our approach is to keep things simple. We explain the options clearly, design a system that suits the property and handle the process from survey through to installation. Once the system is live, we remain available for support and future upgrades such as battery storage or EV chargers.
That ongoing support is a big reason customers continue to recommend Encom long after their install is complete.
Is now a good time to invest in solar in 2026?
For many homes and businesses, the answer is yes. Energy prices remain unpredictable and solar technology continues to improve year on year.
Installing solar now allows you to start reducing bills straight away, while leaving room to expand your system in the future. Many customers begin with solar panels and later add battery storage or EV charging as their needs change.
At Encom, we help customers think beyond the initial install and plan an energy setup that will continue to work for them in the years ahead.
Thinking about solar for your home or business?
Our 2025 recap gives a snapshot of what is possible when solar is designed properly and installed with care.
If you are considering solar panels, battery storage or commercial energy solutions, our team would love to talk you through the options and answer any questions!