Spoiler: You can power the eff out of heat pumps with solar.
You’re wondering this after the defibrillator hits your chest for the 7th time. As you stare into the abyss of the hospital ceiling lights, with your first heat pump electricity bill still seared on the back of your eyelids.
Dodge the bright light, for now, there is hope. Sun powered hope.
Heat pumps are fantastic. For many suitable homes, they’re an unrivalled green alternative to a fossil fuel-powered boiler.
But, they run on electricity. And right now, that electricity is expensive. Up to 3X more expensive than gas.
Much better for the environment. Way worse for your bank balance. Why do you think your energy company is so keen to ‘help you go green’?
Ready to make your home more energy-efficient and cut down on your heating bills? Get a heat pump quote today from our trusted partners at Heat Geek here.
Solar Panels & Heat Pumps Key Points:
You'll need a larger-than-average solar panel system to power a heat pump.
Unless you have battery storage, you will not be able to power your heat pump in the evening using solar power.
On average, you will need a solar array of at least 5 kW to power the average heat pump.
Start designing your solar array here for free and if you need advice reach out to us and we'd be happy to assist.
Can you power a heat pump using solar panels?
Yes, you can use the electricity generated by your solar array to supply power to your heat pump.
In fact, by combining solar panels with a heat pump, you will be drastically reducing your carbon footprint and reliance on the National Grid.
However, it's worth being aware that if you don't intend to utilise solar battery storage, your heat pump will not be able to use solar energy in the evenings or during the night.
Instead, you will have to draw electricity via the National Grid during these times of the day.
Electricity vs. Gas Prices in the UK
Current standard daily charges and April 2024 rates:
Previous rate (ending June 30th 2024) | New rate (1st July 2024 onwards) | |
Gas | Unit rate: 7.51p per kWh | Unit rate: 5.48p per kWh |
Electricity | Unit rate: 30.11p per kWh | Unit rate: 22.36p per kWh |
Data source: gov.uk
How many solar panels do you need to run a heat pump?
Present electricity prices make heat pumps a tough call for even the most green-spirited of folk.
Outside of refusing to pay your electricity bill, it’s a fate you can’t escape – like being guilt-tripped about the material you drink milk from whilst Neymar takes a private jet to Costco.
Fortunately, a solar PV array allows you to harness free electricity from the sun.
Even the UK Government haven’t managed to put a tax on massive balls of space gas yet.
The average UK household will consume 2,000 – 4,000 kWh of electricity per year, with the average heat pump using around 3,800 kWh annually – some jump.
Most solar panels installed in the UK will provide around 3,200 kWh per year (12 panels) – wiping out a huge proportion of your additional heat pump juice.
That’s most solar panels. Heatable’s exclusive REA solar packages perform up to 20% better than standard UK installations. Read more about our super fancy tech, optimised for British weather.
Throw in some battery storage with your solar, and you’re making some ground. And making ground is important, we need more to dig under it for yummy oil.
Still, learning about solar? Check out our guides on how many solar panels you need and how solar car charging works.
Explore a Solar Case Study: Check out an insightful Q&A session featured in one of our detailed case studies on domestic solar panels. Hear directly from a Heatable customer in the UK and gain valuable perspectives on their experience here.
The image above shows a 23-panel solar installation, carried out by the MCS-certified solar team at Heatable, featuring the REA Fusion2 solar panels.
Does a heat pump use up all of my solar power?
The amount of energy generation that your solar panels will generate depends upon a variety of factors:
Solar panel quality
Quality of installation
Panel inverter type and quality
Home electric usage (all appliances)
Battery storage/grid export tariff settings
Also to be considered is the size, efficiency and usage of your heat pump.
Households with high demand for heating and hot water will naturally have a heat pump working harder, for longer periods of the day – a bit like if your house was a shift manager at an Amazon warehouse.
Ofgem estimates the typical household in Britain uses 2,900 kWh of electricity and 12,000 kWh of gas in a year.
A heat pump may be demanding all or even more of what energy you have. Imagine a vampire dog going at a plate of hot, bloody chips.
Taking into account averages is important.
It’s very likely that throughout spring and summer, your heat pump usage will be remarkably low.
Leaving you the freedom to splurge your sunny money on boiling the kettle for unwanted visitors, charging your electric car or hoovering up remnants of blood-soaked chips.
We have also reviewed the best solar panels and covered how long solar panels last in the UK.
What about winter?
In winter, the reverse is likely to be true.
Your heat pump will most likely be churning away to keep you warm and provide hot water throughout large parts of the day.
Throw in your kettles, cars, hoovers and the drone you got for Christmas – you’re asking the sun for a lot. If you’re a high-energy user – the more panels, the better.
It’s worth noting that solar panel damage caused by drones is almost never covered under a manufacturer warranty.
Naturally (and with less sun exposure in winter), this means your solar array may not power all of your household needs – despite still producing enough year-round to technically power your heat pump.
However, even accounting for those heavy usage winters – solar will make a remarkable bill difference to your heat pump, and beyond.
Read about how Heatable Solar is optimised for lower UK light, kicking in earlier and generating power until later.
Usage education is the key to unlocking more savings.
At Heatable, we believe that solar ‘unlocks’ other technology by vastly reducing the electricity required from the grid.
“On average, Heatable customers experience a 93% drop in their grid dependency”.
Fundamentally, you’ll buy far less electricity from your energy provider when you have solar PV installation.
However, as with all heating and renewable tech, from high-efficiency boilers to heat pumps and solar-user interaction is key to top performance.
Solar installation (without a battery) for instance, is almost useless if electric appliances are all being used at night and nobody is in the property during the day.
"You would simply be providing your energy company with super cheap electricity, then buying it back from them at a higher price – it’s at this point you paint your face and try to draw Batman’s attention".
To combat this potentially maddening fate, be sure to understand your energy habits and take action to change them for the better before any substantial investment in technology.
Key takeaways:
Yes. Solar can power your heat pump.
Solar power is maximised through solar battery storage.
A solar PV array will drastically reduce your electricity bills (heat pump or not)
Understand your electricity usage habits and make improvements to see the best results
For exclusive, high-performing, UK weather-optimised and wildly biased solar PV quotations from an unrivalled nationwide team of attractive people – have a nosy at Heatable Solar here.
Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:
When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:
To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation.
Get a Quote for Solar Today
Without boasting you should get your solar installed with us, here's why:
Thousands of Happy Customers: We boast an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, outperforming the market leader.
Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.
MCS Accredited: Our accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) ensures high-quality standards.
Exclusive Panels: We offer REA Fusion solar panels, available only through Heatable.
Consumer Protection: As members of the HIES consumer code, we provide 2-year deposit protection.
Flexible Payment Options: Choose from multiple payment methods, including finance options.
Fixed Price Guarantee: Enjoy transparency with no hidden costs.
Save Your Quote: You can save your quote and decide later.
Bespoke Design Tool: Draw your own conclusion (literally) on whether solar is worth it for you, here.
