In short: solar panels can cut the running cost of a heat pump, especially for hot water and in spring and autumn. In mid-winter, when heating is highest, the panels produce little, so do not expect solar to cover all of it.
Why they work well together
A heat pump runs on electricity, so it makes your bill bigger. Solar panels make your own electricity, so they bring it down. In summer, panels can easily cover hot water. In spring and autumn, they help with heating on sunny days.
The winter gap
Solar panels in England produce much less in December and January than in summer, which is when a heat pump works hardest. A battery charged on a cheap overnight tariff, or a heat pump tariff from your supplier, can help fill that gap.
Grants
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump.
- 0% VAT on solar panels, batteries and heat pumps installed in homes, until 31 March 2027.
- Warm Homes Plan: low and zero-interest loans for solar and batteries, with details due later in 2026. See our grants guide.
Which first?
If you plan to get both, it is worth getting quotes together. A good installer will size the solar system with the heat pump in mind, and doing both at once can save on scaffolding and electrical work.
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