Pairing a heat pump with solar PV means using electricity generated by panels on your roof to run the heat pump, so less is bought from the grid. Solar PV (photovoltaic) panels turn daylight into electricity, and a heat pump is one of the largest electrical loads in an electrically heated home, so the two are often planned together.
Scaffolding access for solar in County Antrim is checked at the survey, including terraced streets with shared passages. Across County Antrim and County Antrim, winter solar output is modest, so our heat pump designs never rely on it for heating. Roof orientation and shading vary street by street in County Antrim, so solar is assessed on each roof individually.
Who it suits
- Homes with a roof facing anywhere from east through south to west, with little shading
- Households considering a battery to store daytime or cheaper overnight electricity
- Households at home during the day or with flexible hot water timing
- Homeowners planning a heat pump who want to add panels at the same time
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland does not have a dedicated heat pump grant for homeowners at present, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply here. Heat pumps have sometimes been funded through the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, so it is worth checking what is open when you enquire about a home in County Antrim.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump in Northern Ireland until 31 March 2027, the same as in Great Britain. Planning and building control here follow Northern Ireland's own rules, so the survey checks the unit position against them.
Prices
Solar panels and batteries are quoted separately after a roof survey. For heat pump system prices see the guide prices.
Towns we cover in County Antrim
We cover 11 towns in County Antrim for heat pumps with solar panels and batteries. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Northern Ireland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | BT1 | Newtownabbey | 7 h 15 min |
| Lisburn | BT27 | Belfast | 7 h 16 min |
| Newtownabbey | BT37 | Belfast | 7 h 14 min |
| Carrickfergus | BT38 | Newtownabbey | 7 h 13 min |
| Ballymena | BT42 | Antrim | 7 h 12 min |
| Antrim | BT41 | Ballyclare | 7 h 13 min |
| Larne | BT40 | Carrickfergus | 7 h 12 min |
| Ballycastle | BT54 | Ballymoney | 7 h 07 min |
| Ballyclare | BT39 | Antrim | 7 h 13 min |
| Ballymoney | BT53 | Coleraine | 7 h 09 min |
| Portrush | BT56 | Portstewart | 7 h 07 min |
Heat pumps with solar panels and batteries questions
Do I need a battery to benefit from solar with a heat pump?
No. Without a battery you can still use solar generation directly by timing hot water heating for the middle of the day. A battery adds flexibility by storing surplus for the evening, or by charging from a cheaper overnight tariff in winter. Whether it suits you depends on how much you would otherwise export and on your tariff.
Is a solar diverter useful with a heat pump?
It can be, but less so than with a gas boiler. A diverter heats water through the immersion heater, which turns one unit of electricity into one unit of heat, while a heat pump typically makes around three. Scheduling the heat pump to heat water at midday usually uses solar more efficiently, with a diverter adding top-ups on very sunny days.
How much do solar panels and a battery cost with a heat pump?
Solar PV and batteries are quoted separately from the heat pump, because the price depends on your roof, the number of panels, scaffolding, the inverter and any battery size. We survey the roof and give a written quote for that part of the work. The heat pump itself is priced from its own guide ranges, shown on our prices page.
Can my roof take solar panels?
Most pitched roofs in sound condition can take solar panels, but every roof needs checking. The survey looks at orientation, pitch, shading, roof covering and structure, plus access for scaffolding. Flat roofs can use angled mounting frames. The survey also checks where the inverter and any battery would go and how cables would reach your consumer unit.