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.
Roof orientation and shading vary street by street in County Tyrone, so solar is assessed on each roof individually. We plan heat pump and solar electrics together for County Tyrone homes so the consumer unit is upgraded only once. For County Tyrone households out during the day, a battery can carry daytime solar into the evening heating period.
Who it suits
- 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
- Households considering a battery to store daytime or cheaper overnight electricity
- Homes with existing solar PV that currently export much of their output
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 Tyrone.
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 Tyrone
We cover 6 towns in County Tyrone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omagh | BT78 | Fivemiletown | 7 h 15 min |
| Coalisland | BT71 | Dungannon | 7 h 16 min |
| Cookstown | BT80 | Coalisland | 7 h 14 min |
| Dungannon | BT71 | Coalisland | 7 h 16 min |
| Fivemiletown | BT75 | Lisnaskea | 7 h 18 min |
| Strabane | BT82 | Derry/Londonderry | 7 h 12 min |
Heat pumps with solar panels and batteries questions
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.
Can solar panels run my heat pump in winter?
Only partly. In midwinter, solar panels typically generate a small fraction of their summer output, and the shortest days coincide with the highest heating demand. Panels may help on bright winter afternoons, but most winter heating will run on grid electricity or a battery charged from a cheaper overnight tariff. Solar contributes most to hot water from spring to autumn.
Should I fit solar panels before or after a heat pump?
Either order works, but planning both together helps. Knowing the heat pump's electricity use helps size the panels and any battery, and the electrical work for both can be coordinated, including the consumer unit and any notification to the network operator. If you already have panels, the heat pump controls can be set to use their output for hot water.
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.