We design the heat pump first, from the room-by-room heat loss, and then look at how solar and storage could work with it. PV panels and batteries are quoted separately from the heat pump, after a roof survey, and the controls are set so the heat pump makes use of solar generation when it is available. See heat pump controls and tariffs for how timing and tariffs fit in.
Homes in Dorset with existing panels can often have the heat pump set to heat water from their daytime output. Roof orientation and shading vary street by street in Dorset, so solar is assessed on each roof individually. For Dorset households out during the day, a battery can carry daytime solar into the evening heating period.
Who it suits
- Households considering a battery to store daytime or cheaper overnight electricity
- Homeowners planning a heat pump who want to add panels at the same time
- Homes with existing solar PV that currently export much of their output
- Homes with a roof facing anywhere from east through south to west, with little shading
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Dorset can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
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 Dorset
We cover 12 towns in Dorset for heat pumps with solar panels and batteries. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth | BH2 | Christchurch | 7 h 57 min |
| Poole | BH15 | Bournemouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Weymouth | DT4 | Dorchester | 7 h 58 min |
| Christchurch | BH6 | Bournemouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Ferndown | BH22 | Wimborne Minster | 7 h 56 min |
| Dorchester | DT1 | Weymouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Wimborne Minster | BH18 | Ferndown | 7 h 57 min |
| Blandford Forum | DT11 | Wimborne Minster | 7 h 56 min |
| Bridport | DT6 | Dorchester | 7 h 57 min |
| Sherborne | DT9 | Yeovil | 7 h 55 min |
| Swanage | BH19 | Poole | 7 h 58 min |
| Wareham | BH20 | Poole | 7 h 58 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.
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.
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.
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.