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.
We plan heat pump and solar electrics together for Essex homes so the consumer unit is upgraded only once. Scaffolding access for solar in Essex is checked at the survey, including terraced streets with shared passages. For Essex households out during the day, a battery can carry daytime solar into the evening heating period.
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
- Homes with existing solar PV that currently export much of their output
- Homeowners planning a heat pump who want to add panels at the same time
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your quote.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check 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 Essex
We cover 22 towns in Essex 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southend-on-Sea | SS1 | Rayleigh | 7 h 49 min |
| Basildon | SS16 | Stanford-le-Hope | 7 h 49 min |
| Colchester | CO1 | Coggeshall | 7 h 46 min |
| Chelmsford | CM1 | Billericay | 7 h 47 min |
| Harlow | CM20 | Hoddesdon | 7 h 47 min |
| Braintree | CM7 | Coggeshall | 7 h 46 min |
| Clacton-on-Sea | CO15 | Harwich | 7 h 47 min |
| South Benfleet | SS7 | Canvey Island | 7 h 49 min |
| Canvey Island | SS8 | South Benfleet | 7 h 49 min |
| Billericay | CM12 | Basildon | 7 h 48 min |
| Rayleigh | SS6 | South Benfleet | 7 h 49 min |
| Stanford-le-Hope | SS17 | Basildon | 7 h 49 min |
| Wickford | SS12 | Rayleigh | 7 h 48 min |
| Witham | CM8 | Maldon | 7 h 46 min |
| Maldon | CM9 | Witham | 7 h 47 min |
| Harwich | CO12 | Felixstowe | 7 h 45 min |
| Saffron Walden | CB10 | Great Dunmow | 7 h 44 min |
| Burnham-on-Crouch | CM0 | Southend-on-Sea | 7 h 48 min |
| Coggeshall | CM8 | Witham | 7 h 46 min |
| Great Dunmow | CM6 | Braintree | 7 h 46 min |
| Halstead | CO9 | Coggeshall | 7 h 45 min |
| Loughton | IG10 | Chingford | 7 h 48 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.
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.
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.