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.
Scaffolding access for solar in Greater Manchester is checked at the survey, including terraced streets with shared passages. Roof orientation and shading vary street by street in Greater Manchester, so solar is assessed on each roof individually. For Greater Manchester households out during the day, a battery can carry daytime solar into the evening heating period.
Who it suits
- Homes with existing solar PV that currently export much of their output
- 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
- Households at home during the day or with flexible hot water timing
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 Greater Manchester
We cover 29 towns in Greater Manchester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | M2 | Stretford | 7 h 28 min |
| Oldham | OL1 | Middleton | 7 h 27 min |
| Wigan | WN1 | Golborne | 7 h 27 min |
| Bolton | BL1 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Stockport | SK1 | Denton | 7 h 29 min |
| Rochdale | OL16 | Heywood | 7 h 27 min |
| Sale | M33 | Stretford | 7 h 29 min |
| Bury | BL9 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Altrincham | WA14 | Sale | 7 h 29 min |
| Middleton | M24 | Heywood | 7 h 27 min |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | OL7 | Denton | 7 h 28 min |
| Leigh | WN7 | Atherton | 7 h 28 min |
| Stretford | M32 | Urmston | 7 h 29 min |
| Urmston | M41 | Stretford | 7 h 29 min |
| Eccles | M30 | Swinton | 7 h 28 min |
| Tyldesley | M29 | Atherton | 7 h 28 min |
| Hyde | SK14 | Denton | 7 h 29 min |
| Walkden | M28 | Swinton | 7 h 28 min |
| Prestwich | M25 | Whitefield | 7 h 28 min |
| Radcliffe | M26 | Whitefield | 7 h 27 min |
| Heywood | OL10 | Middleton | 7 h 27 min |
| Denton | M34 | Hyde | 7 h 28 min |
| Saddleworth | OL3 | Oldham | 7 h 27 min |
| Golborne | WA12 | Leigh | 7 h 28 min |
| Whitefield | M45 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Swinton | M27 | Eccles | 7 h 28 min |
| Atherton | M46 | Tyldesley | 7 h 28 min |
| Irlam | M44 | Urmston | 7 h 29 min |
| Horwich | BL6 | Bolton | 7 h 27 min |
Heat pumps with solar panels and batteries questions
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.
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.