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.
Across Leicestershire and Leicestershire, winter solar output is modest, so our heat pump designs never rely on it for heating. Scaffolding access for solar in Leicestershire is checked at the survey, including terraced streets with shared passages. Homes in Leicestershire with existing panels can often have the heat pump set to heat water from their daytime output.
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
- 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 Leicestershire 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 Leicestershire
We cover 11 towns in Leicestershire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester | LE1 | Oadby | 7 h 38 min |
| Loughborough | LE12 | Coalville | 7 h 36 min |
| Hinckley | LE10 | Earl Shilton | 7 h 39 min |
| Coalville | LE67 | Ashby-de-la-Zouch | 7 h 37 min |
| Wigston Magna | LE18 | Oadby | 7 h 38 min |
| Melton Mowbray | LE13 | Oakham | 7 h 36 min |
| Market Harborough | LE16 | Desborough | 7 h 39 min |
| Oadby | LE2 | Wigston Magna | 7 h 38 min |
| Earl Shilton | LE9 | Hinckley | 7 h 38 min |
| Ashby-de-la-Zouch | LE65 | Coalville | 7 h 36 min |
| Lutterworth | LE17 | Rugby | 7 h 40 min |
Heat pumps with solar panels and batteries questions
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.
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.
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.