It is worth being clear about the seasons. Solar panels generate most from spring to early autumn, when a heat pump is mainly heating hot water. In December and January, when heating demand peaks, a typical roof produces only a small fraction of its summer output and covers little of the heat pump's needs. The strongest fit is daytime hot water heating for much of the year, with a battery or a time-of-use tariff helping in winter.
We plan heat pump and solar electrics together for Merseyside homes so the consumer unit is upgraded only once. For Merseyside households out during the day, a battery can carry daytime solar into the evening heating period. Homes in Merseyside with existing panels can often have the heat pump set to heat water from their daytime output.
Who it suits
- 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
- Households at home during the day or with flexible hot water timing
- Households considering a battery to store daytime or cheaper overnight electricity
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Merseyside 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 Merseyside
We cover 14 towns in Merseyside 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | L3 | Birkenhead | 7 h 29 min |
| Birkenhead | CH41 | Liverpool | 7 h 29 min |
| St Helens | WA10 | Prescot | 7 h 29 min |
| Southport | PR8 | Formby | 7 h 26 min |
| Wallasey | CH45 | Birkenhead | 7 h 29 min |
| Bootle | L21 | Wallasey | 7 h 28 min |
| Bebington | CH63 | Birkenhead | 7 h 30 min |
| Huyton | L36 | Prescot | 7 h 29 min |
| Kirkby | L32 | Maghull | 7 h 28 min |
| Prescot | L34 | Huyton | 7 h 29 min |
| Heswall | CH60 | Bebington | 7 h 30 min |
| Maghull | L31 | Kirkby | 7 h 28 min |
| Formby | L37 | Maghull | 7 h 27 min |
| Halewood | L26 | Huyton | 7 h 30 min |
Heat pumps with solar panels and batteries questions
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.
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.
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.