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.
Across Mid Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan, winter solar output is modest, so our heat pump designs never rely on it for heating. Homes in Mid Glamorgan with existing panels can often have the heat pump set to heat water from their daytime output. For Mid Glamorgan 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
- Homes with a roof facing anywhere from east through south to west, with little shading
- Households at home during the day or with flexible hot water timing
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Wales
In Wales 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; £2,500 for air-to-air). The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies to Ofgem for you, and the grant comes off your quote.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Wales included, until 31 March 2027. Planning rules for heat pumps in Wales are set by the Welsh Government and differ from England's, so the surveyor checks the unit position against them.
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 Mid Glamorgan
We cover 11 towns in Mid Glamorgan for heat pumps with solar panels and batteries. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Wales.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgend | CF31 | Porthcawl | 7 h 49 min |
| Merthyr Tydfil | CF47 | Aberdare | 7 h 47 min |
| Pontypridd | CF37 | Llantrisant | 7 h 49 min |
| Aberdare | CF44 | Mountain Ash | 7 h 47 min |
| Caerphilly | CF83 | Pontypridd | 7 h 49 min |
| Maesteg | CF34 | Port Talbot | 7 h 48 min |
| Porthcawl | CF36 | Bridgend | 7 h 50 min |
| Bargoed | CF81 | Blackwood | 7 h 48 min |
| Llantrisant | CF72 | Pontypridd | 7 h 49 min |
| Mountain Ash | CF45 | Aberdare | 7 h 48 min |
| Tonypandy | CF40 | Pontypridd | 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.
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.
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 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.