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 Perth and Kinross and Perth and Kinross, winter solar output is modest, so our heat pump designs never rely on it for heating. Roof orientation and shading vary street by street in Perth and Kinross, so solar is assessed on each roof individually. Homes in Perth and Kinross 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
- Households considering a battery to store daytime or cheaper overnight electricity
- 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 Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a home in Perth and Kinross, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
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 Perth and Kinross
We cover 7 towns in Perth and Kinross for heat pumps with solar panels and batteries. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | PH2 | Auchterarder | 6 h 51 min |
| Aberfeldy | PH15 | Pitlochry | 6 h 48 min |
| Auchterarder | PH3 | Crieff | 6 h 53 min |
| Blairgowrie | PH10 | Perth | 6 h 48 min |
| Crieff | PH7 | Auchterarder | 6 h 52 min |
| Kinross | KY13 | Dunfermline | 6 h 54 min |
| Pitlochry | PH16 | Aberfeldy | 6 h 47 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 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.
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.