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.
Homes in Powys with existing panels can often have the heat pump set to heat water from their daytime output. Across Powys and Powys, winter solar output is modest, so our heat pump designs never rely on it for heating. For Powys households out during the day, a battery can carry daytime solar into the evening heating period.
Who it suits
- 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
- Homes with existing solar PV that currently export much of their output
- Households considering a battery to store daytime or cheaper overnight electricity
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Wales
Homes in Powys can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which applies in Wales as well as England: £7,500 towards an air source heat pump, or £9,000 when it replaces oil or LPG heating for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies and deducts the grant.
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 Powys
We cover 10 towns in Powys 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brecon | LD3 | Crickhowell | 7 h 45 min |
| Builth Wells | LD2 | Llandrindod Wells | 7 h 43 min |
| Crickhowell | NP8 | Abergavenny | 7 h 46 min |
| Hay-on-Wye | HR3 | Builth Wells | 7 h 44 min |
| Knighton | LD7 | Newtown | 7 h 41 min |
| Llandrindod Wells | LD1 | Builth Wells | 7 h 42 min |
| Machynlleth | SY20 | Dolgellau | 7 h 38 min |
| Newtown | SY16 | Welshpool | 7 h 39 min |
| Welshpool | SY21 | Newtown | 7 h 37 min |
| Ystradgynlais | SA9 | Pontardawe | 7 h 47 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 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.
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.