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.
Roof orientation and shading vary street by street in Warwickshire, so solar is assessed on each roof individually. Homes in Warwickshire with existing panels can often have the heat pump set to heat water from their daytime output. For Warwickshire 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
- 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
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England 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), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your quote.
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 Warwickshire
We cover 10 towns in Warwickshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuneaton | CV11 | Bedworth | 7 h 39 min |
| Rugby | CV21 | Lutterworth | 7 h 40 min |
| Royal Leamington Spa | CV31 | Warwick | 7 h 41 min |
| Warwick | CV34 | Royal Leamington Spa | 7 h 41 min |
| Bedworth | CV12 | Nuneaton | 7 h 39 min |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | CV37 | Alcester | 7 h 42 min |
| Kenilworth | CV8 | Warwick | 7 h 41 min |
| Alcester | B49 | Stratford-upon-Avon | 7 h 42 min |
| Atherstone | CV9 | Nuneaton | 7 h 38 min |
| Shipston-on-Stour | CV36 | Stratford-upon-Avon | 7 h 44 min |
Heat pumps with solar panels and batteries questions
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.
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.
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.