Warm Homes Plan

There’s a lot of buzz in the energy world right now — and for good reason. The government is expected to announce details of the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan later this month, and it could have a significant impact on how homes across the UK are upgraded — and on the installers delivering that work.

The funding, spread over the next four years, is designed to help households cut carbon emissions and lower energy bills through grants and subsidies. That means increased support for insulation, low-carbon heating, solar PV, battery storage and smart energy technologies — all areas where skilled installers are central to success.

For companies like Solarwatt, and for the installer community more broadly, this growing focus on clean, home-grown energy feels like a long-awaited step in the right direction.

Why this matters on the ground

Energy bills remain a major concern for homeowners, and demand for solar and storage continues to grow. For installers, the Warm Homes Fund could translate into:

• Higher enquiry volumes as upfront costs fall
• A move away from single technology installs towards integrated systems
• More stable pipelines rather than stop-start scheme demand
• Greater focus on system performance, optimisation and long-term value

Solar paired with battery storage remains one of the most effective ways for households to take control of their energy — generating electricity during the day and using it later when prices peak.

A note on “zero-bill” homes

Some headlines suggest the ambition is to create “zero-bill” homes. While it’s a compelling narrative, installers know the reality is more nuanced.

Achieving genuinely zero bills depends on:

• Property type and roof space
• Household demand patterns
• Seasonal generation and weather
• The balance between PV, storage, heating and control

For many properties — particularly older housing stock — the realistic outcome will be significantly lower bills rather than none at all. Setting clear, honest expectations will remain critical.

Solar, storage and smart tariff management

As electricity tariffs become more dynamic, how energy is managed is becoming just as important as how it’s generated.

Time-of-use and variable tariffs can offer real savings — but only if systems are smart enough to respond to them. This is where Solarwatt’s Home Energy Management approach comes into focus. By intelligently managing when energy is stored, used or imported from the grid, systems can:

• Charge batteries when electricity is cheapest
• Prioritise self-generated solar energy
• Reduce grid imports during peak-price periods
• Improve overall system payback for homeowners

For installers, this adds an extra layer of value to battery installs, helping customers benefit not just from solar generation, but from active tariff optimisation — without constant manual intervention.

The role of HEMS and installer expertise

As funding supports multi-technology installs, installers will increasingly be asked not just to fit hardware, but to deliver joined-up systems that work intelligently together.

This brings Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) firmly into focus. Integrating PV, batteries, heating and tariff signals into a single control layer allows homeowners to:

• See where their energy is coming from
• Understand how and when it’s being used
• Gain more control over costs and comfort

Experienced independent installers are well placed to deliver this system-led approach, combining design expertise with long-term customer relationships.

The importance of SMEs and independents

One key question is how inclusive the Warm Homes Plan will be. For it to succeed at scale, SMEs and independent installers need to be fully recognised as stakeholders, rather than the programme becoming dominated by large utilities or national providers.

Local installers bring:

• Property-specific design knowledge
• Flexibility across technologies
• Trusted customer relationships
• Ongoing service and optimisation

If implemented well, the Warm Homes Plan could act as a blueprint for a more balanced market, where quality installation, system intelligence and customer outcomes matter as much as deployment numbers.

What happens next?

The full Warm Homes announcements are expected later this month, including details on:

• Installer participation and delivery models
• Which technologies qualify
• How grants and subsidies will be accessed

While “zero-bill” homes may not be achievable for every property, the direction of travel is clear. Smarter systems, better tariff management and integrated home energy are moving from “nice to have” to essential — and installers will be at the centre of making that transition work.

(*written prior to the publication of the Warm Homes Plan in Jan 2026)