Smart heating for Winter: Harness your PV system for major savings
Solar power instead of high heating costs
When the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, the energy demand in the home increases. If you choose the right combination now, you can not only stay warm through the winter, but also save money.
Homeowners can cut their heating costs significantly when operating a heat pump primarily with self-generated solar power — and every kilowatt hour from your own roof pays off twice over.
How efficient heating works with PV + Heat Pump
How efficient heating works with PV + Heat Pump
A heat pump extracts heat from the ambient air (or other source) and uses it to heat your home and provide hot water.
When powered by electricity from your own PV system, the result is a much more efficient whole-home energy system.
Smart energy management
The interaction of PV plants, heat pump and energy management ensures that self-generated solar power is used in the best possible way. If sufficient energy is available from the roof, the heat pump runs preferentially on solar power.
Systems such as the SOLARWATT Manager take over the smart control in the house.
By combining your PV system, heat pump and smart energy management, you ensure your own solar electricity is used at its highest value. The smart energy manager directs your heat pump to run preferentially when solar output is abundant — meaning you draw less expensive grid electricity, increase your self-consumption, and reduce your carbon footprint.
Attractive heat pump subsidies are making the switch over worthwhile.
Why PV and heat pumps are particularly attractive now
Using a heat pump with solar power is becoming increasingly economical. There are several reasons for this.
- Lower costs: Purchase prices for heat pumps, PV plants and batteries have fallen significantly in recent years.
- Intelligent energy management: Increase self-consumption and reduce electricitiy costs by importing from the grid during cheap variable electricity tariff rates.
- Future-resilience: With electricity prices remaining volatile and fossil fuels increasingly costly, generating and using your own solar power offers long-term protection and independence. Solar power remains stable and cheap.
- Market momentum: Heat pumps are rapidly becoming the leading heating technology across Europe
Efficiency through solar power battery storage and management
Efficiency through solar power battery storage and management
With PV, heat pump, battery and intelligent energy management, around 40% of the heat pump's electricity requirements can be covered by self-generated solar power.
With a battery, this proportion can be almost doubled. Heating costs fall significantly, self-consumption increases and the supply becomes less dependent on fluctuating energy prices.
A decision that pays off in the long term
- Cost savings – Heat pumps powered by solar significantly reduce heating bills.
- Independence – Less reliance on fossil fuels and the electricity grid.
- Flexibility – Modern heat pumps can provide heating, cooling and domestic hot water depending on your system.
- Future-proofing – Meets emerging building standards and adds value to the property.
- Space & maintenance benefits: No fuel store, no emissions.
- Environmentally friendly – Use green electricity, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Environmental & Climate Benefits
- CO₂-neutral operation on site when using green electricity.
- Renewable energy available in unlimited supply.
- Contribution to climate protection through high efficiency.
- Conservation of fossil resources.
Grants in the UK 2025
Maximum funding: Up to £7,500*
- BUS Boiler upgrade scheme: £7,500 for an air, ground, or water source heat pump. Simply contact an MCS qualified installer who will complete the application for you as part of the process of completing your heat pump installation.
- ECO4 : Offered via energy suppliers and will cover the costs of approved energy efficiency measures, including installation of heat pumps. *At the time of writing STIEBEL ELTRON heat pumps are not offered through this scheme.
- Warmer Homes Scotland: grant helps eligible households improve their energy efficiency and reduce heating costs. After contacting Home Energy Scotland, an assessment identifies suitable upgrades, and Warmworks coordinates the installation. The scheme can fund measures such as insulation, draught-proofing, heating upgrades, and renewable energy systems.
- Nest: funded by the Welsh Government, helps low-income households reduce fuel poverty by improving home energy efficiency. Eligible applicants are assessed through the Energy Saving Trust and, if approved, receive a full property survey from British Gas to identify and install suitable energy-saving improvements.
- Home Upgrade Grant: Only available in certain local authorities and amounts awarded may vary
*eligibility criteria applies throughout England and Wales.
