Heat pumps for all new homes and plug-in solar in green tech drive
Why it matters: This mandate accelerates the UK's green energy transition, impacting housing costs, energy bills, and market certainty.
- The UK government will require all new homes in England to install heat pumps and solar panels (covering 40% of ground floor space) from 2028, aiming to remove them from the gas network.
- Plug-in solar panels for self-installation on balconies will soon be available in UK supermarkets, a technology already common in Europe but new to the UK due to safety regulations.
- Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized that this push for clean power is crucial for energy security, reducing reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets.
- The energy industry and green technology sector, including MCS Foundation and Octopus Energy, welcome the new requirements for providing clarity and certainty, encouraging investment in heat pumps and solar.
- The Home Builders Federation (HBF) acknowledges forewarning but expresses concern over the estimated £10,000 additional cost per home and disputes the feasibility of the mandated solar panel size, claiming 60% of homes may not meet the standard.
- Octopus Energy suggests that while decarbonizing new housing is a great step, including batteries as a requirement would further enhance energy savings for customers.
England is mandating heat pumps and solar panels for all new homes by 2028, a move welcomed by the energy industry for providing market certainty, but raising concerns among developers about the unexpected scale of required solar coverage. This green tech drive, including plug-in solar for existing homes, is framed by the government as essential for energy security in light of global conflicts.
