It is not just the solar panels and the heat pumps that have to do the work….
Given the rapidly rising cost of energy, it goes without saying that most people like the idea of a more energy-efficient home and where there is a chance to get some energy for free, then who wouldn’t be interested? We know that the burning of fossil fuels is one of the main culprits to the current climate crisis and we see more and more every day on our newsfeed and in the papers of how this is affecting our planet for our children and grandchildren alike. Ultimately, as much as we all want to reduce our carbon footprint and do our ‘bit’ to be greener, it usually comes down to the money, considering the current financial climate. We want to know how much it will cost us and how much money we will save.
So, the question is, will replacing our current energy sources to solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels and an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) give us free energy and be worth the upfront costs?
This article will hopefully reach out to help homeowners understand how they can make the most efficient use of running the two systems together. Electricity can be generated from many sources, stored and then turned into energy or heat. To generate our own electricity, we can install solar PV panels on our roof and then install an electric heating system. And the most efficient electric heating systems available today are heat pumps. Heat pumps use four times less energy than even the most efficient boilers to generate the same amount of heat!
So, installing a PV / heat pump combo will power my home for free — right?!
Well, not entirely. We need to take into account that the time of year when we generate the most electricity is summer, and this is not the time of year when we need the heat the most. This is where battery storage comes in; adding a battery storage system to the panels will allow homeowners to store the energy that the PV system generates during the day.
We also need to consider that the PV panels would need to be generating close to their maximum, to completely power our entire homes and a heat pump. Therefore, we still do need the grid. We used to get paid a very generous incentive (Feed In Tariff) for generating electricity but that is no longer the case. There is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) which is a payment by most energy suppliers for any excess electricity that you export from your PV system to the grid. Due to the lower rates now, it is always better to try and use the energy and only export it as a last resort, or if you have an electric vehicle then much more of the generation can be put into the vehicle. The biggest benefit of a home battery comes in when you also have a ‘time of use’ tariff; these tariffs encourage you to use your energy outside of peak times, with lower energy costs as a result.
As more people are now installing renewable energy products, energy providers such as Octopus, Eon and British Gas are offering to pay for exported energy not used at a lot more than SEG payment @ 0.4p per kwh. For example, at present, Octopus will pay 0.15p per kwh providing the installation is carried out and registered by an MCS installer AND the installation has a smart meter installed. (At Emerald Green, we have partnered up with King and Brooks Solar Energy for all our MCS accredited solar installations.)
What real changes can we make to our lifestyle to help towards reducing those offset bills?
To avoid using more energy than we need, there is a lot we can do in terms of our home lifestyle. One way is using one appliance at a time, as the energy generated from your PV panels will be used gradually rather than chucking it out all at once and needing to take from the grid. Interestingly, decreasing the thermostat by just one degree can save more energy consumption than you would think; finding a lower, comfortable home temperature could save us a significant amount of energy and we’ll still be warm! There are some very good smart Apps for both solar PV and heat pump systems to manage and monitor energy use straight from our phones, helping us to only heat our home when we really need to. It is worth keeping an eye on the forecast as it is not uncommon for the temperature to rise significantly in just 24 hours and if it has suddenly warmed up, you can turn down your heating before you crack open a window and chuck out unused energy.
Why is it a good idea to combine these two technologies?
The combination of solar panels and ASHPs is an unbeatable duo for achieving a highly efficient and sustainable system. By harnessing the sun’s energy, solar panels can significantly reduce the operational costs of air source heat pumps, making them an almost entirely self-sufficient option. Heat pumps require far less energy than standard boilers, putting less strain on solar panels. With the addition of solar batteries, heat pumps can function even during nighttime hours, making it a reliable and confident choice for a home to be heated and supplied with hot water in an eco-friendly manner.
So…Is a heat pump, on its own, fully renewable?
No. Heat pumps are a great way to save energy, but they do still require electricity to operate. This reliance on the energy grid means that, on their own, they aren’t a completely renewable energy source. However, this issue can be mitigated by using a solar-powered heat pump. This approach is not only more affordable but also more sustainable in the long run. By opting for this solution, we can contribute to the preservation of our environment and simultaneously save money on our energy bills.
Will transforming our spaces with renewable energy be worth the upfront costs?
While getting both solar panels and air source heat pumps will require an upfront expense, the advantages can be great. And don’t forget that the government is currently offering funding of £7,500 towards the purchase and installation of a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
PV and heat pumps are here to stay and they will be completely ‘normal’ products in the very near future. It is up to us as homeowners to adapt our routines to be able to use free energy when it is available and optimise our heating systems either with smart Apps or by mapping the heating schedules to our lifestyles.
You will get the best of both worlds when you combine the power of a heat pump with solar power, providing your home with unmatched efficiency and comfort. If you’re interested in investing in this type of power combo, then we suggest you couple the investment with the right installation. Going renewable is the cleanest and most eco-responsible way to heat and power your home and, after all, there is no planet B.
