Installing Solar Panels on New Homes in England to be Mandatory Within Two Years

Solar panels will be fitted on almost all new-build homes during construction in England within the next two years. Plans are underway for government ministers to announce this policy despite the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair’s recent criticism of climate policy. 

Housebuilders will be legally required to install solar panels on the roofs of new properties according to the government’s new plans. Although this policy will increase the initial cost of the property the government argues that it will cut annual energy bills and generate large amounts of clean energy boosting its net zero drive.

Installing a 3kW solar panel system on the roof of a small home would add between £3,000 and £5,000 onto its cost while installing a 4kW solar panel system to an average sized detached home would add between £4,000 and £7,000. However, depending on the size of the home and solar panel system more than £600 could be saved on annual energy bills. There is of course a payback period for solar panels which in the UK typically ranges from 7 to 10 years. This will vary depending on the system’s cost, efficiency, and the homeowner’s electricity consumption.

Once the panels have paid for themselves, homeowners can enjoy free electricity for the remaining lifespan of the panels which can be 25 years or more. 

Although currently there are no subsidies for solar panels the UK government has put a scheme in place called the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) which pays households and small businesses for exporting surplus renewable electricity back to the National Grid. It ensures that generators of low-carbon electricity, like solar panel owners, are paid for the excess energy they generate and send back to the grid. The amount received via the SEG can then be added to your savings calculation. 

A government spokesperson said: 

“We have always been clear that we want solar panels on as many new homes as possible because they are a vital technology to help cut bills for families, boost our national energy security and help deliver net zero. Through the Future Homes Standard we plan to maximise the installation of solar panels on new homes as part of our ambition to ensure all new homes are energy efficient, and will set out final plans in due course.”

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) aims to reduce carbon emissions from new homes by 75-80% compared to current regulations.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has recently been calling for all new builds to have rooftop solar panels. 

The organisation, which represents town halls, pointed to a recent report from the Resolution Foundation in The Independent which found domestic solar panels could deliver savings on bills of £440 on average for households which had them.

In the past two years thousands of supporters of The Council for Preservation of Rural England (CPRE), have taken part in their campaign, calling on the government to set new and ambitious targets for clean energy across the country. Back in January over 10,000 of their supporters backed their call for the government to adopt the Sunshine Bill which aimed to make solar panel installation standard in all new suitable homes. Campaigners have welcomed the news that the government is going to mandate solar panels on new homes.

CPRE’s CEO, Roger Mortlock, said that the new policy was a positive step and shows that taking climate action doesn’t have to come at the expense of a flourishing countryside. He said that CPRE had long campaigned for rooftop solar panels to be made compulsory on all new-build homes knowing that the UK’s millions of roofs have the potential to generate huge amounts of cheap and sustainable energy, dramatically cut people’s bills and ensure we make the best use of our limited supply of land.

He went on to say:

“Net zero is non-negotiable, with solar power a key part of our energy mix. We urge the government to set a target for generating at least 60% of the UK’s solar energy from rooftops. We’ve wasted the potential of our rooftops for too long, we still want to see rooftop solar rolled out across warehouses, car parks, and existing homes. At the same time, mega solar risks being allowed to damage natural landscapes and productive farmland. Today’s announcement helps restore the right balance.”

Recent YouGov polling has shown that this view is widespread. 82% of the public support rooftop solar on new homes and commercial buildings. 

Lily-Rose Ellis, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, said: 

“For too long we’ve wasted the free energy that falls on the roofs of houses every single day. Now, people living in new-build homes will save hundreds of pounds every year on their energy bills, thanks to this commonsense decision from the government.”

She added: 

“It shows the drive for net zero can slash both emissions and bills. The government must now ensure that everyone feels the benefits of cheap solar on their roofs, as well as every hospital and school, so they too can enjoy huge savings and use that cash to improve our public services.“

Currently two in five newly built homes do not have solar panels. Having seen the plans The Times reported that the new policy would force 80% of new homes to have solar panels equivalent to 40% of a building’s ground area. Another 19% would have slightly fewer but just 1% of new homes would not have any solar panels at all. 

An official told The Times:

“We believe this proposal has the benefits of ensuring that the majority of new homes will be built with solar panels but that there is flexibility for legitimate cases when reduced or no solar panel coverage is appropriate.”

The government’s new solar panel policy is in keeping with their target of building 1.5m new homes by the end of 2029, as well as its promise to decarbonise the electric grid by 2030 and lower average household energy bills by £300 a year. 

However, the future mandate has met with some criticism from housebuilders who have warned that the imminent regulations could prove hard to implement and even cause delays to the delivery of new-build homes. This is partly because companies would have to seek prior approval from councils if they wanted to provide less than 40%. 

The Home Builders Federation has expressed concern that it would be unrealistic for the government to expect all new homes to be suitable for 40% coverage at full efficiency and capacity, when considering the many homes that have uneven roofs and north-facing aspects. 

According to the Financial Times, its submission said that 20% would be a more realistic target to set. 

Builders are looking at ways of upskilling the construction workforce to help equip them to install solar panels on new-build homes. 

Government officials have said there will be flexibility for legitimate cases where it would be appropriate to have reduced or no solar panel coverage.

The housing department said it has listened to housebuilders and other views to develop practical, yet ambitious proposals through the Future Homes Standard to maximise the installation of solar panels on new homes. 

Some industry bodies including Solar Energy UK are pleased with the news as they agree that the new solar panel policy will help boost energy security, cut bills and drive the UK’s net zero agenda.

According to the Guardian, ministers are also preparing to offer government-funded loans and grants for the installation of solar panels on existing homes which would see them push ahead with their net zero agenda. 

There is no doubt that installing solar panels offers benefits on both a personal and global scale. Customers can save money on electricity bills as well as potentially increase their property value while the world benefits from reduced carbon emissions and a decrease in reliance on fossil fuels.