Making the most of renewable energy and low carbon technologies
Installing renewable technologies
Renewable technologies – air source heat pump, solar PV, battery storage – can significantly reduce your fuel bills and carbon emissions in the medium term. But installing these will depend on your home and financial circumstances.
- For solar PV you need roof space with little shading, of appropriate size, angle and orientation to the sun. Use a solar calculator to work out if solar PV is a viable option for you. Solar PV also need a small amount of indoor space for an inverter and generation meter (e.g. in a loft or garage).
- Heat pumps require space about the size of a small fridge both inside and outside the home for installation.
- Battery storage also requires space inside the home.
There are grants available for domestic renewables like heat pumps and solar PV. Check the Grants guide for more information.
For some households, taking up some renewable technologies could be really beneficial. However, a heat pump might not be the best option for someone with a health condition that requires additional warmth, based on the current tariff prices for electricity.
Getting the most from renewables
- Monitoring electricity use and shifting demand are foundations to getting the best from solar PV and battery storage. When the sun’s out, put the washing machine on!
- Some smart energy options need an appropriate tariff to get the most from them e.g. a smart hot water tank. If this is the case it is indicated as Essential in the smart energy option’s fact sheet.
- Producing electricity and / or storing it, with an appropriate tariff, means you can store and export electricity to the National Grid (or sometimes locally).
If you can shift your electricity usage, solar PV is likely to be more cost effective. If flexing your electricity use is trickier, a battery will help.
Useful combinations of renewable technologies
- Solar PV and energy diverter – electricity generated that is not being used is diverted to heat hot water in an immersion heater (not compatible with a combination boiler).
- Solar PV and battery storage – store electricity you generate to use when the sun’s not shining, a great combination.
- Solar PV and heat pump – solar can help to reduce demand for electricity to run a heat pump. This is most helpful on cold, sunny days in spring and autumn. In summer there is less electricity consumption from the heat pump as there is no space heating demand. In winter there is not much solar electricity generation.
- CSE fact sheet: Getting the best from your solar PV panels
- CSE fact sheet: Battery storage