The government are to announce that the vast majority of newly built homes must be equipped with solar panels equivalent to at least 40% of the ground floor area of the property.
According to The Times, 80% of new homes would have to feature solar panels, 19% could have less than 40%, while just 1% would be exempted.
While 40% of homes being built today do feature a solar installation, that still leaves 60% of new homes without.
It is thought that mandatory solar would add between £3,000 and £4,000 to the price of a new house, delivering energy savings of close to £500 a year.
However, David Nicholl, Chairman of Butterfly, offered a note of caution: ‘Mandating solar panels on new homes is essential to cutting energy bills and emissions… but installing panels is just the start – not the end – of the rooftop revolution.
‘Solar panels need ongoing servicing to ensure they operate at their best. Meaning, homebuilders must offer dual assurance over panel efficiency and installation quality. It can’t be a fit and forget approach with this solar rollout.
‘As we navigate the energy transition, we need to plan ahead to ensure we minimize the risk of system downtime. That means ensuring there is 24/7 remote monitoring and diagnostics to proactively identify issues.’
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England – who were active supporters of the New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill – aka the Sunshine Bill – are describing this as ‘a big campaign win’.
A 2023 survey of the CPRE membership revealed that 97% supported mandatory rooftop solar on new buildings and more than 10,000 of them emailed over 600 MPs urging them to support the Bill.
CPRE’s CEO, Roger Mortlock, said: ‘This is positive step and shows that taking climate action doesn’t have to come at the expense of a thriving countryside. CPRE has long campaigned for rooftop solar panels to be made compulsory on all new-build homes. The UK’s millions of roofs have the potential to generate huge amounts of cheap and sustainable energy, slash people’s bills and ensure we make the best use of our finite supply of land.
‘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.’
Leave a Reply