The UK government has announced that all new homes will be required to have solar panels and heat pumps installed as part of the 'future homes standard', a move aimed at reducing energy bills and carbon emissions. The regulations, which come into effect shortly, mandate that new properties be built with onsite renewable electricity generation—expected to be predominantly solar—and clean heating systems such as heat pumps or connections to heating networks, instead of gas boilers.
Alongside this, the government confirmed that plug-in solar panels, which can be connected to a home network via a standard socket, will be available in shops within months. Retailers including Amazon and Lidl, along with manufacturers like EcoFlow, are working to introduce these panels to the UK market. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) stated that plug-in solar reduces electricity drawn from the grid, cutting bills and lessening reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets.
Under the new standards, homeowners could save up to £830 annually on energy bills compared to a property with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C, while new homes will generate at least 75% fewer carbon emissions than those built to 2013 standards. Solar panels alone can save households up to £900 per year.
Additionally, the government unveiled plans for energy firms to offer reduced bills to residents living near wind farms on windy days. This scheme, which will primarily benefit Scotland and the East of England, aims to use excess wind power when the grid cannot handle it, rather than paying operators to shut down turbines. The initiative is expected to roll out before winter.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'The Iran war has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don't control.' Housing Secretary Steve Reed added: 'Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.'
The proposals have been welcomed by the energy sector. Dhara Vyas, chief executive of Energy UK, called the future homes standard a 'landmark moment' for clean energy in Britain, stating that new homes will benefit from clean heating and solar, protecting households from volatile gas prices.
