Almost all new homes in England will be fitted with solar panels as standard within two years, according a new report.
The plans – revealed by
The Times
– would see housebuilders mandated to install solar panels on the roofs of new properties by 2027, which the Government believes will slash energy bills and boost its net zero drive.
The confirmation arrived despite recent
criticism from Tony Blair on net zero
, who said that to phase out fossil fuels in the short term was “doomed to fail” because of rise in demand and production.
Here,
The i Paper
looks at these new plans – and if they could really save us money on bills.
Why do homes need solar panels?
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, making it a reliable source of renewable energy to power homes and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The move follows the Government’s commitment to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030, and a wider aim to install up to 47GW of solar generating capacity by the same year.
A Government spokesperson told
The Times
: “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.”
This is on track with Labour’s net zero policy goal by 2050 alongside their target to build 1.5 million homes by the end of parliament.
When will this come into effect?
The policy is set to be implemented by 2027, if legislation is passed this year.
From that year onward, housebuilders will be legally required to install solar panels on the roofs of new properties in England that cover 40 per cent of a building’s ground area.
The enforcement will be integrated into the updated Future Homes Standard, which sets out energy efficiency requirements for new houses.
What is the cost of installing solar panels?
The addition of solar panels is expected to increase construction of new homes by £3,300 for semi-detached or terraced houses and £4,000 for detached properties.
These figures represent the upfront costs, which are anticipated to be offset by long-term energy savings and lower emissions from buildings, which have become the second-biggest carbon polluter.
Reports also state that fitting solar panels during construction of new properties is cheaper than adding it to existing older buildings.
How much would solar panels save?
The MCS Foundation released a report that found the average new-build semi-detached home would save over £1,000 per year, offsetting the initial increase of solar panel installation within three to four years.
This relates to Labour’s promise to cut energy bills by up to £300 a year.
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Lily Rose Ellis, a climate campaigner at Greenpeace 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.”
But what about exemptions?
The policy mandate will apply to 80 per cent of new properties, experts says.
The remaining 20 per cent may be exempt due to feasibility constraints like the pitch of the roof, orientation of the home, and overshading.
The result will be that 19 per cent of new homes may have slightly less solar panels, and 1 per cent are expected to have no panels.
Government officials said: “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.”