Decision to fit solar panels on new homes ‘long overdue’

A decision to fit solar panels on almost all new homes was long overdue, said Midlands green energy expert Ron.

He was commenting on regulations published last month by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband which will require developers to add panels unless the buildings fall under certain exemptions such as being surrounded by trees or with lots of shade overhead.

“This is good news as it will save the typical household around £530 a year on their energy bills,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science and Innovation Park.

The government says the rules will be included in the Future Homes Standard, which will be published in the autumn and will detail a wider plan for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

But there will be a transitional period for developers to adjust to the regulation changes.

Current building regulations do not compel developers to add solar panels to new homes.

The last Conservative government proposed that new build homes should have rooftop solar panels covering the equivalent of 40 per cent of the building’s ground area. But they were voted out of office before their proposed changes could be implemented.

The Labour government is now promising to introduce rules which would mandate developers to add solar panels to all new builds except in rare exceptional cases.

The UK is legally committed to reaching its net zero target by 2050, meaning the UK must cut carbon emissions until it removes as much as it produces, in line with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

In 2022, emissions from residential buildings made up 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

The government’s advisory body, the Climate Change Committee, has said the UK will not be able to meet its targets “without near complete decarbonisation of the housing stock”.

According to analysis by Carbon Brief, power generated by solar sites in the UK hit record highs this year, partly driven by particularly sunny weather.

Between January and May, the level was 42 per cent higher than the same period in 2024 and marked a 160 per cent increase over the last decade.

However, solar power remains the UK’s sixth largest source of electricity, behind gas, wind, imports, nuclear and biomass.

Increasing solar power is one way the government hopes to reduce the country’s carbon emissions.

Under proposed changes in the Future Homes Standard, new residences will also have low-carbon heating, such as heat pumps and high levels of energy efficiency, cutting people’s energy bills and boosting the nation’s energy security with clean, homegrown power.

“It’s a win, win situation,” concluded Ron. “This change will reduce bills for people in new build properties while also giving the industry confidence to invest in increased manufacturing and installer training as demand increases, creating jobs and bringing down technology costs for everyone.”

For those wanting more advice about solar panels for their homes and offices, call Ron on 0845 474 6641 or contact us here

Caption: Home win – a decision to fit solar panels on almost all new homes was long overdue, says Ron Fox.