The United Kingdom government has introduced new legislation that will require developers to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes.
The planning requirements published by the government also said that plug-in panels that homeowners can self-install on balconies would be available in supermarkets in the coming months.
UK ministers said the Iran war and the largest supply disruption in the history of the oil market reinforced the need to leverage clean power as an energy security tool.
“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,” UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement.
“Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.”
While the move has been welcomed by some energy companies, developers have raised concerns about the scale of solar required.
“Every solar panel, heat pump and battery cuts bills and boosts Britain’s energy independence. And the government’s latest steps can help cut the costs of electrification,” founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, Greg Jackson, said.
According to the recently published guidance, from 2028, no new homes will be on the gas network - and will instead be on a heat network or get a heat pump - and they must have solar panels on their roofs covering an area equivalent to 40% of the ground floor space.
The changes are estimated to add an additional £10,000 onto the cost of the home for developers, but are likely to bring down the prices of energy bills for customers in the long term.
While the Home Builders Federation (HBF) said additional costs for developers are “not welcome at any time”, it said the industry had been given a lot of forewarning.
However, HBF CEO Neil Jefferson said the size of the solar panels mandated for each home was unexpected.
"The government has really pushed the number of solar panels that are required on rooftops right to the limit, we think 60% of homes can't actually reach that standard," he said.
The change in regulations comes as the government sets a target to build 1.5 million homes by 2029.
